Morales, Higgins Lead Wrestling at BSU Tri-Match

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University wrestling team hosted a tri-match with Wesleyan University and WPI on Saturday afternoon at John J. Kelly Gymnasium.

The Bears (0-3) dropped a 35-10 decision to the Cardinals of Wesleyan and bowed to the Engineers of WPI, 37-14. The Cardinals (2-0) edged the Engineers (3-4) in the opening match of the day, 23-18.

Seniors Edwin Morales (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Ryan Higgins (Billerica, Mass.) each went 2-0 on the day to lead the way for Bridgewater State. Both Morales and Higgins were making their season debuts.

Morales, competing out of the 184-pound weight class, won both of his bouts by fall. He pinned sophomore Aris Dashiell of Wesleyan in the first period to record his 50th win in a Bridgewater State uniform. The two-time NCAA qualifier also posted a first period pin against sophomore Christian Andres of WPI. Morales improves to 51-10 in his BSU career with 15 pins.

The heavyweight Higgins posted an 11-0 major decision over Wesleyan sophomore Kolton Gagnon and followed that up with a 14-8 decision against senior Lucas Wilson-Wuestefeld of WPI. Higgins improves his career win-loss record to 67-30 with the two victories as he ranks 20th on the Bears' all-time wins list.

BSU senior Wilson Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) went 1-1 on the afternoon as he entered the tri-match ranked 18th in all of Division III out of the 133-pound weight class. Gomes (15-3) lost 6-2 to Wesleyan sophomore Shailen Savur in his opening bout, but bounced back with a decisive 19-1 (5:55) technical fall victory over freshman Charlie Pavis of WPI. Gomes is now 69-50 in his career as he ranks 19th on the Bears' all-time wins list.

In upcoming action, the Bears host nationally ranked Johnson & Wales University on Saturday afternoon at two o'clock.