Match Results (.pdf)
 
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 31) – Senior Anthony Bonaventura has done a lot in his three-plus years as a Waynesburg University wrestler. However, what he did during the Yellow Jackets' match against Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) arch-rival Thiel during Friday's night match may have been his greatest moment as a collegiate wrestler.
 
With the score tied 9-9 following six hotly contested bouts, Bonaventura squared off against one of Thiel's top grapplers in junior Jordan Powell. After seven minutes of regulation, the score was tied at 1-1 and the contest went to overtime. After around 45 seconds of the two competitors jockeying for position, Bonaventura pounced on a Powell mistake and flipped him on his back in the Waynesburg senior's first headlock of the season. Not only did he secure the decision with the hold to give his team its first lead of the night, but he flattened Powell to the mat and recorded just his second pin of the season to give the Orange and Black a huge shot of momentum that eventually led to a thrilling a 18-15 Jacket win .
 
While Bonaventura's pin, which was the first Powell has given up this season, electrified the crowd at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse, the Jackets (14-6, 2-0) still had plenty of work to do to claim its fifth win against the Tomcats (12-7, 1-1) during the six-year coaching stint of head man Ron Headlee. While not as dramatic as the 174-pound bout, the 184-pound tilt between Waynesburg senior Cameron Fine and Thiel junior Jerrold Roosa was just as intriguing and entertaining.
 
Way back at the season-opening Washington & Jefferson Invitational, Roosa defeated Fine by 14-0 major decision to claim the 184-pound title. On Friday, Fine showed little fear of the powerful junior and kept the pressure on the bigger wrestler. After a long-distance shot by Roosa came up empty, the quicker Fine was able to slide by and score the only takedown of the match, which he followed up with an impressive 1:53 ride. The bruising battle continued through two more periods, which both started in the neutral position. The brutal contest featured a sizeable cut open up near Roosa's right eye that spilled blood down the length of his face. Ultimately, Fine showed his senior savvy by not only staying away from Roosa, but staying active enough to avoid any penalty points for stalling en route a 3-0 triumph that put Waynesburg ahead 18-9.
 
Even with Thiel taking the final two weight classes by decision, Jacket wrestlers did what they had to do to pick up the team win. Junior Patrick Jennings gave up just a 6-0 decision to undefeated Jake Lowry at 197 pounds, which gave sophomore heavyweight Greg Kumer with a chance to give his team the victory. Kumer wrestled conservatively but smartly in a 2-1 loss to Thiel Blake Heim, who is known for his potent headlock. With the score tied 1-1 in the third, Kumer sacrificed a personal win by giving up a second stalling warning, which resulted in the deciding penalty point, but kept him out of Heim's reach for what would have been a match-tying pin.
 
The Jacket victory was made all the more memorable by the fact that Thiel jumped out a 9-0 win after the first three bouts of the evening. With his team needing a spark, senior Luke Lohr started the comeback with a 10-3 decision over Thiel freshman Chris Nuss. Fellow senior Sam Lombardo needed to hold on until the final buzzer at 157 pounds, but was able to pull out a 6-5 decision over another talented Tomcat grappler in Brandon Collins. Junior 165-pounder Sam Guidi did just enough to tie the contest at 9-9 in his thrilling 1-0 win over Sean Byham.
 
The victory was Waynesburg's fourth-straight against the Tomcats. The Yellow Jackets will have a little time to enjoy their dramatic victory before getting back to competition on Saturday, Feb. 8. The Orange and Black will travel to Baldwin Wallace College to take part in the John Summa Memorial Tournament. Start time is scheduled for 10 a.m.