WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 1) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team made its debut on Saturday morning with the first annual Orange/Black Duals, which were held at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.

The intra-squad match, which featured an Orange Team and a Black Team composed of Waynesburg wrestlers, not only gave the fans a sneak preview of this year's team, but most of the matches were used by first-year head coach Ron Headlee and his staff to start to put the final touches on a starting lineup.

After the day started with three exhibition bouts, the battles for starting positions got underway with freshman Rico Borz taking on sophomore Josh Boyle at 125 pounds.

After two periods without much scoring, Borz came back to knock off Boyle by a final of 7-5, and claim the number-one spot at the squad's lightest weight.

Next up was Waynesburg's top returner and the 2007-2008 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Most Outstanding Wrestler, Nick Garber. Garber, a Waynesburg native, dropped down to 133 pounds after competing at 141 last year, and faced junior Josh Mollica on Saturday.

True to last year's form, Garber impressively won his bout via 17-0 technical fall at 3:15.

Moving on to 141 pounds, sophomore transfer Pat McCabe squared off with Jon Sanko, a freshman from Butler, Pa. McCabe, who wrestled for Division II Belmont Abbey (N.C.) last season, also looked strong in claiming the top spot at the weight class as he took a 16-7 major decision.

The match for starting status at 149 was the first in a string of close bouts as freshmen Chris Pihiou and Garrett Johnston squared off. The two local products, Pihiou from Washington County and Johnston from nearby West Greene High School, didn't give much up to each other as the bout went to overtime.

Eventually, Pihiou was able to secure a 3-1 victory over the taller, lankier Johnston.

In another tight battle, sophomore Jared Roberts, who transferred from Division II powerhouse Pitt-Johnstown, squared off with freshman Alex Evanoff at 157 pounds. Roberts was able to squeak past Evanoff by the final of 3-1.

At 165 pounds, freshman Todd Martinek took on sophomore Matt Zimmerman. Martinek, a graduate of Trinity High School, which also produced Jared and Matt Roberts, faced a very game opponent in Zimmerman, but ended up overcoming him by final of 5-2.

In the final bout to determine a starter, 174-pounders Jake Benczo, a senior, took on freshman Charles Thomas. Benczo looked impressive as he took a 9-3 decision from Thomas to lay claim to the starting job.

In the final three weight classes, 184, 197 and 285 pounds, the Jackets trotted wrestlers out to the mat, but there were no matches. As of now, Aaron Leeking (184), Corbin Semple (197) and Rich Janicki (285) have the starting jobs at those classes.

Janicki will have to battle to keep his spot as the season goes on, because the team's two other heavyweights, junior Melvin Warrick and freshman Nebojsa Nedic, will join the team after Waynesburg's football season ends.

Warrick returns to the team after posting an 8-6 record last year and Nedic should also provide some added competition for the job.

After the match, Headlee commented that he felt the day was a big success for the program, both in the competition level showed by the wrestlers, and in the reaction of a good crowd gathered to watch the action.

One of the few negatives of the day was the absence of talented 149-pounder Jesse Byerly, who missed the event to take care of a minor injury. Headlee commented that the move was purely precautionary and that he expects the former high school state champion and University of Pittsburgh transfer to be in action very soon.

The Yellow Jackets face their first opposition of the season on Saturday, Nov. 8, when they travel to Headlee's alma mater to compete in the Messiah College Invitational. 

Complete Results of the Orange/Black Duals

Wt.                                          

125* Josh Klimko (O) dec. Stefan Chaussard (B) 3-1

141* Tyler Altmeyer (B) dec. Dean Baker (O) 6-4

149* Ben Abbott (B) dec. Andrew Buda (O) 7-4

125 Rico Borz (B) dec. Josh Boyle (O) 7-5

133 Nick Garber (B) tech. fall Josh Mollica (O) 17-0 (3:15)

141 Pat McCabe (O) maj. dec. Jon Sanko (B) 16-7

149 Chris Pihiou (B) dec. Garrett Johnston (O) 3-1 (OT)

157 Jared Roberts (O) dec. Alex Evanoff (B) 3-1

165 Todd Martinek (B) dec. Matt Zimmerman (O) 5-2

174 Jake Benczo (B) dec. Charles Thomas (O) 9-3

184 Aaron Leeking (B) No Match

197 Corbin Semple (O) No Match

285 Rich Janicki (O) No Match

125* Josh Klimko (O) dec. Dan Boring (B)

184* Rich Janicki (O) maj. dec. Aaron Leeking (B) 10-2

Final Team Score: Black 30, Orange 29