BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University wrestling team posted a 37-11 victory over New England Wrestling Association foe (NEWA) WPI on Senior Day at Kelly Gymnasium in Bridgewater.

With the dual meet victory, Bridgewater improves to 8-8-1 on the season while WPI slips to 1-11.

Seniors Michael Aiken (Leyden, Mass.), Zachary Bates (Leyden, Mass.), Steven Ciaccio (West Milford, N.J.), Samuel Fritz (Burlington, Mass.), Derek Grant (Hopkinton, Mass.) and Ethan Raymond (Middlebury, Vt.) were all honored prior to the match as they were competing in the final home match of their respective careers.

Trailing 6-0, freshman Steven McCarthy (Brockton, Mass.) got the Bears on the board with an 11-4 decision at the 133-pound weight class.  Grant then knotted the score at six all with an 8-2 win at 141.  After sophomore 149-pounder Sean Fields (Norwalk, Mass.) put the Bears on top, 10-6, with an 8-0 major decision victory, WPI senior Tyler Howe (Danbury, Conn.) reclaimed the lead for the visitors with a 19-3 technical fall win at 157.

Bridgewater, however, would win each of the last five bouts including forfeit victories for Raymond at 165, Bates at 174 and junior Andrew Frazer (West Hartford, Conn.) at 197. Aiken added a 3-2 decision at 184, while the heavyweight Fritz capped off the afternoon with a second period pin (4:05).

Freshman Brian Jennings (Danbury, Conn.) staked the Engineers to the early 6-0 advantage with a win by fall (1:51) at 125.

Bridgewater State returns to the mat on Sunday, February 13th when the Bears travel to Rhode Island College for a tri-match with RIC and Trinity College.  A win over RIC would give Bridgewater a share of the PWL title. WPI heads to Roger Williams University next Wednesday night for a 7 o'clock match with the Hawks.