Match Results
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (Jan. 9) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team traveled to the University of Pittsburgh for a rare opportunity to face some of the best grapplers in the country. Though the Yellow Jackets weren’t able to pick up a win, several individuals were able to claim victories on the day. Waynesburg squared off with Columbia, Eastern Michigan and the University of Pittsburgh, which came into the day as the 21st-ranked team in the country.
Junior Corbin Semple and sophomore Jesse Byerly led the way with two wins each at 184 and 141 pounds, respectively. Junior Nick Garber moved down from 141 pounds to 133 before going 1-1 on the day, and freshman 125-pounder Alex Crown picked up a technical fall victory.
Garber got the first win of the day for the Jackets by pinning Andrew Grabfelder of Columbia in 4:00. Waynesburg actually took an 12-4 lead over the Lions after Byerly received a forfeit. Though Columbia was able to put the match away by the time Semple came to the mat, the Waynesburg native got the Jackets one more win by beating Cary Aldrich 7-0.
The Yellow Jackets next squared off with EMU and Crown got the match started right with an 18-2 technical fall victory over Greg Egbert that put Waynesburg ahead 5-0. Semple added a win by fall in 5:40 over Phillips Joseph at 184.
Waynesburg’s final match of the day came against the host Panthers. There only victory of the match came courtesy of Byerly, who edged Pitt’s Victor Konnon 8-4. Semple nearly had a perfect day, but dropped a 5-2 decision to Zac Thomusseit, who went 3-0 on the day and is now 8-3 on the year in dual matches.
Byerly also just missed out on a 3-0 trip when he lost a heart-breaking 3-2 match to EMU’s David Pienaar.
Waynesburg returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 13, when they travel to McDaniel.