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Wrestling MSU Athletics Communications

Bears Hit the Mat Friday for the Third Annual Blue and Orange Scrimmage

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 22, 2025) – The Morgan State wrestling team is set to kick off its preseason with the third annual Blue and Orange Scrimmage, taking place Friday, October 24, inside Hill Field House. The event will serve as both a tune-up for the Bears and a chance for fans to get an early look at the 2025–26 squad.

Action begins at 6 p.m., and admission is free. The scrimmage will feature nine matchups across nine weight classes.

MATCH ORDER (Blue Team vs. Orange Team)
 Blue Team    Weight     Orange Team
  Jimmie Jones   125    Julian Dawson
  Javaan Yarbrough    133    Kevin Lopez
  Blake Bryant   141    Marwan Nazeer
  Eugene Harney   149   Myrin Nixon
  Sincere Bailey   157   Joshua Greenwood 
  Antoine Glasgow   165   Aaron Turner
  Cort Vann   174  Sam Diggs
  Alexander Newkirk    184  Kingsley Menifee 
  Bence Veress   197   Eric Washington Jr.
 
"This Friday's intrasquad match is an important step for our program. It's the first chance for our guys to get out of the practice room, compete under the lights, and put on a show for their families and Morgan State fans," said Morgan State head coach Kenny Monday.

"It's also a key part of our evaluation process as we establish our starting lineup," Monday added. "We're looking forward to seeing where we are, identifying the improvements we need to make, and building momentum heading into our first tournament at The Navy Classic on November 2."

"We hope the Morgan State student body comes out and watches us go at it! Let's go Bears!"

Morgan State will officially open the 2025–26 campaign at the annual Navy Classic, hosted by the Midshipmen on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Wesley A. Brown Field House. The Bears' home opener is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 16, when they host duals against Duke and Drexel.

For the complete schedule, click here.
 



NOTABLES
• Leading the return of NCAA Division I, Varsity-level men's wrestling to Maryland's largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Morgan State University announced the hiring of Kenny Monday as the Athletics Department's new men's wrestling coach, effective Aug. 24, 2022. Monday, the first Black wrestler in history to win an Olympic gold medal, is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, three-time Olympian, and former NCAA All-American standout, who brings a championship-level coaching pedigree and an expansive yet impressive resume to a Bears' wrestling program looking to restart after a 25-year hiatus. Monday joined Morgan after serving as the director of wrestling and head wrestling coach at Spire Academy since 2021.

• Morgan State was wrestling in its first competition in 25 years after the program was reinstated this season to make it the only HBCU with a Division I wrestling program.
 
• In October 2021, the University announced its plans to revive the men's wrestling program at Morgan State with the support of a $2.7-million gift from HBCU Wrestling (HBCUW), a new initiative reestablishing wrestling programs on HBCU campuses. The gift, which is among the largest received from a private donor to the University, provides funding for the program and supports up to nine full scholarships annually.
 
 
• The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association approved the addition of Morgan State as its newest member institution.  Morgan State is the 12th member of the EIWA, the oldest wrestling conference in the nation.


FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE 
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official website of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios, and more. 
• Follow us on social media:
 Facebook: /MorganStateBears
 Twitter: @MorganStBears
 Instagram: /MorganStateBears

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

 
 
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Players Mentioned

Blake Bryant

Blake Bryant

141 lbs
5' 7"
Freshman
Kingsley Menifee

Kingsley Menifee

184 lbs
5' 9"
Freshman
Julian Dawson

Julian Dawson

125 lbs
5' 7"
Freshman
Joshua Greenwood

Joshua Greenwood

149 lbs
5' 8"
Freshman
Kevin Lopez

Kevin Lopez

125 lbs
5' 6"
Junior
Alexander Newkirk

Alexander Newkirk

184 lbs
6' 0"
Sophomore
Aaron Turner

Aaron Turner

149 lbs
5' 9"
Freshman
Cort Vann

Cort Vann

174 lbs
5' 10"
Freshman
Eric Washington Jr.

Eric Washington Jr.

184 lbs
6' 4"
Sophomore
Jimmie Jones

Jimmie Jones

125 lbs
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Blake Bryant

Blake Bryant

5' 7"
Freshman
141 lbs
Kingsley Menifee

Kingsley Menifee

5' 9"
Freshman
184 lbs
Julian Dawson

Julian Dawson

5' 7"
Freshman
125 lbs
Joshua Greenwood

Joshua Greenwood

5' 8"
Freshman
149 lbs
Kevin Lopez

Kevin Lopez

5' 6"
Junior
125 lbs
Alexander Newkirk

Alexander Newkirk

6' 0"
Sophomore
184 lbs
Aaron Turner

Aaron Turner

5' 9"
Freshman
149 lbs
Cort Vann

Cort Vann

5' 10"
Freshman
174 lbs
Eric Washington Jr.

Eric Washington Jr.

6' 4"
Sophomore
184 lbs
Jimmie Jones

Jimmie Jones

Sophomore
125 lbs