Higgins Captures Heavyweight Title at Scott Viera Open

BRISTOL, R.I. -- Bridgewater State University freshman Ryan Higgins (Billerica, Mass.) captured the heavyweight title at the non-scoring Scott Viera Open hosted by Roger Williams University on Sunday.

Higgins went 4-0 at the tournament to improve his season win-loss record to 16-5 (.762).

Higgins opened the day with a 6-3 victory over Tim Nagosky of LIU Post. He then pinned Adam Krieger of Mount Saint Vincent in the second period (4:07) to advance to the heavyweight semifinals. After knocking off Daryl Bagley of AIC, 5-3, in the semifinals, Higgins won by medical forfeit against Adam Patsun of host Roger Williams to capture the title. Patsun entered the day ranked sixth in New England for the heavyweight class, while Higgins was ranked seventh.

BSU senior captain Andrew Valdina (Dracut, Mass.) placed fourth out of the 141-pound weight class as he went 2-2 on the day. Valdina earned a 6-4 decision over Andy Lombard of Roger Williams before dropping a 10-3 decision to James Matias of Wesleyan University. Matias entered the tournament ranked sixth in the New England at 141. Valdina bounced back with a win by fall (4:07) over Craig Sampson of Johnson & Wales University in the consolation semifinals. He then dropped an 8-2 decision to Noah Caskey of Naval Academy Prep in the third-place match.

Freshman Wilson Gomes (New Bedford, Mass.) earmed his first placing at a collegiate tournament as he finished fourth out of the 125-pound weight class. After dropping his first bout, Gomes pinned (2:06) sophomore teammate Shawn Farrell (Raynham, Mass.) and followed that up with a 13-7 victory over Greg Fischer of Wesleyan University. In the third-place match, Gomes lost by tech. fall to Matt Cardello of Navy Prep.

The BSU wrestling team returns to the mat on Wednesday, January 9th when they host Western New England University at 7:00 PM.