WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Oct. 25) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team held its annual Orange/Black Wrestle-offs to kick off the 2023-24 campaign. Youth ruled the night as 12 newcomers made their collegiate debut in front of the crowd gathered at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.
 
The night opened with a 184-pound bout between freshmen Jacob Wilson (Wills Point, Texas / Princeton) and Jessie Orbin (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston). Orbin tallied three takedowns in the first period, but Wilson rebounded to close the gap as the match wore on to its conclusion. By the time the final whistle sounded, it was Orbin who held on for a 9-5 win.
 
Match two pitted sophomore Christian Michaels (West Mifflin, Pa. / West Mifflin) against freshman Gavin Novak (Carnegie, Pa. / Chartiers Valley). Michaels, who was a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) runner-up this past winter, scored the night's first pin, which was also the quickest fall of the event, in 1:07.
 
Graduate student Josh Kuslock (Hickory, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) made a triumphant return to the mat for Waynesburg after last competing for the Yellow Jackets in 2020. Kuslock earned a 16-0 technical fall in 3:07 over sophomore JT Hollyfield (Oakdale, Pa. / West Allegheny).
 
A pair of newcomers locked up at 149/157 pounds in Jarvis Thomas (Rex, Ga. / Mount Zion) and Kase Stewart (Letart, W.Va. / Wahama). Stewart got the better of his classmate with a pin in 1:19.
 
Orbin was back on the mat for his second bout in less than a half-hour when he faced junior returning starter Ayden Bishoff (Kingwood, W.Va. / Preston). Fighting his opponent and fatigue, Orbin completed a 2-0 night by edging Bishoff 4-2 thanks to a third-period takedown.
 
Another veteran, junior Seth Evans (Sharon, Pa. / Sharon), made short work of his only match of the night when he faced freshman Brayden Barbao (Donora, Pa. / Ringgold). Evans recorded the second technical fall of the nigh (18-2) in four minutes.
 
Bishoff and Wilson were then out on the mat looking for their first win of the evening. After a closely-contested bout, it was Bishoff who had his hand raised thanks to a 4-3 decision.
 
Next up was another freshman vs. freshman match between Nash Bloom (Graysville, Pa. / West Greene) and Jamarion Lewis (Breaux Bridge, La. / Katy Paetow). Bloom picked up his first collegiate victory with a pin in 3:59.
 
The Jackets' most accomplished wrestler, senior Colby Morris (Waynesburg, Pa. / Waynesburg Central) hit the mat for the first time since going 2-2 at last year's NCAA Division III National Championships. Morris squared off with freshman David Fish (Pasadena, Md. / Northeast), whom he pinned in 2:36.
 
Heavyweights were next up on the mat, as freshmen Aydan Holloway (Tampa, Fla. / T.R. Robinson) took on Jaron Polk (Philadelphia, Pa. / Pennwood). Holloway used a third period takedown to earn a 4-1 victory.
 
Kuslock returned to the mat and posted his second technical fall of the evening, this time defeating freshman Jackson Spiteri (Canonsburg, Pa. / Peters Township) 19-2 (5:42). The final contests of the night featured senior Kyle Hinerman (McKeesport, Pa. / South Allegheny) squaring off with Bloom. Hinerman claimed a 7-3 victory to wrap up a full night on the mat.
 
The unofficial final score of the match saw the Black team defeat the Orange squad 37-17.
 
The Yellow Jacket grapplers face their first live competition on Saturday, Nov. 4, when they travel to the Ned McGinley Invitational, which is hosted by King's College. Start time is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.