W&J ends drought with win over Waynesburg
The Washington & Jefferson wrestling team topped Waynesburg in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference dual meet for the first time since Jan. 5, 2008 as it topped the Yellow Jackets, 24-22, Wednesday night.
Each team earned points in five weight classes, but a pair of forfeits for W&J, coupled with a pin and two decisions gave the Presidents the victory.
Sonnieboy Blanco earned just his second fall of the season when he pinned Derek Hull in 3:33 at 174 pounds. The win brings Blanco within four of 100 for his career heading into this weekend’s Manchester (Ind.) Spartan Mat Classic. William Oberschelp held on to a 1-0 lead going into the third period at 197 pounds and rode out his opponent for the 2-0 victory.
Hunter Neely, a graduate of Bentworth who was named the Outstanding Wrestler at this past weekend’s Waynesburg Invitational, picked up a 6-1 decision at 157 pounds.
Mike Smith (133) and Michael Heinl (141) each received forfeit victories for the Presidents. At 165, Alex Miller scored late to get within 4-2, but Waynesburg’s Dan Verhovsek held on for the two-point decision. Nick Kumburis was on his back at the end of the first period, but was able to keep from being pinned when he fell to Jake Evans at the heavyweight class
Tristan Buxton, a graduate of Trinity, opened the match by winning by injury default at 126 for Waynesburg. Shaun Wilson, a Waynesburg graduate, had a decision at 149 and Ryan Shank and Jake Evans had a pin and decision at 184 and heavyweight, respectively, for the Yellow Jackets.