BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University wrestling team fell to Johnson & Wales Friday evening, 31-16, in the RWU Campus Recreation Center in a New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Dual.
 
The Wildcats opened the match with a win by Adolfo Betancur by pinfall in 2:35, before Harrison Gordon followed with a win by technical fall at 125 pounds in 6:11, 19-3.
 
After the Wildcats saw another technical fall win by Joziah Fry 1t 133 pounds to take a 16-0 lead, they continued to add to their lead with another pin, this time by Nicholas DeSola in the opening period, pinning his foe in under 2:00.
 
The Hawks took their first points of the match at 157 pounds, when Ben Bariso (Butler, N.J.) earned a 9-3 win by decision.  A major decision victory at 165 pounds gave Johnson & Wales a 31-3 advantage in the dual, but Jayden Curley (Mansfield, Mass.) added four points with a major decision victory, 15-3 over Maurice Cooper.
 
In the 184 pound match, Michael Pugliese and Cole Shaughnessy (Fairfield, Conn.) battled it out, until Shaughnessy earned three late points taking an 8-2 win. The Wildcats would forfeit the match at 197 points, closing out the match.
 
Roger Williams (10-6) enter the home stretch of their season, beginning with the Futures Tournament hosted by Western New England on Sunday, Feb. 25. The Hawks will then finalize preparation for the Northeast Regional Championships on Saturday, Mar. 2 and Sunday, Mar. 3 at WPI.