SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 14, 2025) – The Western New England men's wrestling team dropped a close 26-20 decision to the Pride of Springfield College on Friday night at Blake Arena, seeing the final match decide the outcome. 

Records:

• Western New England: 0-1
• Springfield College: 3-0

How it Happened:

The Golden Bears dropped the first four matches of the night to quickly go down in the match 14-0 early before quickly climbing back. Clayton O'Connor opened the night in the 125 lb. weight class, falling on a close 6-4 decision. At 133 lbs., WNE's Austin Mitrosky dropped a technical fall decision as the Pride nabbed five points from that win, leading 8-0 in the match after two matches. Nicholas Adams was defeated on a decision at 141 lbs., while James Linder was clipped, also on a decision, 2-0, as the Golden Bears fell behind 14-0. 

The first win of the night came in the 157 lb. weight class for the Golden Bears when Matthew Rodriguez defeated Springfield College's Jeremiah Cruz on a fall in 2:57, putting six points on the board for the blue and gold. In the 165 lb. weight class, WNE's Teghan McConnell continued to impress on the mat, earning a fall victory in 4:10, seeing the Golden Bears climb right back into the contest, trailing 14-12. Maxwell Bluhm gave WNE its first lead of the night in the match, handling the 174 lb. weight class over Tyler Boelhower, picking up a technical fall win, 19-4 in 6:19, adding five points to WNE's total, and giving the Golden Bears a 17-14 match lead. 

The 184 lb. weight class went to the Pride as Jaylen Hawkins was taken down on a fall in 3:59, putting the Pride back in front, 20-17. Charles Maloy tied the match in the 197 lb. weight class, earning an 8-4 decision victory over Oliver Parker, tying the match at 20, leaving the heavyweight weight class to decide the match. Matthew Donis squared up with Benjamin Katz, the New England Wrestling Association's Wrestler of the Week this week, and saw Katz pick up the win on a fall in 2:22, claiming victory for the Pride, who took a 26-20 victory in a close match. 

Results:
125 lbs. – Hunter Sanchez (SC) over Clayton O'Connor (WNE) – Dec, 6-4 // SC Leads 3-0
133 lbs. – Jaden Colwell (SC) over Austin Mitrosky (WNE) – TF, 24-4 // SC Leads 8-0
141 lbs. – Issac Quiles (SC) over Nichola Adams (WNE) – Dec, 7-1 // SC Leads 11-0
149 lbs. – Ty Stewart (SC) over James Linder (WNE) – Dec, 2-0 // SC Leads 14-0
157 lbs. – Matthew Rodriguez (WNE) over Jeramiah Cruz (SC) – Fall, 2:57 // SC Leads 14-6
165 lbs. – Teghan McConnell (WNE) over Gabe Thomasson (SC) – Fall, 4:10 // SC Leads 14-12
174 lbs. – Maxwell Bluhm (WNE) over Tyler Boelhower (SC) – TF, 19-4 6:19 // WNE Leads 17-14
184 lbs. – Matthew Hoxie (SC) over Jaylen Hawkins (WNE) – Fall, 3:59 // SC Leads 20-17
197 lbs. – Charles Maloy (WNE) over Oliver Parker (SC) – Dec, 8-4 // Match Tied 20-20
285 lbs. – Benjamin Katz (SC) over Matthew Donis (WNE) – Fall, 2:22 /// SC Wins 26-20

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears return home and host the Bear Cup on Saturday, November 15 at 11:00 AM, welcoming Bridgewater State University to Springfield for a morning matchup.