Match Results (.pdf)
 
WEST LIBERTY, W. Va. (Nov. 13) – A short-handed Waynesburg University wrestling team hit the road for its first dual match of the season on Wednesday night against traditional Division II powerhouse West Liberty University. The 12^th-ranked Yellow Jackets, who were without nationally recognized 157-pounder Sam Lombardo and junior Sam Guidi, the sixth-ranked 165-pounder in Division III due to health reasons, held a three-point lead after eight bouts, but the home-standing Hilltoppers picked up wins in the final two contests of the night to take a 24-18 decision.
 
West Liberty (1-0) raced out to a 9-0 lead after two matchups before junior 141-pounder Jake Vitolo got his team on the board with a 16-1 technical fall win over Cole Nace. Trailing 9-5, the Jackets looked poised to further cut into the deficit as junior Shane Foster jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Art Hobley, a returning Division II national qualifier. Unfortunately, Hobley responded by tying the match at 7-7 as time expired, and completed the 8-7 comeback with a riding time point.
 
Senior Luke Lohr, who is ranked eighth in Division III at 149 pounds, bumped out to 157 to fill in for Lombardo and did his job with an entertaining 20-8 major decision triumph over David Schlieper to make the score to make the team score 12-9 in favor of West Liberty. Junior Eric Tuck made a rare appearance in the starting lineup due to Guidi sitting out with an illness and battled hard before giving up a 4-1 decision.
 
Trailing 15-9, the Jackets (0-1) desperately needed a spark with four bouts remaining and senior 174-pounder Anthony Bonaventura was more than happy to oblige. The eighth-ranked wrestler in Division III at the weight battled Eric Antesberger, who is one of six wrestlers in the West Liberty starting lineup that boasts a high school state title or state runner-up finish on his resume. Bonaventura battled the Alaska native through seven hard-fought minutes to a draw before taking the contest into overtime. The returning Division III national qualifier scored a big 3-1 decision win for his team with a takedown in the first sudden victory period.
 
Senior Cameron Fine picked up the biggest win of the evening the for the Jackets when he recorded his team's only pin of the match by sticking Doug Sizemore in 1:40 to give the visitors an 18-15 lead. Unfortunately, junior Patrick Jennings, who bumped up to 197 pounds, gave up a frustrating 4-3 decision loss before sophomore heavyweight Greg Kumer took the 285-pound contest into the first overtime ride-out period. Not only did the first-year starting big man give up the escape, but he was turned to his back for the match-clinching pin.
 
The Jackets held early leads in eight of the 10 bouts on the night.
 
Things don't get any easier for Waynesburg when the Jackets return home to participate in their first home action of the season. The Jackets host traditional Division III power York (Pa.) College and Mercyhurst, which is ranked 20^th in the country in Division II, in a tri-match that is scheduled to get started at 12 p.m.