WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Dec. 11) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team enjoyed a fantastic home debut by rolling through Division II Tiffin 38-9 at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse.
The Yellow Jackets (5-1-1) picked up three wins by fall, two by major decision and a forfeit to rack up the majority of their points. After sophomore 125-pounder Alex Crown picked up six free points to open the match, the Jackets suffered a loss by fall at 133. After that defeat, however, the home team won its next three bouts by fall.
Senior All-American Nick Garber made quick work of Kyle Begg, sticking him in 1:11 at 141 pounds. Freshman Luke Lohr followed by pinning David Bulger in 2:21 at 149 and junior Garrett Johnston finished the stretch of wins by fall with a win in 3:55 over Josh Walbom at 157. With half of the weights decided, the Jackets led 24-6, but were far from done.
Junior 165-pounder Alex Evanoff kept things rolling with a 16-2 major decision victory over Johnny Merryman, and he was followed by junior Jared Roberts who racked up a 13-4 major triumph over Alex Rivera. Sophomore 184-pounder Cody Catalina notched the team's first non-bonus point win of the day when he downed Joseph Miller 10-3.
Even after a Dragon (2-3) decision victory at 197 gave the visitors three more points, Waynesburg still led 35-9. Freshman heavyweight Brandon Fedorka, who was making his dual match debut, wrapped up the day with a 6-0 decision over Nathan Strickland.
The two teams squared off in three exhibition bouts after Fedorka's victory. Waynesburg freshman Sam Lombardo cruised to an 18-7 major decision win over Andrew Nealan, junior Jon Sanko followed with a 7-1 decision over Walid Boggio and sophomore heavyweight Marty Kisla put an exclamation point on the day with a win by fall (4:23) over Brian Gelter.
The Jacket mat men are back in action on Wednesday, when they hit the road to face another Division II opponent in Mercyhurst. The contest is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.
Waynesburg 38, Tiffin 9
125 - Alex Crown, WAY wins by forfeit 6-0
133 - Jordan Duckett, TIF by fall in 4:49 over Dan Bruni, WAY 6-6
141 - Nick Garber, WAY by fall in 1:11 over Kyle Begg, TIF 12-6
149 - Luke Lohr, WAY by fall in 2:21 over David Bulger, TIF 18-6
157 - Garrett Johnston, WAY by fall in 3:55 over Josh Walbom, TIF 24-6
165 - Alex Evanoff, WAY by 16-2 Maj. Dec. over Johnny Merryman, TIF 28-6
174 - Jared Roberts, WAY by 13-4 Maj. Dec. over Alex Rivera, TIF 32-6
184 - Cody Catalina, WAY by 10-3 decision over Joseph Miller, TIF 35-6
197 - Alex Hughes, TIF by 10-6 decision over Gennaro Bonaventura, WAY 35-9
285 - Brandon Fedorka, WAY by 6-0 decision over Nathan Strickland, TIF 38-9
Exhibition:
165 - Sam Lombardo, WAY by 18-7 Maj. Dec. over Andrew Nealan, TIF
174 - Jon Sanko, WAY by 7-1 decision over Walid Boggio, TIF
285 - Marty Kisla, WAY by fall in 4:23 over Brian Gelter, TIF
