Springfield, MA --- Trevor Bowen (Frenchtown, NJ) reached the finals at heavyweight and 197-pounder Joe Bernard (Stratham, NH) placed fourth as WPI logged a fifth place showing as the Engineers competed Sunday at the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Championships at Western New England.
 
Bowen rattled off three consecutive victories to reach the 285 pound championship match.  After a bye, the junior began his run with a second period pin and followed with a 7-2 victory in the quarterfinals and an 11-2 major decision in the semis before falling in the final to a wrestler from Castleton.
 
Bernard also won his first three bouts at 197 pounds.   The sophomore got going with a late fall at 6:40 in his opening match before posting a 12-3 major decision in the second round and thrilling 2-1 win in TB2.
 
The 165 pound weight class was a competitive for the Engineers.  Theo Sawyers (Boston, MA) won three matches, starting with a pair of wins by decision in the winner's bracket and bouncing back after a setback with a pin just before the end of the first period at 2:59 and an important 5-4 triumph.  The Crimson and Gray registered three other wins at 165, with Ryan Hsu (Norwood, MA) notching 12-6 and 3-0 wins and Michael Gorham (Plainville, MA) delivering a 11-0 major decision.
 
Joey Baisley (Charlotte, NC) reached the semifinals at 157 by winning a pair of matches, including a fall at 4:09.  He also posted a 13-0 major decision in the consolation bracket.  Jonah Weber (Avon, CT) posted a pair of second period tech falls in the same weight class and added a 13-0 major decision while John McKenzie (San Anselmo, CA) picked up two wins, including a 19-5 major decision and a pin at 5:37.  Ethan Wilson (Braintree, MA) used a fall at 1:59 to capture his opening bout and Michael McNulty (Manasquan, NJ) also secured a win by pinning his foe at 1:18.
 
Jerry Hill (Bethel, CT) and Lucas Marchese (Branchburg, NJ) both reached the semifinals at 141 and 149 pounds respectively.  Hill tallied a pin at 4:31 and a 14-6 major decision while Marchese grinding out 8-6 and 8-4 victories by decision.  WPI totaled five triumphs in the wrestle backs in the two classes with Reese Tittus (Canton, CT) winning twice at 141 including a 4-2 win and Jackson Willi (Delmar, NY) recording a 17-0 tech fall (3:34) in the same weight class while Nick Laskowski (Kerhonkson, NY) recorded a pin at 1:37 and Bud West (Concord, MA) collected a 11-6 decision at 149.
 
Three other wrestlers posted wins Sunday for the Engineers.  John-Michael Economos (Staten Island, NY) captured his opening bout 4-1 at 174 pounds while Ezekiel Kasen (Brookline, MA) had a quick pin just 19 seconds at 125 and Sam Rodrigues (Lincoln, RI) win 8-5 at 133.
 
WPI turns its attention to next weekend's NCAA Division III Northeast Regional at Wesleyan.  The two-day event kicks off on Saturday at 11am.
 
Results