BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Prior to Bridgewater State’s wrestling match versus Johnson and Wales on Wednesday night, the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame presented BSU Director of Athletics, John Harper, with an award in recognition of his dedication and leadership as well as his perseverance in promoting wrestling in Massachusetts and New England.

Tom Bartosek, representing the Massachusetts Chapter, presented Harper with a plaque in a brief ceremony.

“I have known John since he first arrived in 1991 as I was a volunteer assistant wrestling coach at Bridgewater State at the time,” said Bartosek.  “When many colleges dropped wrestling, John supported the wrestling team at Bridgewater.”

“When John arrived in Bridgewater in 1991 from Wichita State University, he began by evaluating the entire athletic department,” Bartosek noted.  “John understood the importance of wrestling in a well-rounded athletic program and he continues to support the mission of wrestling today.” 

Over the past thirty-five years, the number of Massachusetts Colleges and Universities offering wrestling has declined from 23 colleges to ten.  Three of the four state universities which offered wrestling as an intercollegiate sport have dropped the program.

“Because of the leadership of Mr. Harper,” Bartosek added, “the Bears’ wrestling program currently thrives as the only Massachusetts state university to field a wrestling team.”

During Harper’s tenure as Director of Athletics at Bridgewater State, the wrestling program has produced two All-Americans, a Women’s All-American and four Scholar All-Americans.