BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior Edwin Morales (Philadelphia, Pa.) went 1-2 out of the 184-pound weight class on Friday at the 2023 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia. Morales was eliminated with a heartbreaking 3-1 setback in the wrestleback second round.
Seeded eighth in the 184-pound bracket, Morales (18-4) dropped a tough 3-1 decision in sudden victory overtime to Mahlic Saliah of Roanoke College in his opening round bout. Morales, however, bounced back with a 13-5 major decision win over Isaac Cory of Pennsylvania College of Technology to advance to the wrestleback second round. Morales notched four takedowns to go along with a four-point nearfall in the win over Cory.
Morales faced #7 seed Colby Giroux of RIT in the wrestleback second round. The match was tied at 1-1 with time ticking down in the third period when Giroux was awarded a questionable takedown with just one second showing on the scoreboard after the referees went to video review.
Morales qualified for the NCAA Championships for the third straight season by placing second in the 184-pound weight class at the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Tournament. He joins BSU Hall of Famers Craig Buckley and Frank Cammisa as the only wrestlers in program history to qualify three times. Buckley made three straight trips from 2002 to 2004. Cammisa, who is in his ninth season as the Bears' head coach, made four straight appearances from 2007 to 2010.
in three seasons at Bridgwater State, Morales posted an overall record of 67-14 (.827) with 24 career pins, 136 takedowns and 158 nearfall points. He is tied for ninth all-time in program history in pins and ranks 21st in wins.
