BRIDGEWATER, Mass.  –  Senior Jake Peavey (South China, Maine/Erskine Academy), sophomore Ethan Ford (North Andover, Mass.) and graduate student Aidan Whitis (Gorham, Maine/Phillips Exeter Academy) each earned a win by fall to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies wrestling team to a season-opening 30-13 win over the Bridgewater State University Bears Saturday afternoon at John J. Kelly Gymnasium.
 
Southern Maine (1-0) entered the dual meet ranked seven in the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) preseason tournament poll and ninth in the preseason dual meet poll.  Bridgewater State (0-1) entered the match ranked sixth.
 
In addition to Ford, Husky first-year wrestlers Tyler Haynes (Metuchen, N.J.) and Colby Frost (Steep Falls, Maine/Bonny Eagle) each picked up their first intercollegiate wins.  Wrestling at 165, Haynes opened the match win a 6-4 win by decision over Bridgewater State's Devin Winn, while Frost earned a 12-2 major decision victory over BSU's Steven Wise. Winn entered his match with Haynes ranked eighth in the New England Wrestling Association individual rankings.
 
BSU led USM 6-3 after the first three individual bouts (165, 174, and 184), before Whitis ranked  scored six points for the Huskies putting his opponent at 197-pounds Dave MacNeil to the mat in 2:58 to give the Huskies a 9-6 lead.  Whitis, who wrestled at 197 today, is ranked fourth by NEWA at 184.
 
In an early season showdown, Peavey, ranked third by NEWA, faced off against top-ranked Ryan Higgins in the 285-pound match.  Peavey dropped Higgins, winning by fall in 1:25 to give USM a 15-6 margin.

BSU earned a major decision win at 125 to trail 15-10, but Ford pinned Anthony Farrell in 1:39 to start a string of three consecutive individual Husky victories to put the match out of reach for Bridgewater State. After Ford's win by fall, Husky senior Kevin Moore (Owls Head, Maine/Mt. Blue) rattled off a dominating 16-0 (5:25) win by technical fall over BSU's Lucas Purpora at 141-pounds for a 26-10 lead.  Frost capped the Huskies scoring earning a major decision victory over Steven Wise at 149 pounds.  Frost defeated his opponent 12-2.
 
Southern Maine is back in action on Saturday, November 13 at the Roger Williams Invitational.
 
Southern Maine 30, Bridgewater State 13
Records: USM 1-0   Bridgewater State (0-1)
Wt.         Bout                                                                                                                     Running Score
165        Tyler Haynes (SM) dec. Devin Winn (BSU), 6-4                                                       USM, 3-0
174        Fox Maxwell (BSU) dec. Juan Vernaza (SM), 3-1                                                    Tie, 3-3
184        Edwin Morales (BSU) dec. David Kurker (SM), 5-2                                                  BSU, 6-3
197        Aidan Whitis (SM) pinned Dave MacNeil (BSU), 2:58                                               USM, 9-6
285        Jake Peavey (SM) pinned Ryan Higgins (BSU), 1:25                                               USM, 15-6
125        Wilson Gomes (BSU) major dec. Antoine Grace (SM), 16-5                                     USM, 15-10
133        Ethan Ford (SM) pinned Anthony Farrell (BSU), 1:39                                               USM, 21-10
141        Kevin Moore (SM) tech fall Lucas Purpora (BSU), 16-0 (5:25)                                  USM, 26-10
149        Colby Frost (SM) major dec. Steven Wise (BSU), 12-2                                            USM, 30-10
157        Michael Hopkins (BSU) dec Kaleb Pool (SM), 4-1                                                    USM, 30-13