SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 22, 2025) – The Western New England men's wrestling team returned to action on Saturday afternoon at the Doug Parker Invitational, hosted by Springfield College, seeing five Golden Bears place in the top-six of their respective weight classes.
How it Happened:
In the 157 lb. weight class, Western New England's
Matthew Rodriguez came around with a sixth-place finish. Rodriguez opened the afternoon with a 10-3 decision win over Centenary University's Collin Neal. Rodriguez was then defeated on a 5-1 decision in the quarterfinal rounds, dropping to the consolation bracket of the weight class. There, Rodriguez picked up a pair of wins, a technical fall win 20-4, in 6:21 and another decision victory to get into the consolation semifinal match where the WNE sophomore fell on a 7-1 decision, getting into the fifth-sixth place match where Rodriguez fell on a close 4-3 decision, ending the invitational in sixth place overall for the weight class.
At 174 lbs.,
Maxwell Bluhm dropped his opening match of the afternoon to head into the consolation bracket from the get-go. There, Blum dominated his competition, opening with a major decision victory 12-2, followed by a second major decision win, this time a 14-5 win. Bluhm progressed through the bracket, picking up a fall victory in the second consolation round of eight match to get into the first consolation round of four match, but was defeated in the consolation semifinal round to get into the third/fourth place match, ending the night in 5
th/6
th place with a no-contest in his last match of the invitational due to match limit.
In the same weight class, WNE's
Nicholas Baccala picked up a win to open the afternoon, coming on a 10-3 decision, nearing a technical fall, and advanced to the semifinals after a win in the quarterfinals, an 11-2 victory via major decision. The semifinal round wasn't as kind to the WNE junior, who fell on a fall to drop into the consolation bracket. Baccala finished out in the 5
th/6
th place match with a no-contest in the final match of the afternoon.
In the 184 lb. weight class, Western New England's
Jaylen Hawkins had a splendid afternoon, needing just 55 seconds to earn a fall victory to advance to the quarterfinals. Hawkins continued winning with an 11-6 decision, advancing to the semifinals of the weight class, where Hawkins fell on a 12-1 major decision. Hawkins battled back in his final match of the afternoon, winning the consolation semifinal match, 13-9 on decision, before taking third place overall for the weight class on a forfeit.
At 197 lbs.,
Charles Maloy picked up a quick victory in his first match of the afternoon, a fall victory in just 46 seconds, quickly advancing on. Maloy then earned a 15-5 major decision victory to get into the semifinals round, but was bested, 14-7 via decision, dropping into the consolation bracket. There, Maloy picked up a fall win to get into the third/fourth place match before dropping the final match of the afternoon, taking fourth place overall in the weight class.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- WNE men's wrestling will dual with Rhode Island College on Friday, December 5, at 6:00 PM. The Golden Bears have won their last two over RIC overall.
