SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England wrestling team opened its home season with a 35-6 loss against Bridgewater State Sunday afternoon (Jan. 9) in the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

The Golden Bears (0-2) started the meet with two victories when freshman Andrew Patton (Maple Shade, NJ) defeated sophomore Dan Palmer (Walpole, Mass.) 5-1 in the 133-lb. weight class, and sophomore Anthony Medina (Springfield, MA) downed freshman Matt Stott (Fall River, Mass.) by the score of 6-3 in the 141-lb. weight class.

The Bears (3-4-1) took the next eight matches highlighted by pins from senior Steven Ciaccio (West Milford, N.J.) at 157 pounds and senior Zachary Bates (Leyden, Mass.) at 174.

In addition, senior 165-pounder Ethan Raymond (Middlebury, VT) and junior Andrew Frazer (West Hartford, CT) at 197 recorded technical falls.

The final match was among the most exciting as BSU junior Ken Francis (New Bedford, Mass.) edged sophomore Robby Ferrente (Shelton, Conn.) 8-5 in the 125-lb. weight class. Francis is ranked first in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) and seventh nationally while Ferrente is ranked eighth regionally.

There was another close match at 149 pounds as Bridgewater sophomore Sean Fields (Norwalk, Conn.) defeated sophomore Nik Moreschi (Meriden, Conn.), 7-5.