New London, CT --- Andrew Ellis (Arlington MA) and Dan Wensley (Wakefield, MA) each went 2-0 Saturday as WPI wrestling split a pair of matches at the Coast Guard super quad. The Crimson and Gray knocked off Bridgewater State 46-6 in the second match after falling to nationally-ranked NYU 29-13 to open the day.
In the victory over Bridgewater State, WPI won nine straight bouts after the Bears took a forfeit win at 125 pounds. Ellis and Carter Lewis (Westwood, NJ) got the run started with consecutive first period pins at 133 (2:01) and 141 (0:43). The Boynton Hillers increased their lead to 24-6 when Wayne Nolette (Nashua, NH) and Ronan Ball (Maynard, MA) won by forfeit at 149 and 157 respectively.
The Crimson and Gray then won a pair of bouts that went the distance. Brendan Marion (Norristown, PA) grinded out a 9-8 triumph in a match-up of regionally-ranked grapplers at 165 pounds before Chase Lind (Fairfield, CT) delivered a 10-2 major decision at 174. WPI then went back to the pin parade as Wensley, ranked eighth nationally at 184, pinned his opponent at 2:11 and Michael Curtis (Wells, ME) registered a fall of his foe just 46 seconds into his bout. Nick Day (Northampton, MA) then closed out the impressive spurt with an 8-2 victory in a battle of regionally-ranked heavyweights.
The Engineers got off to a good start in the opener versus NYU. A 16-1 (5:59) tech fall by Michael Aquino (Boston, MA) at 125 pounds and a 10-0 major decision by Ellis at 133 gave the Crimson and Gray a quick 10-0 advantage, however the No. 17 Violets captured seven of the final eight bouts to claim the victory. Wensley accounted for the Crimson and Gray only victory during the spurt with a 10-0 major decision at 184.
WPI (9-9) concludes the regular season portion of its schedule next Saturday with a 5pm home dual meet versus Springfield in Harrington Auditorium.