BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Wrestling for the first time in 2023, the Cardinals had a great start to the dual match portion of their season, defeating WPI 23-18 and the host Bridgewater State 35-10 in a pair of matches on Saturday afternoon. The Cardinals move to 2-0 on the season with the two wins.
 
The Cardinals claimed victories in 14 of the 20 total varsity bouts on the day including four pins and four major decisions. Shailen Savur '25, Max Martinez '25, Jack Reusing '25 and Marco Gaita '23 each went 2-0 in their respective weight classes on the day.

• WESLEYAN 23, WPI 18 (RESULTS)
• WESLEYAN 35, BRIDGEWATER STATE 10 (RESULTS)

Starting with the opening match of the day against the Engineers, Wesleyan took a 12-3 lead thanks to three consecutive wins at 133, 141, and 149. Savur pinned Connor Doran in just 1:27 at 133 while Martinez landed a big 8-4 win by decision at 141, defeating a WPI senior in Chris Cook who placed at the Northeast Regionals last season. Jack Wemmlinger '24 won his first career dual match, earning a 10-4 decision victory over Ethan Wilson at 149.
 
After WPI landed a win by pin to lower the deficit to 12-9, the Cardinals clinched the victory with three straight wins including two by major decision to up their lead to 23-9. Reusing started with a tight 9-8 decision victory over Mario Barberio at 165. Gaita followed with a 10-2 major decision triumph over Ryan Addeche at 174 while Aris Dashiell '25 clinched the victory with a 9-0 major decision win over Ryan Hsu at 184.
 
This victory marked the seventh straight win for Wesleyan over WPI In the all-time series while the Cardinals are 18-4 against the Engineers in the last 22 meetings.
 
Starting at 141 in the Bridgewater State dual match, Martinez landed his second win on the day, this time taking down Jizaiah Lopes by a 7-2 decision. CJ Shea '25 followed with a late win by pin, taking down William Conniff at 149 in 4:50. Aaron Goldman '23 continued the Wesleyan momentum with a 11-7 decision victory over Michael Hopkins at 157.
 
Reusing recorded his second win of the day, this time by major decision in a 13-4 win over Vincent Player at 165 while Gaita followed his major decision victory earlier in the day with a pin in 2:07 of Amaruris Gomez. Joe Colon '25 won by forfeit at 197 to move the score to 28-6 and clinch the win for the Cardinals.
 
In the lightweight classes, Wesleyan added two more wins as Greg Fischer '23 defeated Bryan Cerabone by major decision 15-4 at 125 while Savur recorded a landmark win at 133 as the sophomore defeated Wilson Gomes by a 6-2 decision. Gomes is ranked No. 3 in the Northeast at 133 and is a returning NCAA qualifier from last season.
 
Next up for the Cardinals is a two-day competition in Pennsylvania as Wesleyan will take part in the Lycoming Duals on January 13 and 14.