BRISTOL, R.I. -- Sophomores Wilson Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde), Ryan Higgins (Billerica, Mass.) and Joseph Munro (Norwood, Mass.) all advanced to the championship bracket round of 16 in their respective weight classes as the Bridgewater State University wrestling team competed during day one of the Roger Williams University Invitational on Friday afternoon.
Wrestlng out of the 125-pound weight class, Gomes pinned Nahuel Rodriquez of Plymouth State University in the third period (6:12).
At heavyweight, Higgins pinned (1:52) Johanser Joseph of Johnson & Wales University, while Munro earned a 14-6 major decision over Joe Galusha of Castleton University.
Senior Henry Oberlander (Mansfield, Mass.), junior Daniel MacNeil (Woburn, Mass.), sophomore Edwin Morales (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior Chris Roppolo (Bridgewater, Mass.) will begin wrestling in the round of 16 after receiving opening round byes. Oberlander and MacNeil at 197, Morales at 184 and Roppolo at 174,
The RWU Invitational will continue on Saturday. The Bears are currently tied for ninth place out of 17 schools in the team standings.