By Jim Fenton

BRISTOL, R.I. -- Bridgewater State University wrestler Christian Curley (Bridgewater, Mass.) reached the final round at the Roger Williams University Invitational Saturday.

Curley, at 197 pounds, won his first three matches of the day before losing to Anthony Fernandez of Johnson & Wales University.

In its second competition of the season, the Bears finished sixth in the nine-team tournament with 62.5 points.

One BSU wrestler, freshman Ethan Buonanducci (Enfield, Conn.), placed fifth and two others, senior Sei Dolomengi (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and junior Cqari Bacote (Springfield, Mass.), were sixth in their respective weight classes.

Curley, who faced three straight Johnson & Wales wrestlers, is ranked No. 5 in the New England Wrestling Association while Fernandez is No. 6.

Fernandez defeated Curley by fall at 4:27 for the 197-pound title.

Curley opened his day with a major decision over freshman Wynton Bowers of Wesleyan University and followed that with a win by fall at 2:11 over freshman John Bettencourt of Johnson & Wales.

In the semifinal round, Curley stopped freshman Benjamin Wilcox of Johnson & Wales by fall at 3:31.

Buonanducci finished fifth in the 133-pound weight class, going 4-2.

Buonanducci began with a win by fall at 4:23 over freshman Christoper Edel of Johnson & Wales, then lost a 10-6 decision to freshman Marvin Armistead of Coast Guard.

Buonanducci then won two in a row, getting a victory by fall at 2:56 over sophomore Dominic Laconte of Wesleyan and winning by major decision, 11-3, over freshman Nathan Sayers of Coast Guard.

Following a 7-2 decision loss to freshman Jahir Aguiliar of Johnson & Wales, Buonanducci finished with a 23-11 decision over freshman Caden Bruseo of Roger Williams.

Dolomengi took sixth place at 125 pounds.

Dolomengi won his first two matches against sophomore Amari Lewis of Wesleyan by fall at 1:47 and by an 8-0 major decision over C.J. Wood of Roger Williams.

He then lost to junior Chris Hong (Paramus, N.J.) of Wesleyan, freshman Spencer Buscema of Roger Williams and freshman Kekoa Madayag of Coast Guard.

Also finishing sixth was Bacote at 157 pounds.

He opened with a win by fall at 1:48 over sophomore Alexander Rivard (Farmington, Conn.) of Wesleyan and an 8-3 decision win over junior Jack Forte (Westbury, N.Y.) of Roger Williams.

Coast Guard, with 188.5 points and four first-place finishers, won the tournament followed by Johnson & Wales, which had 180.5 points and five first-place finishers.

BSU will travel to Springfield next Saturday to go against Western New England at 11 a.m.

This will be the second annual Bear Cup, pitting teams who have the nickname Bears and Golden Bears.

Western New England won the initial Bear Cup in 2024 at Bridgewater State.