Collegeville, PA --- Tanner Thatcher (Blairstown, NJ) and Joseph Tully (Carver, MA) collected second place finishes, Nicolas LeSieur (Walnut Creek, CA) placed third and three other WPI wrestlers reached the podium as the Engineers began their 2024-25 season by posting an impressive fourth place showing at the Racich Rumble hosted by Ursinus on Saturday.
 
Tanner and Tully reached the finals at 125 and 174 pounds respectively while LeSieur was third at 197 while Joseph Bernard (Stratham, NH) was just behind him in fourth at 197 and Charlie Pavis (Bethlehem, PA) and Theo Sawyers (Boston, MA) each placed sixth with the former in the 133-pound class and the latter at 165.
 
Thatcher got his day started with a 10-0 major decision and followed with a second period pin.  The senior captain grinded out a 6-3 win in the quarters before a quick fall just 1:15 into his semifinal before falling 16-8 to an opponent from NYU in the title match.  Tully had nothing but bonus point triumphs on his road to the finals.    He began with back-to-back tech falls (17-0 at 3:28 and 17-1 at 5:40) before posting consecutive pins at 6:10 in the quarterfinals and 4:26 in the semifinals.  The sophomore was defeated by a wrestler from York (PA) in the championship bout.
 
The Crimson and Gray racked up the team points at 197 pounds.   LeSieur took advantage of a bye and then rattled off a pair of first period pins to reach the semifinals.  The captain was defeated in the semis but bounced right back with a fall at 1:14 to take home the bronze.  Bernard won his first three bouts to get to the podium.  The sophomore kicked off his season with a fall at 1:32, an 11-3 major decision and 7-2 victory before falling in the semifinals and then to his teammate in the third place bout.
 
Pavis took the long road to the podium, dropping his first contest of the day before registering four straight victories at 133 pounds.  The spurt stared with a quick 32-second pin following by a 14-2 major decision, an 18-11 triumph and a medical forfeit before dropping the fifth place bout.   Sawyers parlayed a first round bye and two additional wins to get his spot on the podium.  The junior posted a 16-7 major decision and a first period fall for the Engineers.  Sam Rodrigues (Lincoln, RI)   also won his first bout at 133 with a 11-2 major decision while Ryan Hsu (Norwood, MA) did the same in his opening bout at 165 when his notched a pin at the third period buzzer (7:00).
 
WPI totaled five wins at 141 pounds with Jerry Hill (Bethel, CT) collecting a pin at 4:11 in the opening round while Mason Medina (Orlando, FL) delivered a fall at 0:57 and a 16-3 tech fall at 4:17 and Jackson Willi (Delmar, NY) posted high-scoring 13-2 and 15-7 victories in consolation rounds. 
 
Mason Basara (Bethlehem, PA) and Lucas Marchese (Branchburg, NJ) each registered three victories at 149.  Basara's triumphs included an 18-2 tech fall at 5:08, a 8-5 win and an 18-8 major decision while Marchese tallied a 16-6 major decision and a pair of consecutive first period pins at 0:39 and 2:23.  Jonah Weber (Avon, CT) also broke into the win columns for the Engineers at 149 with a 17-1 tech fall at 3:57.

Additionally, Joey Baisley (Charlotte, NC) captured a 6-4 win at 157 to go along with a 10-0 major decision at 157 pounds and Mike Gorman (Plainville, MA) added a pin at 4:36 in the same weight class.
 
WPI kicks off the dual meet portion of its schedule next Saturday in Providence, tangling with host Rhode Island College and Plymouth State.  The tri-match is slated for a noon start. 
 
Results