Hopkins, Player Named All-NEWA Honorable Mention, 16 Earn NEWA All-Academic Honors

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior Michael Hopkins and junior Vincent Player have been named as honorable mention selections on the New England Wrestling Association 2024-2025 All-NEWA Team.

Both Hopkins and Player placed sixth in their respective weight classes back in March at the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Championships to earn all-region honors.

Hopkins posted a record of 27-16 (.628) competing out of the 174-pound weight class in 2024-2025 with one pin and 49 takedowns to go along with 90 near fall points and 37 escapes. He led the team in wins, takedowns and near fall points.

In four seasons with the Bears, Hopkins notched an overall record of 57-53 (.518) with three career pins, 100 takedowns, 149 near fall points and 92 escapes.

The 184-pound Player went 5-6 this season with three pins 12 takedowns, 15 near fall points, three reversals and 11 escapes.

In 49 matches over his first three season with the Bears, Player currently sports an 18-31 record with seven pins, 48 takedowns, 95 near fall points, 13 reversals and 48 escapes.

Sixteen members of the BSU wrestling program, including Hopkins, earned a spot on the NEWA All-Academic Team. Joining Hopkins on the all-academic squad is fellow senior James Grover (Wakefield, Mass.) as well as juniors Malcolm Chrispin (Hyde Park, Mass.), Sei Dolomengi (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), Hayden Garland (Saugus, Mass.) and Alex Guaman Castro (Milford, Mass.); sophomores Joseph Cahill (Fountain Hills, Ariz.), Christian Curley (Bridgewater, Mass.), Adam Distasio (Hopkinton, Mass.), Colin Hassett (Plymouth, Mass.), Paul Hough (Milford, Mass.), Hunter Logan (Braintree, Mass.) and Michael Mastroianni (Milford, Mass.); and freshmen Anthony Ashe (Middleboro, Mass.) Mathew Blandon (Weston, Mass.) and Asante Sanders (Somerset, Mass.).