Match Results (.pdf) WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Jan. 9) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team posted a 1-1 record in day two of the Budd Whitehill National Duals, which were hosted by Lycoming College. The Yellow Jackets went a combined 3-2 over the two-day event and placed seventh in the 16-team field.
Waynesburg (5-7) opened Saturday with a heart-breaking 21-19 to Olivet. The Jackets came roaring out of the gate and built a 13-0 lead after the first three weight classes. Sophomore 125-pounder
Tristan Buxton got things rolling with a 12-4 major decision and was followed by sophomore
Zach Swarrow who scored a pin in 4:32 at 133 pounds. Junior
Filippo Crivelli completed the opening run by edging out an 8-6 decision at 141 pounds.
Unfortunately, the Comets (8-9) fired back to win the next six bouts and clinch the match victory. Waynesburg came painfully close to a win that could have changed the outcome at 174 pounds, where freshman
Mike Millero battled Nick Africano into overtime. Unfortunately, Africano picked up a takedown in sudden victory to clinch the 6-4 win.
Freshman heavyweight
Jake Evans closed out the contest with a forfeit victory.
Waynesburg was able to regroup in its final match of the weekend for a 27-18 triumph over Millikin (6-3). After Buxton dropped a bitter overtime decision at 125 pounds for his only loss of the tournament, Swarrow responded with his second win by fall of the day to give the Jackets the lead at 6-3.
Sophomore D.J. Grindle wrestled a rare match at 141 pounds, but found success to the tune of a fall in just 2:09. Back-to-back wins for the Big Blue tied the match at 12-12. Sophomore 165-pounder
Landon Lohr gave his team the lead back with a 12-6 decision. The Jackets didn't trail for the remainder of the contest.
Freshman
Tristan Nicholson stepped in to take a forfeit at 174 pounds, which allowed for Millero to pull out some heroics later in the contest. After Millikin cut Waynesburg's advantage to 21-18 with a pin at 184, Millero won his first match of the year at 197 pounds. Despite giving up around 25 pounds to his opponents, the scrappy rookie pulled out a 6-3 victory to give the Orange and Black a 24-18 lead.
Evans closed out a 4-1 weekend and the match by grinding out a 4-2 decision.
As previously mentioned, Buxton and Evans led Waynesburg with team-best 4-1 records over two days of action. Swarrow, Crivelli, Lohr and Shank all went 3-2 at Lycoming, while freshman
Nick Kusich went a combined 2-3 at 149 and 157 pounds.
The Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, Jan. 12, when they open Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) competition at Washington & Jefferson .Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
