Wrestling Falls to Johnson & Wales, 39-4

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The No. 20 Johnson & Wales University wrestling team posted a 39-4 victory against Bridgewater State in a Pilgrim League matchup at the Harborside Recreation Center on Thursday evening.

The match opened at 197 pounds with Johnson & Wales junior Patrick McCrohan (Somerset, MA) posting a 12-4 major decision.  An 11-4 victory by Bridgewater State sophomore Sean Griffin (Leominster, MA) tied the match at 4-4.  JWU then accepted a forfeit at 125 pounds and a 10-1 win by freshman Nicholas Cucciniello (Smithtown, NY) at 133 pounds gave the Wildcats a 14-4 advantage. 

After a 5-2 win by freshman John Donaleski (Bellville, NJ) at 141 pounds, JWU took the 23-4 lead with a forfeit at 149 pounds.  The Wildcats recorded their first pinfall victory of the evening at 157 pounds by freshman Andrew Van Dyk (Ocean, NJ) to take the 29-4 lead.  A win at 165 pounds by freshman Christopher Giannos (Brick, NJ) made it six straight wins for JWU. 

Wildcats senior All-American Jerome Owens (Kettering, MD) posted a 17-4 major decision win at 174 pounds and fellow senior All-American Bryan Lenhardt (Gloucester, VA) wrapped up the evening with a 3-2 victory at 184 pounds to give JWU the commanding 39-4 victory.

Johnson & Wales is now 1-0 on the season and 1-0 in the Pilgrim League while Bridgewater State falls to 0-2, 0-2 in the league.