SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 28, 2026) – The New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) has named seven Golden Bears to All-NEWA teams, while 15 others have been honored on the NEWA All-Academic Team, released by the organization this week. 

Western New England's Nicholas Baccala, Maxwell Bluhm, James Linder, Charles Maloy, Teghan McConnell, and Matthew Rodriguez were all named to the All-NEWA Honorable Mention Team. Baccala won 16 matches during the season in both the 174 lb. and 184 lb. weight classes. Baccala earned a second-place finish at this season's Will Abele Invitational, his last matches in the 174 lb. weight class before moving up to the 184 lb. weight class, where the WNE junior won seven matches, including four at the NCAA Region I Tournament, taking seventh place overall to cap off the season, earning an 8-2 decision victory over Wesleyan University's Roman Martinez. Baccala came up with six decision wins on the year, as well as four technical falls, three falls, and three major decisions. 

Bluhm finished the 2025-26 season with the second-most wins on the team, winning 24 of 32 matches overall. Bluhm recorded six wins via fall, decision, and major decision on the year, while picking up four technical fall wins for the Golden Bears. Bluhm took seventh place at the NCAA Division III Region I Championships to close out the season and was the weight class champion in the 174 lb. weight class at this past season's Will Abele Invitational. 

Linder went 21-13 on the mat this season, tied for the most matches competed in this season. Linder took sixth place this season at the NCAA DIII Region I Championships and rode a four-match win streak heading into postseason play. Linder went 4-1 this season at the Will Abele Invitational. Linder adds to his postseason collecting this season after being named an NWCA Scholar All-American last month.

Maloy won 19 of his 29 matches in his final season in Blue and Gold this season, winning eight matches via fall, the second-most on the team this season. Maloy also took six decision victories, two technical fall wins, and two major decision victories in the 197 lb. weight class. The Western New England graduate student took seventh place overall in the regional tournament, finishing off his career with a decision victory. 

McConnell impressed in his first season with Western New England after transferring from American International College. McConnell earns NEWA Honorable Mention accolades after wrestling to a 16-6 record on the year, earning five fall victories, and three each of technical fall, major decision, and decision wins for the year. McConnell ended the 2025-26 season in seventh place at the NCAA Region I event, coming up with a 12-9 decision victory in his final match. 

Rodriguez had an impressive sophomore season on the mat for WNE men's wrestling, earning 22 wins over 34 matches. His 22 wins sit third-most on the season for the Golden Bears, eight wins coming via decision, six falls, four major decisions, and two technical falls on the year. The season was highlighted by Rodriguez's seventh-place finish at the regional event, while opening the season with eight wins over his first ten matches. 

WNE first-year Nicholas Adams was named to the All-NEWA Rookie Team. Adams picked up ten wins for the Golden Bears in 13 matches. Adams came away with a second-place finish at the Will Abele Invitational to conclude the season, while being named NEWA Rookie of the Week that week. Seven of Adams' ten wins this season were decision victories. 

15 total Golden Bears were honored on the All-NEWA Academic Team, including Michael Bluhm, Lucas Cardella, Colin Carlin, Jaylen Hawkins, Antonio Intintoli, James Linder, David Lisk, Geddiel Lopez, Charles Maloy, Clayton O'Connor, Ryan Ouellette, Jack Ramondetta, Matthew Rodriguez, Hiram Sepulveda, and Colton Wells. 

The Western New England men's wrestling team competed to a 10-4 dual match record this season, the third straight season of double-digit wins, collecting three seasons or more of double-digit wins for the first time in program history since the 1998-99 season, which capped off 21 straight seasons of double-digit wins.