COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. (November 8, 2025) – The Western New England men's wrestling team began its 2025-26 campaign on the road Saturday, battling in the Racich Rumble, hosted by Ursinus College. Five Golden Bears placed to begin the year, while the team took an eighth-place finish to start the year. 

How it Happened:
In the 141 lb. weight class, Western New England first-year Nicholas Adams opened his career with a bye before defeating Ursinus College's Andrew Schaen, ranked first in the draw, picking up a major decision victory for an 11-3 win, moving on to the quarterfinals of the weight class. Adams had success in the quarters, notching an 11-8 win over Reese Titus of WPI, never trailing in the match to make it to the semifinals. A close semifinal match saw Adams drop a decision via fall to Sidney Dillon of Stevens Institute of Technology, dropping Adams to the third/fourth place match in the weight class, where the West Orange, New Jersey, native claimed victory on an 8-3 decision, taking third place overall for the day. 

James Linder opened the year in the 149 lb. weight class, taking a win in the round of 16 on a technical fall, 18-2 over Brady Quinn of Misericordia University. The quarterfinal round also favored Linder, as the WNE sophomore took a close 3-2 decision victory over George Pavis of Stevens Institute of Technology. Linder fell to top-ranked John Mairano in the semifinal round from New York University. Linder claimed sixth overall in the weight class. 

Teghan McConnell made his WNE debut on Saturday and took fourth place in the 165 lb. weight class. McConnell won his first two matches of the afternoon, a fall victory, 5-4, in 2:05 and another fall victory in 1:43 to get to the quarterfinal round. After falling in the QF round, McConnell took his third fall victory of the day in the consolation bracket before winning two more matches, a technical fall and a decision to get to the third/fourth place match. The match was a no-contest after a six-match limit for McConnell, who had a successful opening day on the mat. 

Maxwell Bluhm began the afternoon with a 7-0 fall victory over Dylan Specht of St. John Fisher in the round of 32 and then picked up a 9-4 decision win over Sawyer Pugh from Stevens Institute of Technology. Bluhm won the quarterfinal match on a major decision, 9-1, before falling in the semifinal match. Bluhm's afternoon was capped off with a win in the fifth/sixth place match on a no-contest, taking fifth place in the 174 lb. weight class. 

Charles Maloy needed just 24 seconds to win on a fall in his first match of the afternoon, while picking up a technical fall win in 1:57 in the round of 16 to get to the quarterfinals. There, Maloy was taken down and headed to the consolation bracket, looking for placement. Maloy notched one more win on the afternoon, a major decision in the consolation round of four, before taking sixth place overall after a no-contest in the fifth/sixth place match due to the match limit for the day. 

As a team, the Golden Bears took eighth overall out of 13 teams. 

Coach's Corner:
Coach Mike Sugermeyer was asked for a quote on what he thought of the team's first performance of the season. "The Racich Rumble was a great first test for our program. I am proud of the attitude, energy and effort that was displayed in all of our matches today. I look forward to getting back into the practice room on Monday," Sugermeyer stated.
Nicholas Adams was then asked for a comment on how it felt to compete in his first collegiate tournament and do so well. "It was a great first tournament but this is only the beginning for me and my teammates. This is a special group and we have the talent to show our talent even more," Adams noted.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• The Golden Bears return to Springfield and will duel with Springfield College on Friday, November 14, at 7:00 PM before opening their home schedule on Saturday, November 15, at 11:00 AM against Bridgewater State University.