Wrestling Places Seventh at RWU Invitational

BRISTOL, R.I. -- The Bridgewater State University wrestling team placed seventh (75.5 pts.) out of 17 teams on Saturday at the Roger Williams Invitational.

Sophomore heavyweight Ryan Higgins (Billerica, Mass.) and sophomore 184-pounder Edwin Morales (Philadelphia, Pa.) each placed second in their respective weight classes, while sophomore Wilson Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) finished sixth at 125.

Higgins went 4-1 during the two-day tournament including a pair of pins. He posted a 4-3 decision over Dylan D'amore of The College of New Jersey in the quarterfinals before earning a 4-2 semifinal win against Deaquan Stuart of Cortland State. In the championship bout, Higgins dropped a tough 3-1 decision to Michael DiNardo of Johnson & Wales University. DiNardo is currently ranked seventh in all of Division III.

Higgins is now 7-1 on the season with four pins.

Morales won his first bout by tech. fall (15-0) and followed that up with a 11-4 win over Josh Smith of Southern Maine in the quarterfinals. A 10-2 major decision victory against Daniel Surich of The College of New Jersey sent Morales to the championship match where he lost by major decision to David Key of Navy Prep.

Morales is now 5-1 on the season.

Gomes went 3-2 at the tournament with two pins including a win by fall (5:36) over Johnson & Wales' Gabriel Esparolini in the quarterfinals. Gomes dropped an 11-3 major decision to Joey Valentino of Castleton University in the semifinals.

The Bears are back in action next Saturday when they compete at the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College.