Gorham, ME --- WPI Joseph Tully (Carver, MA) won the 174-pound weight class while Tanner Thatcher (Blairstown, NJ) earned silver at 125 and Nicolas LeSieur (Walnut Creek, CA) placed third at 197 as the Engineers totaled 91 points as a team to finish fourth at the Ted Reese Invitational hosted by Southern Maine.
 
As a team, the Crimson and Gray amassed 91 points, 14 behind the hosting Huskies for third place.   Coast Guard (175), ranked fourth in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Top 25 Tournament rankings, outlasted seventh-ranked Castleton (148).
 
Tully, the third-ranked wrestler in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA), was a perfect 4-0 on the day with all of his victories providing bonus points.  The sophomore began his title run with a 20-3 tech fall just 1:03 before a first period pin 2:03 into his quarterfinal.   The 174-pounder delivered a 13-2 major decision in the semifinals and then pinned Coast Guard's Ryan Boyer at 1:06 of the first period.  Tully is now 12-1 on the season with six falls.
 
Thatcher began his run to the finals at 125 pounds with a first period pin, his fifth of the season.  The senior then grinded out a 4-1 semifinal triumph before falling to Gavin Bradley of Castleton in the finals in a match that pitted the second and third ranked wrestlers in the NEWA.
 
The 197-pound weight class saw a pair of Engineers on the podium with LeSieur and Joseph Bernard (Stratham, NH) finishing third and fourth respectively after each reached the semifinals.   LeSieur posted consecutive falls before falling in the semifinals.  He bounced back with two more pins, including one at 6:42 to reach the third place bout, which ended with him winning by pin late in the first period.  Bernard started his trek with a 21-5 tech fall just before the final buzzer and then a 7-2 quarterfinal triumph.  After falling in the semifinals, the sophomore posted a dramatic 9-6 win in SV to reach the third place match against Bernard.

Charlie Pavis (Bethleham, PA) also earned a spot of the podium for WPI.  The eighth-ranked 133-pounder drew a bye in his opening bout and then posted a first period pin in the quarterfinals.  After a loss to the defending national champion, he reached the third place match by winning 13-6. 
 
Three different wrestlers combined for six Crimson and Gray wins at 141 pounds.  Mason Medina (Orlando, FL) captured three different types of victories, including a first period fall 59 second into his opening bout and a 4-0 triumph and a 15-6 major decision in consolation rounds.  Jerry Hill (Bethel, CT) recovered from an early defeat to tally consecutive second period pins and Jackson Willi (Delmar, NY) captured his first bout with a tight 6-5 win.
 
Mason Basara (Bethlehem, PA) and Zak Robinson (Holliston, MA) both won a pair of matches at 149 pounds while Jonah Weber (Avon, CT) chipped in with a 16-10 decision.  Basara notched 18-4 and 19-7 major decisions while Robinson was victorious 7-4 and then won perhaps the day's most entertaining match 28-16 in a major decision. 
 
Five different WPI wrestlers registered wins at 157 pounds. Joey Baisley (Charlotte, NC) found himself in the consolation bracket early but then responded by rattling off three straight first period pins to aid the Boynton Hillers.  Ethan Wilson (Braintree, MA) started the day with a first period pin when down 3-2 and added two additional falls in the wrestle backs.  Michael McNulty (Manasquan, NJ) went 2-2 on the day with a 17-2 tech fall and a 8-6 win by decision while John McKenzie (San Anselmo, CA) opened with a 14-1 major decision and later chipped in with a 19-2 tech fall at 4:31 and Logan Jacques (Hudson, NH) tallied a second period gall at 4:14
 
Ryan Hsu (Norwood, MA) and Theo Sawyers (Boston, MA) both posted a triumph at 165 pounds, with Hsu recording a 14-5 major decision and Sawyers a 18-0 tech fall at 6:34 while heavyweight Trevor Bowen (Frenchtown, NJ) delivered a fall at 59 seconds and a 1-0 shutout in the consolation.

WPI wraps up the 2024 portion of its schedule next Saturday, venturing to Oneonta State for a tri-match with the host Dragons and Utica.  Action is slated to begin a noon.

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