Bridgewater, MA --- Charlie Pavis (Bethlehem, PA), Theo Sawyers (Boston, MA), Joseph Tully (Carver, MA) and Joe Bernard (Stratham, NH) all posted a pair of victories Saturday as WPI wrestling returned to the mat for the first time in 2026 in a tri-match inside Bridgewater's Kelly Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. 
 
The Engineers (5-4) were defeated by Wesleyan (3-0) 30-18 in the first match of the day before wrapping up the afternoon by rallying to defeat the host Bears (0-4) 30-18 to conclude the day.  The Cardinals bested Bridgewater State 29-18 in Saturday's middle match.  
 
In the victory over Bridgewater State, Pavis delivered the Crimson and Gray a second period pin at 125 pounds, and then after a BSU fall at 133, Mason Medina (Orlando, FL) kept the parade of pins going at 141 when he sent his opponent's shoulders to the mat with just three seconds remaining in the first period.
 
The Bears were then able to cobble together three straight victories with a pair of decisions sandwiched around a first period pin at 157 pounds. 
 
Trailing 17-12 with just four matches left, the Engineers had very little margin for error the rest of the way and delivered four straight wins to ensure a split on the day.  Sawyer got the rally started with a pin 3:45 into his match at 174 and Tully took a forfeit win at 184.   
 
The 197-pound match featured a pair of regionally-ranked wrestlers and Bernard found himself on the short end of a 7-3 decision in the third period but responded with a takedown about midway through the final stanza and then after allowing an escape and now trailing 8-6, the senior registered a takedown in the final 15 seconds and rode out his opponent to claim a dramatic 9-8 decision, giving WPI an unsurmountable 27-17 edge.  Heavyweight Trevor Bowen (Frenchtown, NJ) closed out the day with a 4-1 win at 285 pounds to put the cherry on top of a 30-17 victory for the Boynton Hillers.

In the opener, Pavis put the Engineers ahead to start, using a pair of first period takedowns on his way to an 8-6 victory over his fifth-ranked Region 1 opponent in his first match of the season at 125 pounds.  Wesleyan then rattled off the next six victories, the first three via pins, as the Cardinals surged ahead 26-3.   
 
The Engineers would not go away quietly, stringing together three straight victories.  Sawyers again began the WPI push, using a first period takedown and a riding time to post a 4-0 shutout at 174 pounds.  From there, the regionally-ranked duo of Tully and Bernard delivered back-to-back falls.  Tully, ranked seventh at 184 pounds, pinned his opponent just 46 seconds in while Bernard took down his foe at 2:45. 
 
Wesleyan closed out the match with a major decision to claim the 30-18 victory.
 
WPI turns its attention to a midweek dual match at nationally-ranked Coast Guard.  The Engineers head to New London, CT for a 6pm dual meet with the No. 17 Bears.  Bridgewater State and Wesleyan are both back in action on Saturday with the Bears hosting No. 23 Williams on Senior Day at 12:30pm while the Cardinals head to Ursinus' Will Abele Invitational which begins at 10am.
 
Wesleyan 30, WPI 18
 
WPI 30, Bridgewater State 17