By Zoe Earle with the SGJC Student News Network
PHILADELPHIA -- Morgan State University’s wrestling team traveled Feb. 23 to the University of Pennsylvania and faced the Ivy League opponents on senior night.
The visiting Bears lost 43-4 to the nationally ranked No. 18 Quakers inside the historic Palestraarena. Yet the lopsided score revealed encouraging results. Jacob Marsh [165 pounds] landed two takedowns plus an 8-0 win.
After a 25-year-hiatus, the Bears faced off against two Ivy League teams and other top- ranked programs from their division. Morgan State wrestling is one of the newest additions to varsity sports that the university has to offer.
As a start-up program, more than half of the roster consists of freshmen, who are all trying to adapt to the intensity of Division I wrestling while also being college student- athletes.
“This really is about growing, I feel like all these matches are learning experiences and we just try our best,” said Julian Dawson, a freshman. “We really have nothing to lose.”
Assistant coach Alonzo Allen explained how well he feels the team adjusted to the challenges they faced, and his hopes for the program’s future:
“As incoming freshmen, they’re all adjusting pretty well, and I honestly hope we can become a dominant program, where people know who Morgan State wrestling is, what we stand about, and are proud to wear that “M” on their chest.”
Morgan State University wrestling concluded the season with a 2- 19 record.
The writer is a student in the School of Global Journalism and Communication