MIDDLETOWN, Mass. (March 2, 2025) – Western New England men's wrestling senior
Cameron Hines came away with two more victories on Sunday afternoon and was crowned the champion of the 174 lb. weight class at the NCAA Region I event, punching his ticket to the NCAA Championships in two weeks in Providence, Rhode Island.
Hines needed just one win on day two of the regional event to qualify for the NCAA Championship event. The WNE senior would waste little time in the semifinal round of the 174 lb. weight class at coming away with a win, picking up a close 4-2 decision victory over United States Coast Guard Academy's Caden Stout, earning a spot in the 174 lb. weight class finals match and automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships. Hines would not be done there, claiming victory in the championship bout over Springfield College's Nick Rogers, picking up a major decision win, 15-2. Hines led right from the start with a takedown and never looked back, becoming the first Golden Bear since 2021-2022 to reach the NCAA Championship event. Hines completed the regional event with four wins in four matches overall, picking up two decision wins, a major decision win, and a fall victory.
James Linder, an all-region wrestler in the 149 lb. weight class this season, fell in his two matches on the day, placing eighth overall in the weight class.
Jaylen Hawkins would go 3-2 in five matches at the regional event and picked up an 11-7 victory in the 7
th/8
th place match to pick up 7
th overall in the 184 lb. weight class.
Charles Maloy would also come up with a seventh-place finish in his 197 lb. weight class, coming up with a fall victory in the final match of the day, needing just 1:30 to pick up the win. Hines, Linder, Hawkins, and Maloy all received all-region honors for the WNE men's wrestling team following their performances on the mat this weekend.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- Western New England senior Cameron Hines will now compete on the biggest stage in NCAA DIII Men's Wrestling, the NCAA Championships, held at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 in Providence, Rhode Island.
