SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 15, 2024) – The Western New England men's wrestling team came away with a 28-16 win over the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland on Friday night from the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center. WNE won seven of the ten weight classes to pick up the victory in the dual match. 

How it Happened:
The Golden Bears and Red Dragons would dual on Friday night, beginning in the heavyweight weight class as Western New England's Spencer Dickinson would pick up the early 2-1 decision victory to pick up the opening three points for the blue and gold, giving WNE a quick 3-0 lead. In the 125 lb. weight class, Clayton O'Connor would earn Western New England four points to their total after defeating Cortland's Noah Barke on a major decision, 11-2, as the Golden Bears would take an early 7-0 lead in the match. Cortland would make a comeback, winning both the 133 and 149 lb. weight classes, tying the match at ten. The middle match featured Wilbraham, Massachusetts native Austin Monteiro, who defeated Shane Walczyk on a 4-1 decision to take three points for  WNE.

The Golden Bears would cruise in their next four matches to come away with a victory overall in the match. At 157, the Golden Bears picked up a pinfall victory in 1:58 when Matthew Rodriguez took down Christian Paredes of Cortland, grabbing six points for the Golden Bears. Cameron Hines was also victorious on a pinfall win over Cortland in the 165 lb. weight class, needing 3:33 to come away with six more points for the Golden Bears, who would then take a 22-10 lead. Nicholas Baccala earned a close decision victory, 7-5, over Joey Visciano to pick up the win. Michael Bluhm would wrap up the victories for the Golden Bears on the night, taking down Robert Cunningham on a sudden victory, 4-1, earning three points for Western New England, taking their total to 28 for the night, coming away with a 28-16 win overall to improve to 3-1 in dual action this season.

Results:
125 – Clayton O'Connor (WNE) over Noah Barke (Cortland) – MD 11-2
133 – Culley Bellino (Cortland) over Trevor Young (WNE) – TF 19-2, 3:31
141 – Austin Monteiro (WNE) over Shane Walczyk (Cortland) – Dec, 4-1
149 – Angelo Centrone (Cortland) over Peter Charnley (WNE) – TF 26-10, 4:13
157 – Matthew Rodriguez (WNE) over Christian Paredes (Cortland) – Fall 1:58
165 – Cameron Hines (WNE) over Tristian Robinson-July (Cortland) – Fall 3:33
174 – Nicholas Baccala (WNE) over Joey Visciano - Dec, 7-5
184 – Michael Bluhm (WNE) over Robert Cunningham (Cortland) – SV-1 4-1
197 – Bryson Tibbs (Cortland) over Aidan DeLuca (WNE) – Fall 3:47
285 – Spencer Dickinson (WNE) over Seth Parker (Cortland) – Dec, 2-1
Extra: Jack DiMaggio (Cortland) over Zachary Schonoff (WNE) – Dec, 4-1
Extra: Samuel Worthing (WNE) over David Ensiminger (Cortland) – Dec, 11-7
Extra: Maxwell Bluhm (WNE) over Oscar De Avila (Cortland) – MD 16-3

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears will be back in dual action on Saturday, November 16 at 2:00 PM, taking on Bridgewater State University on the road.