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Box Score
GRANTHAM, Pa. (Nov. 3) – Behind a first-place finish by freshman
Nick Garber at 141-lbs., the Waynesburg University wrestling team finished sixth at the season-opening Messiah College Invitational on Saturday. In addition to Garber, sophomore heavyweight
Melvin Warrick and freshman Jason King placed at the seven-team invitational.
Garber entered the 141-lbs. bracket as the third seed and enjoyed an opening-round bye. In his first collegiate bout, he defeated Jeff Mazurek of Kings College via pin fall at the 1:10-mark before defeating second-seeded Barry Thrush of the host Falcons with an 11-6 decision. The newcomer registered a pin fall over Tony Miele of Kings College, the top seed in the bracket, at the 1:08-mark in the championship bout.
In the heavyweight division, Warrick worked his way to a third-place finish in the wrestleback after losing his opening match. The Connellsville graduate defeated teammate
Rich Janicki with a pin in the opening minute before claming a 6-4 victory over senior teammate
LR Neubauer. Warrick then defeated third-seeded Justin Bender of Kings by medical forfeit to advance to the third-place bout. The sophomore then registered a 6-5 victory over Matt Rugani of Johns Hopkins to finish the day.
King entered the 174-lbs. unranked and opened his collegiate career with an 8-3 decision against Mickey Keane of Hopkins before being forced to the wrestleback by the eventual champion in the bracket. In the wrestleback, King earned a pin fall over Lewis Snover of Kings at 1:35 before claiming a narrow 7-6 decision over fifth-seeded Brian Hindle of Ursinus. After advancing to the third-place match via medical default, the Uniontown product suffered a 1-0 loss to fourth-seeded B.J. Greeman of Case Western Reserve.
In addition to three wrestlers placing, Neubauer posted a pair of victories in the heavyweight bracket, while Joshua Boyle and
Kevin Walsh earned a victory in the 133-lbs. and 157-lbs. weight classes, respectively.
Host Messiah won the invitational with 122 points, followed by Hopkins (96), McDaniel (64.5) and Case Western (42.5). Kings (41.5), Waynesburg (37.5) and Ursinus (37) rounded out the rest of the scorers.
The Yellow Jackets return to action next weekend, Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Case Western Reserve Duals in Cleveland, Ohio with matches starting at 12 p.m.
