WESLEYAN, Conn. -- Bridgewater State University junior Patrick Walsh (Stoughton, Mass.) captured the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) championship in the heavyweight class and will now advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament as the Bears competed at the NEWA Championships held at Wesleyan University this weekend.

Walsh posted a 5-0 record during the two-day tournament.  After winning three bouts, including two by pin, on Saturday, Walsh knocked off tenth nationally ranked Tom Foote of Williams College in Sunday' winner's bracket final and then defeated Foote again in the championship round, 3-0, to capture the 285-pound title.

Bridgewater will send at least one wrestler to the NCAA Division III Championships for the sixth straight season and for the ninth time in the past 11 seasons.

Walsh was one of five Bears to garner All-New England honors which go to the top six wrestlers in each weight class.  Also earning All-New England status were sophomore Jonathan Murray (Bay Shore, N.Y.) at 125, freshman Ryan Cassidy (Billerica, Mass.) at 174, senior Mike Fenner (Bergenfield, N.J.) at 184 and senior Andrew Frazer (West Hartford, Conn.) at 197.

Murray placed third at 125 as he posted a record of 3-2 at the tournament.  Cassidy and Fenner both finished in sixth place in their respective weight classes.  Cassidy went 3-3 over the weekend while Fenner was 2-3 after receiving an opening round bye.  Frazer grabbed fifth place at 197 as he won four bouts including three technical fall victories.

The BSU wrestling team placed sixth in the team standings with 66 points. Wesleyan University (126 pts.) edged Springfield College (125.5 pts.) for the team championships followed by Johnson & Wales University (87.5 pts.), Roger Williams University (80 pts.) and Rhode Island College (71 pts.).

Walsh will head to the national championship meet with an outstanding win-loss record of 15-1.  Seven  of his 15 wins have come via pin since he joined the Bears' wrestling team over the semester break.

The NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships will take place at the La Crosse Center on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on March 9th and 10th.