WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Nov. 9) - The Waynesburg University men's wrestling team enters year two under the leadership of head coach Bobby Patnesky. His first full year of recruiting has not only yielded a much fuller wrestling room, but is allowing Waynesburg to do something it hasn't done in six years.
 
Following his first season that resulted in a 1-10 overall record and a 0-5 Presidents' Athletic Conference mark, Patnesky brought in 10 freshmen and added two athletes from campus to expand the roster from 10 individuals to 18. Those efforts resulted in the Jackets filling all 10 weight classes in a dual match for the first time since the 2020-21 season that was just one match long because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Junior Ryland Parker (Ravenal, S.C. / Ashley Ridge) is expected to lead off matches at 125 pounds after going 5-12 overall this past winter with a 4-6 mark in dual competition.
 
Freshman Brayden Tooch (Moon Township, Pa / Moon) is the first newcomer in the lineup at 133 pounds and is expected to the be the first of four-straight freshmen to represent Waynesburg in the lineup. The next is Joe Montgomery-Stoltz (Rome, Ohio / Grand Valley) at 141 and Lucas Redman (Silver Spring, Md. / Good Counsel) is a candidate to handle the everyday duties at 149.
 
Junior Conner Graser (Morgantown, W.Va. / University) is back after stepping away from the team in 2025-26 and could push for starting time in the lower half of the starting lineup, as could freshmen Micah McGeary (Scottdale, Pa. / Southmoreland) and Kyin Jeter (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Carrick.
 
First-year grappler Andrew Sorensen (Elyria, Ohio / Columbia) is expected to close out the first half of the lineup at 157 pounds. The second half features many more veterans than the first.
 
Senior captain Brayden Barbao (Donora, Pa. / Ringgold) moves up from last year to 165 pounds. Barbao's 2025-26 campaign was highlighted by a pair of pins. Freshman Noah Atherton (Kittaning, Pa. / Armstrong) and senior Jarvis Thomas (Rex, Ga. / Mount Zion) will duke it out for starting duties at 174. Thomas posted a 2-1 record in very limited action last year.
 
Junior AJ Tomaino (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) was arguably the most improved wrestler of the 2025-26 season. He went 13-18 overall, 3-7 in dual bouts and an impressive 8-5 in matches decided by fall.
 
Sophomore Damyan Pevarnik (Washington, Pa. / McGuffey) didn't log any match time last year, but got this season off to a fast start with a pin in the team's opening match against Penn State Altoona this past Saturday.
 
The Jackets wrap up their lineup with freshmen heavyweights Jacob Lyle (Houston, Pa. / Chartiers-Houston) and Landon Heath (Jefferson, Pa. / Jefferson-Morgan). Lyle will have the job to himself until Heath arrives in the wrestling room following football season to give his classmate competition and a top-notch workout partner. Speaking of Jacket football players training in their helmets for headgear, senior Boastas Kwabiah (Odenton, Md. / Meade) after joining the program as a junior.
 
After opening the season against Penn State Altoona this past Saturday, Waynesburg kicks off the PAC portion of its schedule on Thursday, Nov. 12, with a home match against Chatham. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.