BALTIMORE, Md. (Feb. 13, 2025) -- This Sunday night at 5 p.m., the Morgan State wrestling team will pack their gear and head north to Fairfield, Connecticut, where they will face the Sacred Heart Pioneers on the mat in EIWA action.

The clash between the Bears and the Pioneers promises to be an intriguing matchup, as both teams are desperately searching for positive momentum in a challenging season. The Bears, determined to bounce back after a recent setback, are eager to reclaim their spot in the win column. On the other side, the Pioneers are grappling with a frustrating 13-match losing streak, a sharp contrast to the optimism that followed their season-opening victory against Presbyterian College on November 3.

Both teams will be fueled by urgency, with the Bears striving to reestablish themselves and the Pioneers seeking redemption and a chance to reset their season.

Fans unable to attend in person can catch all the action live on ESPN+ - here.

SCOUTING SACRED HEART
•  Sacred Heart most recently suffered a 43-3 loss to Binghamton last Sunday in Vestal, N.Y. Dakota Asuncion scored a 9-4 decision over Ivan Garcia for the Pioneers' only points of the match.  

•  The Sacred Heart wrestling team has faced an uphill battle this season, with challenges piling up as their record reflects a stark 1-13 overall performance. Their most recent loss to Binghamton in EIWA competition dropped them to 0-3 within the conference and extended their struggles in what has been a difficult campaign. The team's lone victory came in their season opener against Presbyterian College, where they showcased dominance with a commanding 32-11 win.

•  Morgan State and Sacred Heart are set to face off for only the second time in their programs' history, building on the foundation laid during their initial meeting last season. In that matchup, Sacred Heart's Pioneers secured a 29-17 victory over the Bears at Hill Field House. Despite the loss, Morgan displayed resilience and individual talent, with standout performances by Joshua Greenwood and Cortilus Vann, who fought hard to earn victories by decision. Jake Marsh added to the Bears' efforts with an impressive pin.

• Since taking over as head coach of the Sacred Heart wrestling program in the summer of 2017, John Clark has built the Pioneers into a program that competes both on the mat and in the classroom.The Pioneers have ranked in the Top 10 in the nation for team grade point average the last five years. Brandon Levesque earned NWCA Scholar-Athlete honors and was one of three Pioneers to earn an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Academic Achievement Award. 

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 comes to Morgan after serving as the director of wrestling and head wrestling coach at Spire Academy, since 2021.

• Last season, Morgan 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 with the support 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 has approved the addition of Morgan State as its newest member institution. Morgan is the 12th member of the EIWA, the oldest wrestling conference in the nation.

• The EIWA announced Wednesday a division-based regular season dual schedule.  The 12 EIWA member programs will be grouped into divisions of seven and five for the 2024-25 season. A full divisional dual meet schedule will launch for 2025-26. Kyle Borshoff, Binghamton University Head Wrestling Coach & EIWA Coaches Association President says, "Creating two divisions within the EIWA provides the opportunity for member teams to establish dual meet consistency and create exciting rivalries that our fans can count on seeing year in and year out. Creating the Independence and Patriot divisions allows us to highlight the excitement that surrounds the dual meet portion of our season, as all of our teams work to establish themselves as divisional champions."

• Among the athletes to watch this season is sophomore Kingsley Menifee, an 184-pounder returning healthy after an injury sidelined him last year. Menifee has already demonstrated his potential with impressive matches against top-ranked wrestlers, establishing himself as one of the team's more seasoned competitors. Also poised for a strong season is sophomore Shawn Ryncarz, a 133-pounder who had an outstanding year last season.

• The coaching staff has been busy recruiting and welcoming Myrin Nixon, a promising 140-pounder from Great Bridge High School who excelled in high school.

• With former standout Jake Marsh's departure, several individuals are expected to step into leadership roles this season. Senior Darrien Roberts, a 170-pounder who transferred from the University of Oklahoma, is anticipated to take on significant leadership responsibilities. "He is going to fill those shoes," Monday stated.

• Junior Xavier Doolin, a transfer from the University of Northern Colorado, will also play a key role in guiding younger wrestlers. Monday emphasized the importance of Doolin's leadership, stating, "He brings valuable leadership experience from competing against high-level players, and we expect big things from him. Our goal is to help every wrestler achieve their best performance. With Darrien being a senior, we want him to have his best season ever in college." Doolin currently ranks No. 6 in the EIWA and has an 11-4 overall record and is 7-1 in duals. 

Season tickets and individual match tickets are now on sale for the 2024-25 Morgan State wrestling season - Click here

 

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• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more. 
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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.