Match Results (.pdf)
 
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 22) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team opened up Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) competition on Tuesday night by hosting the Washington & Jefferson Presidents at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.
 
After falling behind early to a determined President squad, the Yellow Jackets righted the ship in the second half of the match to secure a 29-13 win. With the victory, the Jackets improved to 4-8 on the season and 1-0 in PAC action. W&J fell to 1-5 overall and concluded its conference schedule with an 0-2 mark.
 
The Presidents struck first on the night with a major decision win at 125 pounds, but their 4-0 lead was short-lived thanks to senior Alex Crown scoring a first-period 17-1 technical fall over Josh Tropp to give the Jackets a 5-4 lead. The home team looked poised to extend its early advantage as sophomore Jake Vitolo held a double-digit lead late in his 141-pound match, before making one costly mistake that led to him being pinned.
 
With his team trailing 10-5, sophomore Chris Milligan used a late takedown to pick up a 3-1 victory at 149 that made the match score 10-8 in favor of the Presidents. However, W&J was able to secure one last win on the night at 157 pounds to take a 13-8 lead before intermission. During the break, Crown was honored for picking up his 100^th career victory during Saturday's Mt. St. Vincent Invitational. Perhaps inspired by Crown's accomplishments, the Jackets came out with a vengeance in the second half of the contest and were able to put the match out of reach.
 
Sophomore Sam Guidi got things rolling with a 21-5 technical fall at 165 pounds to tie the match at 13-13. Junior 174-pounder Anthony Bonaventura followed with a 13-2 major decision win that gave his team the lead back at 17-13. After senior Cody Catalina received a forfeit at 184 pounds to increase the Jackets' advantage to 23-13, senior Travis Kuhn hit the mat at 197 pounds with a chance to seal the victory.
 
The first-year competitor did just that by pulling out an entertaining 11-9 decision over Zeke Stroupe that gave Waynesburg a 13-point advantage (26-13). Senior heavyweight Marty Kisla put the finishing touches on the victory by beating Karl Hiss 1-0 on a riding point.
 
With their first conference win secured, Waynesburg hits the road for two challenging dual matches this weekend. The Yellow Jackets face off with 15^th-ranked Messiah College on Friday, Jan. 25, before taking on Elizabethtown on Saturday.