SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. (Feb. 3) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team recorded maybe its biggest win of the season by upsetting Division II Shippensburg on the road by the final of 19-16.
With the win, Waynesburg improves to 10-3 on the season. The Raiders, who were ranked 16th in the country coming into the match, fell to 6-5-1.
Waynesburg took a 3 - -1 lead after the 125-pound bout when freshman Rico Borz earned a 6-2 decision victory over David Calambas and Shippensburg was deducted a team penalty point following the bout.
The Yellow Jackets took an 8- -1 lead when sophomore 133-pounder Nick Garber made a triumphant return to the lineup with an 18-3 technical fall victory over Justin Morris. Garber improved to 20-1 on the season after missing the previous two matches with a minor injury.
Sophomore Pat McCabe (pictured above) kept the winning going with a 5-3 decision over Tom Wiechelt at 141 pounds, pushing Waynesburg's advantage to 11- -1.
After suffering losses at 149 and 157 pounds, the Jackets got back on the winning track when freshman 165-pounder Alex Evanoff picked up an impressive 10-1 major decision victory over Nicholas Browne to give his team a 15-5 edge.
Though they suffered losses at 174 and 184 pounds, Waynesburg only gave up eight points and held a 15-13 lead going into 197 pounds. Senior Jake Benczo (174) stayed off his back against Chris Barrick, who sports a team-best 16-3 record, and freshman Charles Thomas gave up just a three-point decision to Jon Hade, who is 9-5 on the year.
After those losses, first-year 197-pounder Corbin Semple won his team-leading 27th bout of the season by picking up an 8-0 major decision victory over Taylor Knight, which put Waynesburg ahead 19-13.
Yellow Jacket heavyweight Rich Janicki had the biggest performance of the night, even though it came in defeat, as he gave up just an 8-4 decision loss to preserve the 19-16 win.
Waynesburg wraps up the dual match portion of its season when they host Mercyhurst, another nationally ranked Division II team, on Thursday.
Waynesburg 19, Shippensburg 16
125 Rico Borz (WU) dec. 6-2 David Calambas (SU) 3- -1
133 Nick Garber (WU) t. fall 18-3 (6:27) Justin Morris (SU) 8- -1
141 Pat McCabe (WU) dec. 5-3 Tom Wiechelt (SU) 11- -1
149 Nate Nauroth (SU) dec. 6-4 Jesse Byerly (WU) 11-2
157 David Sunderland (SU) dec. 6-4 (OT) Jared Roberts (WU) 11-5
165 Alex Evanoff (WU) maj. dec. 10-1 Nicholas Browne (SU) 15-5
174 Chris Barrick (SU) t. fall 21-3 (6:02) Jake Benczo (WU) 15-10
184 Jon Hade (SU) dec. 9-3 Charles Thomas (WU) 15-13
197 Corbin Semple (WU) maj. dec. 8-0 Taylor Knight (SU) 19-13
285 Brandon Miller (SU) dec. 8-4 Rich Janicki (WU) 19-16
Taylor Zittle (WU) maj. dec. 10-1 Jon Sanko (WU)
Exhibition:
