Full Results
 
WASHINGTON, Pa. (Nov. 10) – The Waynesburg University wrestling team faced its first live competition of 2012 and, despite missing several starters for various reasons, the Yellow Jackets performed well at the annual Washington & Jefferson Invitational on Saturday.
 
The Yellow Jackets boasted four wrestlers who reached the semifinals, beginning with freshman 125-pounder Gordan Bieber. Bieber picked up his first two collegiate victories, including one by major decision, before finishing his day in fourth place. While Bieber was getting his first taste of college wrestling, senior Alex Crown continued his successful Yellow Jacket career by winning back-to-back matches by major decision before picking up a decision win to reach the semis, where he was knocked into consolation. Crown advance to the third-place match before defaulting out.
 
The next Jacket semifinalist was sophomore Chris Milligan, who got his day started with a 14-0 major decision win over Heidelberg's Adarius Washington. After picking up two decision victories, Milligan was knocked into the consolation round and advanced to the third-place match before winding up in fourth place. Waynesburg's last semifinalist of the day was sophomore Patrick Jennings, who gutted out back-to-back decision wins before coming out on the short end of a 5-3 overtime decision in the semis. However, Jennings saved his best performance for last by putting together an impressive 11-1 major decision victory over Mercyhurst's Anthony Confessore.
 
Along with its four top-four performers, Waynesburg picked up several other strong performances on the day. Sophomore 165-pounder Sam Guidi was particularly impressive in Washington, as he scored back-to-back technical fall victories before dropping into the wrestle-backs. Guidi bounced back with a 3-0 decision victory over Mt. St. Joseph's Cory Disbennett, who is featured in the D3wrestle.com rankings in its honorable mention listings, and a 9-5 victory over Christian Bosco of Division II national powerhouse Pitt-Johnstown. After dropping into the fifth-place match, Guidi closed his day with a 3-1 victory over Pitt-Johnstown's Chad Miller.
 
Waynesburg had a pair of standout performers at 174 pounds in juniors Anthony Bonaventura and Cameron Fine. After Bonaventura fell by two points in his opening match, he won his next four matches, including one by major decision and one by pin, before dropping into the fifth-place match against Fine. Fine won his first match of the day by pin in 58 seconds and followed that up with a decision victory, before dropping into consolations, where he scored two more falls in under a minute. Bonaventura won the all-Waynesburg bout by 9-2 decision.
 
Moving up to 197 pounds, freshman Greg Kumer picked up three wins in his first college tournament, including one by 50-second pin, before placing sixth.
 
Despite bringing just 16 wrestlers to the event, Waynesburg was unofficially listed as the fourth-place team at the 17-team event, behind only Pitt-Johnstown, Mercyhurst, another Division II power, and a strong Heidelberg team. The Jackets finished ahead of Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) rivals Thiel and Washington & Jefferson, which brought 29 and 20 wrestlers, respectfully.
 
Waynesburg is expected to have starting 157-pounder Sam Lombardo and starting 184-pounder Cody Catalina back for Wednesday's first dual match of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Start time for the match at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse is scheduled for 7 p.m.