Marsh Named NEWA Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Year

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State College senior John Marsh was named the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Year by the conference coaches at the NEWA Championships on Sunday evening.  Marsh shares the honor along with Williams College junior Ryan Malo.

A native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Marsh is enjoying an outstanding senior season for the Bears wrestling out of the 149-pound weight class as he is currently sporting an impressive 31-1 record.  He captured the 149-pound title at the NEWA Championships over the weekend and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  Marsh will be making his second appearance in the NCAAs and first since his sophomore season of 2007 when he was competing out of the 141-pound weight class.

Through 32 bouts this season, Marsh leads the Bears in winning percentage (.969) and takedowns (112), and is second in wins and tied for third in pins (7) and near falls (14).  He has won 28 straight bouts since a heartbreaking loss to Kevin Sutherland of Rhode Island College in the championship match of the season-opening Roger Williams Invitational.  Since then, Marsh has defeated Sutherland four straight times including twice at the NEWA Championships on Sunday.

In three plus seasons at Bridgewater State, Marsh has accumulated 106 wins which is good enough for fifth all-time in the BSC wrestling record book.  During his sophomore campaign of 2006-2007, he set the Bears' singles-season records for wins with 47 and for takedowns with 137.