Walsh Leads Wrestling at Day One of NEWA Championships

WESLEYAN, Conn. -- Led by heavyweight Patrick Walsh (Stoughton, Mass.), five Bridgewater State University wrestlers remain in contention at the 2012 New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Championships hosted by Wesleyan University this weekend.

Walsh, who is 13-1 with seven pins and five forfeit victories since joining the Bears, went 3-0 with a pair of pins on Saturday including a 3-0 defeat of Western New England's Joe Sacco and a win by fall over number nine nationally ranked Greg Vaughn of Trinity College.

Walsh will take on tenth ranked Tom Foote of Williams College in the winner's bracket final on Sunday. Foote gave Walsh his only defeat (3-2) of the season at the NEWA Dual Meet Tournament in January.

Sophomore Jonathan Murray (Bay Shore, N.Y.), freshman Ryan Cassidy (Billerica, Mass.) and seniors Mike Fenner (Bergenfield, N.J.) and senior Andrew Frazer (West Hartford, Conn.) all battled back through the loser's bracket to assure themselves of at least All-New England honors.

Murray, who received a first round bye at 125, posted a 1-1 record with a win by fall.  He will take on Ben Schwartz of Wesleyan on Sunday.

Cassidy went 3-1 with a pin at 174 and will battle Sean Prell of Johnson & Wales University in his next bout.

After a first round bye in the 184-pound weight class, Fenner dropped his first bout but then rebounded with a pair of wins including a major decision victory.  He will face Nicholas Camera of Springfield College on Sunday.

The 197-pound Frazer posted a 3-1 record with a 17-0 tech. fall win as well as a 20-12 major decision.  Up next for Frazer on Sunday will be Petros Hologitas of Trinity.

Murray, Cassidy, Fenner and Frazer will compete tomorrow in the consolation bracket, needing three wins in the morning and afternoon to advance to the championship round.  The four, along with Walsh, are guaranteed All-New England status.

The Bears sit in sixth place in the team standings with 51 points.  Host Wesleyan is first with 99 points followed by Springfield (97.5 pts.), Johnson & Wales (65 pts.), Roger Williams University (60 pts.) and Rhode Island College (59.5 pts.).