SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 9, 2026) – The Western New England men's wrestling team has announced its 2026-27 season schedule, set to begin inside the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center on Sunday, November 1. This will be the first time the Golden Bears open their schedule at home since the 2007-08 season. 

The home opener and season opener will see the Golden Bears host a quad match with Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), Plymouth State University, and Roger Williams University beginning at 12:00 PM. The Golden Bears have had much success over Plymouth State and Roger Williams of late, and will meet MMA in dual action for the first time in program history. From there, the Golden Bears will compete in the Alvernia University Invitational on Saturday, November 7. The Golden Bears won the event in 2024, placing first out of 11 teams. Western New England returns home for dual action against Springfield College on Friday, November 13, at 7:00 PM. 

Four events remain on the schedule before the new year, as the Golden Bears head across the river to Springfield College for the annual Doug Parker Invitational on Saturday, November 21, beginning at 10:00 AM. The Golden Bears will look to improve on a seventh-place finish from last season at the event. WNE hosts Rhode Island College in a dual match on Friday, December 4, at 7:00 PM inside the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center. WNE had ripped off three wins in a row over RIC, including a 28-14 victory last season. The third annual Bear Cup will be next for WNE when they travel to Bridgewater State University on Friday, December 11, at 6:00 PM for the dual match. The Golden Bears have claimed victory over Bridgewater in the previous two "Bear Cup" meetings, with last year's win a resounding 32-13 victory at home. The final dual match of the 2026 calendar year sees the Golden Bears travel to Johnson & Wales University on Saturday, December 19 at 12:00 PM to battle the Wildcats. 

The Golden Bears will be on the road for much of the month of January, beginning on Saturday, January 9, at the Mariner Duals, hosted by the United States Merchant Marine Academy. WNE will face USMMA, Plymouth State University, and New England College on that date. Western New England's next dual match of the season will come on Friday, January 15, when they take on the Eagles of Eastern University for the first time in program history. The Golden Bears will then compete in the Will Abele Invitational on Saturday, January 16. WNE placed second overall in the invitational last season, with eight wrestlers finishing in the top four of their respective weight classes, including two champions. The New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Duals will be next up for the Golden Bears, one of the marquee events of the season. The event will take place at Johnson & Wales University on Sunday, January 24, beginning at 9:00 AM. Western New England returns home for its final home dual match of the season, hosting the United States Coast Guard Academy on Saturday, January 30, at 11:00 AM.

The Golden Bears will compete in three more dual matches before the postseason begins in the month of February. The Blue and Gold will head to Trinity College on Saturday, February 6, for a tri-match with the Bantams and the University of Southern Maine, beginning at 12:00 PM. The Golden Bears will look to continue winning streaks against both teams on that date. The final dual match of the season sees Western New England travel to Worcester Polytechnic Institute on Friday, February 12, for a 5:00 PM match. The Golden Bears defeated WPI last season, 28-17, in dual action. Western New England men's wrestling will begin to gear
up for the postseason, hosting the NEWA Futures Tournament on Saturday, February 13, beginning at 10:30 AM. 

Postseason action begins on Friday, February 26, at the Springfield College Field House for the NCAA Region I Championships. Qualifiers out of the regional event will then participate on the national stage at the NCAA National Championships in La Crosse, Wisconsin on March 12 and March 13 to conclude the season. 

To view the full Western New England men's wrestling schedule, click here.