Springfield, MA --- Mason Basara (Bethlehem, PA) tallied a late upset of a regionally-ranked opponent and Tanner Thatcher (Blairstown, NJ) and Nicolas LeSieur (Walnut Creek, CA) both posted bonus point triumphs as the WPI wrestling team concluded its road schedule with a 32-14 loss to nationally-ranked Springfield on Friday evening.
 
Springfield, ranked 21st in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Top 25, is now 12-5 on the season while the Engineers fall to 11-9 overall.
 
Thatcher, who entered the night 10th nationally in the Open Mat rankings, used a takedown just before the final horn, coupled with the riding time bonus, to deliver a 20-5 tech fall to open the match at 125 pounds.  The senior is now 20-3 on the season and has hit 20 victories in a season for the second time in three years.
 
Basara rallied to stun Springfield's Luke Temple (Jackson, NJ) 5-4 late in the 149-pound bout.  Basara improved to 14-9 during his sophomore campaign by knocking off the region's sixth-ranked grappler. 
 
LeSieur continued his impressive season at 197 pounds for the Crimson and Gray.  The senior, who is ranked eighth regionally, notched his team-high 14th fall of the season to move to 16-6 overall.
 
The Pride received consecutive pins by Jake Deguire (Schenectady, NY) at 165 pounds, Nick Rogers (Watertown, NY) at 174 and Myles Leonard (Waldwick, NJ) at 184 to put a strangle hold on the matchup.  Earlier Jaden Colwell (Lords Valley, PA) and Ryan Kozdra (Mahwah, NJ) provided Springfield wins at 133 and 141 and Lucien Perla (Stow, MA) matched Kozdra with a major decision at 157.  Doug Clark (Lynn, MA) closed out the night with a 9-5 decision at heavyweight for the Pride.
 
WPI has a quick turnaround, closing out the regular season on Saturday on Senior Night versus Western New England.  Action inside Harrington Auditorium is slated to start at 5pm.
 
Results