Match Results (.pdf)

WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Jan. 23) – For the second-straight year, the Waynesburg University wrestling team found itself in a sizeable hole heading into its 197-pound bout against Washington & Jefferson on Wednesday night. Last year, backup Joshua Sneeringer scored a pin that set up the match-winning fall at heavyweight. This year, senior Nick Kusich (Avella, Pa. / Avella), who was filling in for usual starter Ken Burrs (Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown), took advantage of his opportunity to be the hero and played a huge role in Waynesburg's 24-21 victory over the Presidents.
 
With Waynesburg (6-7, 1-0) trailing 21-15 heading to the penultimate bout of the night. Kusich stepped to the mat against W&J (6-4, 1-1) senior Robert West. The Jacket veteran showed no fear of his opponent and immediately became the aggressor, which led to him grabbing an early 6-0 lead. Though he never showed the same offensive flurry throughout the remainder of the bout, Kusich did enough to stay ahead of West and secure a 10-6 victory.
 
With the deficit down to just three points, senior defending national champion Jake Evans (Elizabethtown, Pa. / Elizabeth-Forward) stepped to the mat and did what he does best. He dominated his opponent to the tune of a pin in 1:16 that gave the Jackets the victory.
 
The match started with a pin for the Presidents that was followed by a fall for the home team. Sophomore Josh Kuslock (Hickory, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) wrestled his first match of the season as a 133-pounder and looked great while picking up a pin in 2:12 that tied the match at 6-6.
 
Sophomore Matt Lascola (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Langley) gave the host squad its first advantage of the night (9-6) thanks to a 12-7 decision at 141 pounds. The lead was short-lived, however, thanks to a technical fall for W&J at 149.
 
Junior 157-pounder Zach Mackall (Austintown, Ohio / Austintown-Fitch) put Waynesburg back ahead 15-11 with a fall in 4:21. The Presidents roared out of intermission with three-straight victories from 165 to 184. However, that run only served to set things up for Kusich and Evans' heroics.
 
The Jackets will look to finish the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) regular season portion of their schedule with a 2-0 mark when they travel to Thiel on Friday. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m.