Complete Results (.pdf) (Coming Soon)

Hampton, Va.. (Jan. 11) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team wrestled from behind in every one of its four matches at the 40^th annual Virginia Duals. However, the Yellow Jacket middle and upper weights picked up the slack in a big way to put together a 3-1 run at the event and take the bronze while competing in the American College Division.
 
Waynesburg (7-4) qualified for day two of competition on Saturday by upsetting third-seeded Emmanuel, a Division II school in Georgia, 24-19 on Friday. Unfortunately, the Yellow Jackets were knocked into the consolation round by second-seeded Ferrum (5-2) 29-10.
 
Waynesburg's final two matches of Saturday were in the consolation rounds, where the team showed its mettle by logging a pair of thrilling 20-19 comeback victories.
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The first of those wins came against Averett (3-6), which jumped out to a 13-0 lead after three weights. The Jackets rebounded by winning the next four bouts.
 
Junior Josh Kuslock (Hickory, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) got things going by building a 6-0 lead and holding on for a 6-5 decision triumph. Freshman Colby Morris (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) made it two in a row with a 17-4 major decision at 157 pounds.
 
Trailing 13-7, Waynesburg got its next victory from senior Zach Mackall (Austintown, Ohio / Austintown-Fitch), who made it two-straight majors with a dominant 11-2 performance. The Jackets took their first lead of the contest (14-13) thanks to junior Caleb Baxter (Butler, Pa. / Butler), who methodically wore his opponent down to the tune of a 6-0 decision.
 
Senior Dillion Charlton (Stoystown, Pa. / North Star), who has been one of the team's hottest wrestlers as of late, scored early, but got reversed and put on his back in a disappointing pin fall loss. With the Jackets facing a 19-14 deficit, senior Dan Verhovsek (Johnstown, Pa. / Richland) bumped up to 197 pounds and kept the team's chances for victory alive with a 5-3 triumph.
 
Verhovsek's win set the stage for freshman Rocky McGeary (McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny) to tally a walk-off victory. McGeary got a battle from Averett's Trent Ragland, who transferred after competing as a red-shirt freshman at Division I powerhouse Virginia Tech. McGeary didn't back down from the challenge and came back to pull out a 4-3 triumph.
 
The Yellow Jackets had to overcome an even bigger deficit in the third-place match against Division II Alderson Broaddus. The Battlers (3-3) held a 15-0 lead heading into the 149-pound bout, but Kuslock was once again able to stop the bleeding, this time with a hard-fought 4-2 win.
 
Morris found himself in a scrap of his own and went into overtime at 157. With the score tied 4-4 at the end of regulation, nothing was decided in the sudden victory period. Morris came to life in the ride-out periods and held on for a 7-5 triumph that made the team score 15-7.
 
Mackall capped a perfect 4-0 weekend with an impressive 19-7 major decision victory at 165 that made the score 15-10. Baxter picked up his second-straight victory of the tournament by besting his opponent 10-8 and cutting his team's deficit to 15-13.
 
Though he ended the Jackets' four-bout winning streak, Verhovsek still played a role in the overall team victory by giving up just a major decision to Gino Sita, who is a returning Division II national qualifier and ranked in the Intermat national top 10.
 
With his team still within striking distance of victory at 19-13, Charlton put together another solid performance by bumping up to 197 and earning a 10-5 win. With his team down 19-16, McGeary once again was up to the challenge and owned his heavyweight match from start to finish. Working well from his feet and the top position, the rookie big man locked up an 11-1 major decision that provided the four points necessary to clinch the bronze.
 
After a memorable weekend down south, Waynesburg gets a week to prepare for a return to individual tournament competition at the Will Abele Invitational. The Yellow Jackets travel to the event, which is hosted by Ursinus, on Saturday, Jan. 18. Competition is scheduled to get started at 10 a.m.