Wrestling Falls to Johnson & Wales

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Johnson & Wales University wrestling team posted a 51-0 victory over visiting Bridgewater State University in a Pilgrim Wrestling League contest at the Wildcat Center on Wednesday evening.

Johnson & Wales recorded four pins on the evening and three wins by forfeit.  Junior Brandon O'Rourke (Cedar Grove, N.J.) opened the match with a win by fall at the 125-pound weight class. After a forfeit victory, senior Joe Pronk (Marshfield, Mass.) and freshman Joey Gaccione (Highpoint, N.J.) notched back-to-back pins at 141 and 149, respectively, to stake the Wildcats to a 24-0 lead.

A pair of decisions at 157 and 165 followed by another forfeit win upped the advantage to 36-0.  Senior Connor Nelson (Wakefield, R.I.) notched a pin at 184 while senior Blake McNulty (Framingham, Mass.) closed out the evening with a 5-0 decision at 197.  A forfeit victory at heavyweight accounted for the final tally of 51-0.

With the win Johnson & Wales is 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the Pilgrim League while Bridgewater State falls to 0-1 on the year and 0-1 in league play.  The Bears were shutout for the first time since November 6, 2010, a 45-0 setback to Division I Bloomsburg.

The Wildcats will return to the mat on Saturday when they host Williams, WPI and Oneonta State in a quad match starting at noon.  The Bears travel to Boston University on Saturday afternoon to take on the Terriers at three.