Complete Results (.pdf)

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (Feb. 29) – Freshman Rocky McGeary (McDonald, Pa. / West Allegheny) continued to prove why he is one of the top heavyweights in the country at the NCAA Division III Southeast Regional Championships, which were hosted by Messiah College on Friday and Saturday. McGeary won the 285-pound title and punched his ticket to the NCAA Division III National Championships, which will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, March 13.
 
McGeary's win means Waynesburg will be represented in the national championships at 285 pounds for a fourth-straight season following three-straight appearances by Jake Evans. McGeary was one of four placers for the Yellow Jackets, who finished 12^th in the team standings.
 
McGeary won his fourth individual championship of the season with a 4-0 record as the number one seed at Messiah. He started his run with a pin in 5:53 and followed that up with a pair of one-point victories to reach the finals against Alvernia's Palmer Rodenhaber. McGeary efficiently put away Rodenhaber by the final score of 4-0 to take the gold.
 
Another standout freshman for the Jackets, Colby Morris (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central), competed in one of the most talent-laden brackets at the event. The first-year star opened his run at 157 pounds with a 9-1 major decision, but was defeated 3-1 on a last-second takedown in the quarterfinals. Morris rebounded with back-to-back decision victories in wrestle-backs. Unfortunately, his hopes for a trip to nationals were halted in the consolation semifinals and he settled for sixth place. Both of Morris's losses were to senior returning national qualifiers, one of which was a returning regional champion.
 
Senior Zach Mackall (Austintown, Ohio / Austintown-Fitch) ended his collegiate career as a regional medalist after placing sixth at 165 pounds. Mackall's first match resulted in a win by major decision. He was sent into wrestle-backs by the eventual regional champion. Once in consolations, the senior standout posted back-to-back decision victories to reach the semifinal round. Like Morris, he was knocked into the fifth-place contest where he settled for sixth.
 
Senior Dillion Charlton (Stoystown, Pa. / North Star) got his day off to a fast start with an opening-round technical fall that set up a meeting with fellow Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) member Hunter Neely of Washington & Jefferson. Charlton nearly pulled a major upset as he battled Neely, who was the eventual 174-pound champion, before dropping the match 4-3. Charlton logged his second bonus point win of the tournament with a major decision in consolations before finishing in eight place.
 
Though he no longer sports Orange and Black, former Waynesburg national runner-up Anthony Bonaventura was honored as the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year after helping to lead Stevens Institute of Technology to the team title. Bonaventura, who is the twin brother of current Waynesburg assistant Gennaro Bonaventura, wrestled for the Yellow Jackets from 2010 to 2014 and was a two-time national qualifier. He also spent a year as a graduate assistant coach under head coach Ron Headlee.