GRANTHAM, Mass. – Sophomore Edwin Morales (Philadelphia, Pa.) captured the 184-pound title to the lead the Bridgewater State University wrestling team at the prestigious Messiah Petrofes Invitational on Saturday at Hitchcock Arena in Grantham. Pennsylvania.

After pinning both of his opponents on Friday, Morales earned a 10-5 semifinal decision over Jimmy Fratantoni of Muhlenberg to advance to the championships match. Morales then battled to a dramatic 9-7 overtime victory over Gino Sita of Division II Alderson Broaddus to win the title. Sita entered the two-day tournament ranked seventh in Division II.

Morales, who went 4-0 over the weekend, improves to 13-2 (.867) on the season.

Sophomore Wilson Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) finished in fourth place competing out of the 125-pound weight class. Gomes went 4-2 with two pins over the weekend.

Junior Fox Maxwell (Winchester, Mass.) posted a 4-2 record at the tournament and placed sixth in the 165-pound weight class.

Freshman Ian Forgitano (Georgetown, Mass.) placed eighth in the 125-pound weight bracket, while sophomore heavyweight Ryan Higgins (Billerica, Mass.) also finished in eighth place. Higgins went 3-1 during the tournament, but was unable to compete in his final two bouts due to injury.

The Bears finished in eighth place in the team standings with 73.5 points. Mount Union won the team title with 216 points.

The  BSU wrestling team is off until Saturday, January 4th when the Bears compete at the Scott Viera Open hosted by Roger Williams University.