BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University wrestling team opened the 2021-2022 season with a 30-13 setback to the University of Southern Maine on Saturday afternoon at John J. Kelly Gymnasium.

The Bears (0-1) entered the match ranked sixth in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Preseason Tournament Poll, while the visiting Huskies (1-0) were ranked seventh. Southern Maine was also ninth in the NEWA Preseason Dual Meet Poll.

USM won six of the ten bouts on the afternoon including a trio of pins by graduate 197-pounder Aidan Whitis (Gorham, Maine), senior heavyweight Jake Peavey (South China, Maine) and sophomore Ethan Ford (North Andover, Mass.) at 133. Peavey, ranked third in the NEWA Individual Rankings, knocked off the #1 ranked heavyweight in New England.

The Huskies also received a 6-4 win by decision by freshman Tyler Haines (Metuchen, N.J.) at 165, a 16-0 technical fall victory by senior 141-pounder Kevin Moore (Owls Head, Maine) and a 12-2 major decision by freshman Colby Frost (Steep Falls, Maine) at 149.

BSU senior Fox Maxwell (Winchester, Mass.), ranked third in New England , earned a 3-1 decision at the 174-pound weight class while junior 184-pounder Edwin Morales (Philadelphia, Pa.) followed with a 5-2 decision to give the Bears the early 6-3 lead. Morales, who qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships in 2020 at 184, is ranked second in New England.

The Huskies answered with the back-to-back pins by Whitis and Peavey to take control of the match.

BSU junior Wilson Gomes (Fogo, Cape Verde) posted a 16-5 major decision win over Southern Maine senior Antoine Grace (Queensbury, N.Y.) as the #7 and #8 ranked 125-pounders in New England squared off.

Freshman 141-pounder Michael Hopkins (Swampscott, Mass.) added a 4-1 major decision for the Bears in the final bout of the day.

The BSU wrestling team is back in action next Saturday as the Bears will compete at the Roger Williams Invitational.