WORCESTER -- Ethan Edmondson (Milford, CT) posted a pair of pins and Tanner Thatcher (Blairstown, NJ) and Joe Bernard (Stratham, NH) both tallied a pair of victories as the WPI wrestling team opened the 2024 portion of its schedule with a split Saturday afternoon at a tri-match hosted by Wesleyan.
 
The Engineers opened the day with 39-11 triumph over Bridgewater State before concluding the day with a 38-13 setback to the host Cardinals.  Wesleyan shutout the Bears 54-0 in the day's middle match. 
 
Thatcher, ranked fourth in the most recent NEWA rankings at 125 pounds, began Saturday with a pin at 4:30.  After the Bears cashed in on a forfeit at 133, WPI posted bonus points victories in the next three matches to surge ahead 27-6 midway through.  Mason Medina (Orlando, FL) got the explosive run started at 141 with a fall at 1:38 and Connor Doran (Gales Ferry, CT) followed up with a commanding 15-0 tech fall just 2:01 into his bout at 149.  Zachary Rioux (Nashua, NH) closed out the spurt with a pin a 4:01 at 157 pounds.
 
Following a Bridgewater State tech fall at 165 pounds, the Crimson and Gray closed out the match with four straight triumphs.  Edmondson collected his first pin of the day 1:49 into his bout at 174 pounds while Joseph Tully (Carver, MA) followed with a 14-1 major decision at 184.  The Engineers closed out the matchup with the Bears with a 7-4 win by Bernard at 197 and a 4-0 shutout from heavyweight Trevor Bowen (Frenchtown, NJ).
 
The Engineers got off on the right foot again versus Wesleyan as Thatcher improved to 15-2 on the season with an 8-0 major decision at 125 pounds.  Edmondson halted a run of six straight Cardinal wins with a pin 1:54 into his bout at 174 and Bernard grinded out a hard-earned 5-4 decision at 197.  
 
WPI is in action on the road twice next weekend, venturing to New London, CT for a 6pm meet at rival Coast Guard before heading to Providence for an 11am quad at Johnson & Wales with Roger Williams and Trinity.   Wesleyan competes next Saturday in the Will Abele Invite at Ursinus (PA) beginning at 9am while Bridgewater State hosts Johnson & Wales next Saturday at 2pm.
 
WPI 39, Bridgewater State 11
 
Wesleyan 38, WPI 13