• Final Team Standing (.pdf)
• Final Brackets (.pdf)

ADA, Ohio (Dec. 15) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team finished in 18th-place at the 27th-annual Ohio Northern Invitational Saturday with a score of 11 points. Junior Jake Benczo and senior LR Neubauer led the team with two wins each in their respective weight classes.

Benczo claimed a pair of victories in the 165-pound bracket, including an 11-9 decision over Justin Perry of Campbellsville University, an NAIA progam. The McKeesport graduate earned his second win of the day in the wrestleback against Jeremy Geiger of Muskingum College via medical forfeit.

Neubauer earned his wins in the 32-wrestler field of the heavyweight bracket. The Yellow Jacket senior posted both of his victories via pinfall in the wrestlebacke. Neubauer first defeated Pat Thatcher of the College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio) at the 1:33-mark before beating teammate Rich Janicki in 1:26.

Janicki was one of six Yellow Jackets who earned one victory at the 18-team event. At 144-pounds, sophomore Abdul Yusuff earned his first victory of the season after joining the team late due to football in the fall.

Sophomore Josh Mollica (125), freshman Josh Boyle (133), junior Joey Walker (149) and freshman Bobby Holt rounded out the Waynesburg wrestlers that posted a win at the weekend invitational.

Nationally-ranked Limestone College (S.C.) won the event with a score of 128.5 points behind six wrestlers that placed, including three first-place finishers. West Liberty State College finished a close second with 125 points, while Heidelberg (97), Olivet (93.5) and Campbellsville (89) rounded out the top-five teams in the final standings.

Waynesburg is scheduled to return to action on Thursday, Jan. 3, at the John Reese duals, hosted by Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Matches are set for an 11 a.m. start.