Leaving Everything on the Mat

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- His wrestling career began as a high school freshman in Minnesota thanks to some encouragement from a friend.

Sei Dolomengi (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) had watched his pal, Ismael Kante, wrestle when they were in middle school but declined to take up the sport until they arrived at Park Center High School in 2018.

"I was always hesitant to join," said Dolomengi. "He was like, 'Look, you're not doing anything, you might as well come out for a sport.'

"I had never wrestled. But after my close friend (who is now a linebacker at the University of Illinois) got me into wrestling, the first day I set foot on the wrestling mat, I loved it and never looked back."

Dolomengi was part of the Park Center program for three years, taking part in the state tournament as as junior, then moved to Massachusetts with his mother, Jacqueline, prior to his senior year.

Dolomengi enrolled at Brighton High School, which does not have a wrestling team, so he joined a co-op team at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, Mass., in the 2021-22 season.

He qualified for the state tournament in that one season and had his sights set on continuing to wrestle in college.

It didn't take long for Dolomengi to settle on his next stop -- Bridgewater State University.

"I had some thoughts of going back home to Minnesota, but it was really Bridgewater all the way," said Dolomengi. "I reached out to a ton of coaches and happened to reach out to Frank (Cammisa, the Bears' head coach). We just hit it off.

"I really had my eyes on Bridgewater. It was affordable and I just loved the academic aspect of Bridgewater."

A business management major who had a 4.0 grade point average last semester, Dolomengi is now winding down his wrestling career.

After winning a career-high 16 matches last season, Dolomengi is off to an 11-8 start at 125 pounds with two pins, 22 takedowns and 10 escapes. He is tied for third on the team in wins after ranking fourth a year ago.

BSU resumes its season on Saturday afternoon, hosting Wesleyan University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Then, a week later on Jan. 17, Dolomengi will wrestle for a final time at Kelly Gym when the Bears go against Williams College on Senior Day.

"It's been weighing on me," said Dolomengi of the home finales prior to BSU finishing the season on the road in February. "It's going to be very emotional. I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to leave everything on the mat."

Dolomengi started his career winning nine matches as a freshman, getting three pins, then had eight victories with three pins as a sophomore.

The improvement was evident in the 2024-25 season when Dolomengi had 33 takedowns and seven pins while winning 16 matches.

This season, Dolomengi made it to the semifinal round of the Scott Viera Open in Bristol, R.I., last month, finishing 4-1 in the 125-pound class.

"He has the experience and confidence level is up," said Cammisa. "He doesn't have many more opportunities to wrestle, so he's taking full advantage of what he has now.

"He's come a very long way as an athlete and a person as well. He's really evolved and done really well for himself.

"He has filled into his body a little bit better, not just being a small 125-pounder from high school. He understands strategically more how matches can be won based on strategy rather than just using your athleticism."

Dolomengi would like to reach the 20-win mark in his final season after taking strides since arriving at BSU in 2022.

"If I could wrestle my freshman year self, I'd pin myself in like a second,'' he said of the improvement. "It's the coaching. Coach Frank and Coach Fox (Maxwell) are doing a wonderful job. I couldn't ask for a better coaching staff. They're always pushing the guys.

"Coach breaks it down, shows me where my flaws are and my strengths are. We're tightening things up."

Dolomengi left Minnesota with his mother, who has a nursing job in Massachusetts, to join his sister, a student at Fisher College in Boston.

"I always had the aspirations and goal of moving here and pursuing academics," he said. "I felt like it was an easy transition."

Dolomengi got to know is current BSU teammate, Malcolm Chrispin (Hyde Park, Mass.) during that one year of high school wrestling and he made connections with other Bears' wrestlers to get him acquainted with the school and the program.

There are less than two months left in his wrestling career and just one semester before he graduates in the spring.

Bridgewater State has been a good fit for Dolomengi, who wants to work in human resources.

"I wouldn't choose anywhere else to go," said Dolomengi. "The biggest reason is the growth. I came here as probably not the most mature guy and I'm leaving here with cum laude honors, connections, and being part of  a team I helped build for the future.

"I'm at a loss for words with the memories I have and all the long nights of work. It really does pay off."