Wrestling Splits Tri-Match

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Bridgewater State University wrestling team split a tri-match hosted by Rhode Island College on Friday evening at the RIC Recreation Center.

The Bears (3-10) posted a 28-24 victory over Trinity College and dropped a 30-19 decision to the host Anchormen.

Seniors Wilson Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde), Ryan Higgins (Billerica, Mass.) and Edwin Morales (Philadelphia) each went 2-0 on the day to lead the way for Bridgewater State.

In the win over Trinity, the Bears jumped out to an early 12-0 lead as freshman Sei Dolomengi (Brooklyn, Minn.) won by forfeit at 125 and Gomes earned a win by fall (4:37) at 133. The Bantams won four of the next five bouts, capped off by an 18-0 technical fall victory by junior Adam Frost at 174, to jump ahead, 20-16. BSU sophomore Michael Hopkins (Swampscott, Mass.) recorded a 12-0 major decision at 157 during the 20-4 Trinty run. The 184-pound Morales recorded a first period pin (2:07) to put the Bears back on top, but senior Anders Klass answered for the Bantams with a 10-1 major decision at 197 to reclaim the lead, 24-22. The match came down to the battle of heavyweights with Higgins pinning (4:13) junior Timothy Glynn to give the Bears the dramatic 28-24 win.

Gomes moved up a weight class to 141 and notched his team-leading 17th pin of the season in the 30-19 setback to the host Anchormen. Morales recorded yet another pin, his tenth in 15 bouts this season, while Higgins posted a 7-3 decision at heavyweight. Freshman Jonathan Davila (Andover, Mass.) rounded out the Bears' winning wrestlers with an 11-2 major decision at 149. RIC won six of the ten bouts including three pins and one technical fall.

Gomes sees his record go to 28-6 on the season with a team-leading 17 pins. He now has 80 victories and 40 pins in his career. Gomes moved into sole possession of 13th place on Bridgewater State's all-time wins list. He is also now third among the Bears' all-time leaders in pins.

Morales improves to 14-1 on the season with ten pins. He is now 61-11 with 23 pins in three seasons as a Bear.

Higgins improves to 11-4 on the year. He is now 76-34 over four seasons at Bridgewater State with 30 career pins. Higgins tied Adam Weafer (2000-2004) for fifth place on the Bears' all-time pins list.

Several members of the BSU wrestling team will compete at the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Futures Tournament on Saturday, February 19th at Western New England University.