Springfield, MA --- Mason Basara (Bethlehem, PA) earned a spot on the podium and joined Joey Baisley (Charlotte, NC) with eight wins on the day to highlight WPI's performance at the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Futures Tournament hosted by Western New England on Sunday.
 
As a team, the Engineers sent 13 wrestlers to the event and compiled to amass 26 points en route to a 13th place finish.  Castleton captured the team title with 176 points, followed by Coast Guard with 157 and Johnson & Wales was third with 125.50 in the 17-team event where their were no limits for entries per school.
 
Basara earned his way to the podium by collecting four straight victories following an opening round defeat.  The rookie began his journey with by posting back-to-back 17-2 tech falls (4:25 and 3:18) before grabbing a 10-3 victory and a 17-4 major decision.  The 141-pounder was defeated in the fifth-place match to wrap up a 4-2 performance on the day.   

Baisley also battled back from an opening round loss to rattle off four consecutive victories at 149 pounds.  The freshman amassed three first period falls (1:15, 1:16 and 2:11) along with a 7-0 shutout.  Baisley narrowly missed a spot on the podium as he dropped a tough 3-2 decision in his final bout.

Ryan Addeche (Foxboro, MA) excelled at 174 pounds for the Crimson and Gray.  The junior bounced back from an opening round loss at 174 pounds with consecutive pins of wrestlers from Trinity (3:58) and Bridgewater State (0:45).
 
WPI had multiple winners in three other weight classes.  Jerry Hill (Bethel, CT) won his opening round bout at 141 pounds with a 15-0 tech fall while Mason Medina (Orlando, FL) recorded a pin late first period fall at 2:52 at the same weight.  149 pounds saw pins by Lucas Marchese (Branchburg, NJ) and Jonah Weber (Avon, CT).  Marches posted his fall 1:03 into his match while Weber finished his opponent at 3:55 of his second bout of the day.  Bonus points were earned at 165 as Michael Gorham (Plainville, MA) provided the Crimson and Gray with a pin at 1:55 and Theo Sawyers (Boston, MA) delivered a 13-4 major decision.

Others to compete for the Engineers on Sunday were Connell Paxton (Kensington, MD) at 133 pounds, 149-pounder Ethan Wilson (Braintree, MA), Bud West (Concord, MA) and heavyweight Seth Beyea (Arundel, ME).
 
Up next for WPI is the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional, which will be hosted by the Crimson and Gray this coming Saturday March 2nd and Sunday, March 3rd in the Sports & Recreation Center.  Action begins at 10am each morning.
 
Results