FIRMSTONE AND CECCHETTI POST THIRD-PLACE FINISHES AT NCAA REGIONAL (2/20)
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. -- Junior 184-pounder Stefan Firmstone (Greensburg, Pa./Mt. Pleasant) and sophomore 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) {left} placed third in their respective brackets to lead Washington & Jefferson College on Saturday at the 2010 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional hosted by Delaware Valley College.
The Presidents placed seventh of 10 teams in the tournament with 74.5 points. Delaware Valley claimed the title with 132.5 points, while Trine (94.5), Oilvet (89), Waynesburg (87), Mt. St. Joseph (84), Wabash (81.5), W&J, Manchester (51.5), Thiel (33) and Case Western Reserve (21) rounded out the standings.
Cecchetti opened the tournament with a fall (1:30) against Thiel's Adam Householder, but dropped to the consolation bracket after falling to eventual champion Terrance Clendenin by a 10-1 margin. Cecchetti, who finished the season with a 23-12 overall record, earned third place by pinning Mt. St. Joseph's Cody Stewart.
Firmstone lost his opening bout, but rallied with three consecutive wins to claim third place. He topped Bryan Hugo of Wabash 4-0 in the third-place match.
Sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) and freshman 197-pounder Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) both placed fourth.
Demor opened with a 9-4 victory over CWRU's Kyle Weaver, but dropped his first match in exactly three months in the semifinals, a 2-1 decision to Jesse Harrington of Delaware Valley, who went on to win the 157-pound title. Demor's win streak was stopped at 18 matches.
He then defeated Waynesburg's Alex Evanoff in the consolation semifinals before suffering a 6-0 setback to Trine's Kyle Long. Demor finished the season with a 29-8 overall record. His 29 victories tied for the sixth-best total in school history.
Mies posted a 2-2 record during the regional and notched both victories. He ends his rookie season with an 18-7 record and 12 falls, which ties for the seventh-best, single-season total in school history.
Junior Brandon Sansom (Brookville, Pa./Brookville) collected three wins and placed fifth at 133 pounds. He grabbed fifth place after pinning Delaware Valley's Zach Haynes in 2:04.
-- PRESIDENTS --
PRESIDENTS PLACE THIRD AT PAC CHAMPIONSHIPS; DEMOR AND MIES WIN TITLES (2/12)
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) and freshman 197-pounder Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) won their first career conference titles on Friday evening at the 2010 Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships hosted by Thiel College.
Waynesburg University won its first-ever PAC Wrestling Championship with 105.5 points. The Yellow Jackets edged 10-time defending PAC title-winning Thiel College (101). W&J placed third with 66 points.
Demor continued his dominance on the mat this season by upping his win streak to 17 matches. He defeated Alex Evanoff of Waynesburg by a 9-3 margin in his opening bout and then posted a 15-1 major decision over Thiel's Matt Butler to win the championship.
Mies breezed to his 197-pound championship. He pinned Patrick Morris of Thiel in 1:13 and then blanked Matt Zimmerman of Waynesburg 9-0.
Junior 184-pounder Stefan Firmstone (Greensburg, Pa./Mt. Pleasant) and sophomore 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) earned runner-up laurels in their respective brackets.
Washington & Jefferson continues its schedule next Saturday at the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Delaware Valley College.
-- PRESIDENTS --
PRESIDENTS KNOCK OFF DEFENDING PAC CHAMPION THIEL (2/5)
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Sophomore Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski) {right} and freshman Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) both recorded falls to help Washington & Jefferson earn a 21-17 PAC wrestling victory over 10-time defending conference champion Thiel on Friday night at Rissell-Beeghly Gymnasia.
The Presidents (7-3, 1-1 PAC) trailed 17-12 with two matches remaining, but Mies' 34-second pin at 197 pounds over Isaac Moore put W&J in front 18-17. Sophomore heavyweight Taylor Potts (Moundsville, W.Va./John Marshall) then sealed the win with a 5-2 decision over Kraig Smith.
Cecchetti got Washington & Jefferson off to a quick start with a 35-second pin of Adam Householde in the 125-pound weight class. The Tomcats (8-9, 1-1 PAC) ripped off two victories before freshman 149-pounder Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) defeated Jeff Marianetti by a 4-0 margin.
Sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) stretched his win streak to 15 matches after recording a 9-3 win over Greg Hogan. Thiel then racked up three consecutive victories before Mies' pinfall turned the dual meet around.
Washington & Jefferson returns to Thiel's gymnasium next Friday for the PAC Championships (5:00 pm).
125 - Zach Cecchetti (W&J) pinned Adam Householder (TC), 0:35 (6-0)
133 - Tommy Kozak (TC) major dec. Brandon Sansom (W&J), 8-0 (6-4)
141 - Corey Brown (TC) major dec. Brady Fyffe (W&J), 16-7 (6-8)
149 - Tyler Berger (W&J) dec. Jeff Marianetti (TC), 4-0 (9-8)
157 - Dominick Demor (W&J) dec. Greg Hogan (TC), 9-3 (12-8)
165 - Alec MIller (TC) dec. Brandon Roshon (W&J), 2-1 2OT (12-11)
174 - Brian Greenlee (TC) dec. Eric Kohr (W&J), 3-0 (12-14)
184 - Patrick Morris (TC) dec. Stefen Firmstone (W&J), 2-1 (12-17)
197 - Robbie Mies (W&J) pinned Isaac Moore (TC), 0:34 (18-17)
285 - Taylor Potts (W&J) dec. Kraig Smith (TC), 5-2 (21-17)
-- PRESIDENTS --
LATE HEAVYWEIGHT WIN LIFTS SETON HILL OVER W&J (1/29)
WASHINGTON, Pa. - Nick Padezan won the final match of the evening to help Seton Hill hold off a late W&J charge and record a 23-18 victory on Friday evening in wrestling action at the Henry Memorial Center.
W&J freshman 197-pounder Robbie Mies' (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) {pictured} pinned Greg Vanucci with 35 seconds left in the third period to narrow the Presidents' deficit to 20-18, but Padezan recorded a 5-0 triumph over sophomore heavyweight Taylor Potts (Moundsville, W.Va./John Marshall).
Mies earned his pinfall victory with 35 seconds left in the third period.
Sophomore Brandon Sansom (Brookville, Pa./Brookville) earned W&J's first win at 133 pounds after defeating Josh Testa 4-0.
Following a Griffin fall, freshman 149-pounder Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) notched a 7-0 shutout of Buck Watkins.
Sophomore Dominick Demor's (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) win streak increased to 14 matches after earning a forfeit at 157 pounds.
The Presidents (6-3) conclude the dual-meet portion of their 2009-2010 schedule next Friday when traveling to Greenville, Pa., for a 7:00 pm meeting with defending PAC Champion Thiel.
125 - Kenny Trumbetta (SHU) d. Zach Cecchetti (W&J), 5-1
133 - Brandon Sansom (W&J) d. Josh Testa (SHU), 4-0
141 - Dallas Evans (SHU) d. Brady Fyffe (W&J), Fall 5:16
149 - Tyler Berger (W&J) d. Buck Watkins (SHU), 7-0
157 - Dominick Demor (W&J) wins by forfeit
165 - Randall Wagner (SHU) d. Brandon Roshon (W&J), 6-3
174 - Quade Miller (SHU) d. Eric Kohr (W&J), 15-0 Tech. Fall (7:00)
184 - Dan Matthews (SHU) d. Stefen Firmstone (W&J), 3-0
197 - Robbie Mies (W&J) vs. Greg Vanucci (SHU), Fall 6:25
285 - Taylor Potts (W&J) vs. Nick Padezan (SHU), 5-0
-- PRESIDENTS --
WAYNESBURG TOPS W&J IN PAC WRESTLING, 35-9 (1/22)
WASHINGTON, Pa. - Waynesburg University won eight of the 10 matches to record a 35-9 Presidents' Athletic Conference wrestling victory over Washington & Jefferson on Friday evening at the Henry Memorial Center.
W&J (6-2, 0-1 PAC) junior 184-pounder Stefen Firmstone (Greensburg, Pa./Mt. Pleasant) {pictured} pinned WU's Cody Catalina in 4:13, while sophomore heavyweight Taylor Potts (Moundsville, W. Va./John Marshall) earned a 6-1 overtime victory over the Yellow Jackets' (5-7, 1-1 PAC) Melvin Warrick.
The Presidents returns to action next Friday evening for an 8:00 pm match against Seton Hill on Senior Night in the Henry Memorial Center.
125 -- Alex Crown (WAY) d. Zach Cecchetti (W&J), 5-3
133 -- Josh Mollica (WAY) d. Brandon Sansom (W&J), 5-0
141 -- Nick Garber (WAY) d. Brady Fyffe (W&J), Fall 1:01
149 -- Jesse Byerly (WAY) d. Tyler Berger (W&J), 6-3
157 -- Garrett Johnson (WAY) d. Brett Jeffries (W&J), Fall 3:49
165 -- Alex Evanoff (WAY) d. Brandon Roshon (W&J), MD 14-3
174 -- Jared Roberts (WAY) d. Eric Kohr (W&J), MD 15-2
184 -- Stefen Firmstone (W&J) d. Cody Catalina (WAY), Fall 4:13
197 -- Corbin Semple (WAY) d. Robbie Mies (W&J), Fall 4:42
285 -- Taylor Potts (W&J) vs. Melvin Warrick (WAY), 6-1 OT
-- PRESIDENTS --
PRESIDENTS' WRESTLING PLACES SECOND IN VIRGINIA (1/16)
LEXINGTON, Va. - Three Washington & Jefferson College wrestlers won individual titles on Saturday at the Washington and Lee Invitational.
The Presidents placed second of seven teams in the tournament. It marked the third-straight year W&J earned runner-up laurels at the W&L Invitational.
Waynesburg won the tournament with 97 points and was followed by W&J (81), Johns Hopkins (65.5), Scranton (40), Washington and Lee (33), Muhlenberg (31.5) and West Virginia Tech (12).
Sophomores Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) and Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) and freshman Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) all won championships.
Cecchetti claimed the 125-pound bracket after defeating Waynesburg's Alex Crown in the championship match by a 3-0 margin. Cecchetti also earned a semifinal victory over Scranton's Mike Murcia (6-2).
Demor stretched his win streak at 157 pounds to 13 matches with a 3-0 record at the tournament. He knocked off JHU's Michael Testa (Fall, 6:59) and Muhlenberg's Keith Swanson (15-0) before defeating W&L's David Dennis by a 10-1 count in the championship bout.
Mies was W&J's final champion at 197 pounds. He recorded two falls in a span of 1:29 to move into the championship match where he edged JHU's Reid Mosquera 15-12 to earn the title.
Junior 184-pounder Stefan Firmstone (Greensburg, Pa./Mt. Pleasant), sophomore heavyweight Taylor Potts (Moundsville, W.Va./John Marshall) and freshman 141-pounder Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) all placed second in their respective brackets.
-- PRESIDENTS --
ROBBIE MIES SELECTED AS PAC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK (1/11)
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- For the second consecutive week, a Washington & Jefferson College student-athlete, freshman Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport), has been selected as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week.
Last week, sophomore Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) earned the PAC weekly award. W&J has collected three of the seven awards this winter. Freshman 141-pounder Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) was also honored on Nov. 16th.
Mies, who competes in the 197-pound weight class, helped Washington & Jefferson post a 3-0 record at the Washington and Lee (Va.) Quadrangular on Saturday. Mies won all three of his matches and recorded a fall in each bout.
He opened the afternoon by pinning Joe Shields of Penn State-DuBois in 3:31. He then took down Marshall Puls of Gettysburg in 1:29 before defeating Richard Knack of Washington and Lee in 50 seconds.
Mies improved his record to 9-4 with five falls. Two weeks ago, Mies placed fourth in the 197-pound bracket at the Florida Citrus Invitational in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The Presidents will be back in action in the same W&L gymnasium Saturday when competing in the Washington and Lee Invitational. W&J has finished as the team runner-up in each of the last two tournaments hosted by the Generals.
-- PRESIDENTS --
W&J WRESTLING SWEEPS W&L QUADRANGULAR (1/9)
LEXINGTON, Va. – Sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) {left} won all three of his matches and increased his win streak to 10 on Saturday during Washington & Jefferson College’s sweep at the Washington and Lee University Quadrangular.
The Presidents (6-1) recorded victories over Gettysburg (37-12), Washington and Lee (42-6) and Penn State-DuBois (30-13).
Demor defeated Tyler Muton of PSU-D by fall (6:00) and then notched victories over Gettysburg’s Joe Fiore (16-0) and W&L’s David Dennis (9-1).
Three other Presidents had three-win afternoons: sophomores 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) and 165-pounder Brandon Roshon (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) and freshman 197-pounder Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport).
Mies racked up three falls during the tournament. He pinned PSU-Dubois’ Joe Shields in 3:31 and then topped Gettysburg’s Marshall Puls in 1:29. Mies saved his quickest fall of the day for his final match, pinning Richard Knack of Washington and Lee in 50 seconds.
Cecchetti pinned Abe Evans of Gettysburg in 40 seconds and also edged W&L’s Ben Ersing by a 5-4 margin. Cecchetti also posted a 2-0 victory against PSU-D’s Andrew Spicer.
Roshon opened with a fall (2:15) versus Kyle Bish of DuBois and then topped Gettysburg’s Ben Patten 17-0. He bested W&L’s Keith Jaworski by a 15-2 margin to complete the perfect day.
Washington & Jefferson makes the trip back to Lexington, Virginia, next weekend for the annual Washington and Lee Invitational on Saturday.
-- PRESIDENTS --
DOMINICK DEMOR NAMED PAC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK (1/4)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) was selected as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week on Monday afternoon.
Demor posted a perfect 6-0 record during the Presidents’ trip to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last week. He upped his season record to 18-6 and has recorded six victories by fall. Demor has won seven consecutive matches overall dating back to Dec. 4th.
He won the 2009 Citrus Open Invitational 157-pound title on Tuesday after posting a 4-0 record with two falls. Demor opened the tournament with a fall (4:00) against Rhode Island’s Jordan Jacquo and then topped SUNY-Oneonta’s Frankie Provenzano by a 13-0 margin in the quarterfinals.
Demor notched his second fall (1:03) during a semifinal victory over Case Western Reserve’s Kyle Weaver and earned the title by topping Mount Union’s Bryan Skoff in the championship match by a 7-4 margin.
W&J competed in dual meets versus Rhode Island and Buena Vista a day later and Demor tacked on a pair of victories. He defeated BV’s Luke Harm by fall (4:58) and collected a 16-1 major decision against Scott Legacy of RIC.
In his first two seasons at W&J, Demor has compiled a 39-13 record. He has pinned 11 opponents.
Washington & Jefferson begins the first of its two trips in back-to-back weeks to Lexington, Virginia, on Saturday when it travels to compete in the Washington and Lee Quadrangular (noon start). The Presidents will also compete in Jan. 16th’s W&L Invitational.
-- PRESIDENTS --
DEMOR POSTS 6-0 RECORD IN FLORIDA; WINS CITRUS INVITATIONAL TITLE (12/30)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team posted a fifth place finish of 11 teams at the 2009 Florida Citrus Open on Tuesday, Dec. 29th. In addition, the Presidents wrestled Rhode Island (21-19 loss) and Buena Vista (28-18 win) in dual meets a day later.
Mount Union won the team open invitational with 169 points. Rhode Island finished second with 149 points and was followed by Oneonta State (122), John Carroll (103), W&J (94.5), Buena Vista (86), Ursinus (67), Case Western Reserve (46.5), Wilmington (46), Concordia (39) and Milwaukee School of Engineering (27.5).
Sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) {pictured} paced the Presidents with a 6-0 record and three falls during the trip. He posted a 4-0 record (two falls) in the tournament, including a 7-4 victory over Mt. Union's Bryan Skoff in the championship match.
Demor increased his overall win streak to seven matches 24 hours later after knocking off Rhode Island's Scott Legacy (16-1) and Buena Vista's Luke Harm (Fall 4:58) during dual meets.
Sophomore 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) collected second place during the tournament. Cecchetti earned wins over Buena Vista's Aaron Davenport (8-3) and Rhode Island's Brandon Gauthier (Fall, 1:33) before dropping a 5-3 decision to BV's Austin Mogg in the title bout.
Junior 133-pounder Brandon Sansom (Brookville, Pa./Brookville), sophomore heavyweight Taylor Potts (Moundsville, W.Va./John Marshall) and freshman 197-pounder Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) all amassed fourth-place showings in their respective brackets.
Potts, who also notched two wins in the dual meets, was competing in his first tournament after playing for the Presidents' football team in the fall.
W&J returns to action on Saturday, January 9th at the Washington and Lee Quadrangular (Noon start). The Presidents will compete against host W&L, Gettysburg and Penn State-DuBois.
-- PRESIDENTS --
W&J WRESTLING DEFEATS PENN STATE-DUBOIS, 28-6 (12/4)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College won all eight contested bouts and recorded a 28-6 wrestling victory over Penn State-DuBois on Friday evening at the Henry Memorial Center.
The Nittany Lions (3-3) garnered their only points on a forfeit at 165 pounds.
Sophomore 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) opened the match with a 15-1 major decision.
Junior 133-pounder Brandon Sansom (Brookville, Pa./Brookville) posted a 7-4 win and freshman Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) {pictured} followed with a 7-2 triumph at 141 pounds.
Freshman 149-pounder Brett Jeffries (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) garnered a 13-3 major decision and sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) followed with a 17-1 technical fall.
Freshman Eric Kohr (Ellicott City, Md./River Hall) grinded out a 7-5 win at 174 pounds and junior Alex Cressley (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney) added a 7-4 victory.
Freshman heavyweight Ty Sampsell (Milton, Pa./Milton) rounded out the eight-match sweep with a 3-1 victory.
Washington & Jefferson has three weeks off before competing again at the Citrus Invitational (Dec. 29-30) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
125 — Zach Cecchetti (W&J) d. Andrew Spicer (PSD), 15-1 MD
133 — Brandon Sansom (W&J) d.Chase Gardner (PSD), 7-4
141 — Tyler Berger (W&J) d. Garrett Singer (PSD), 7-2
149 — Brett Jeffries (W&J) d. Ty Albright (PSD), 13-3 MD
157 — Dominick Demor (W&J) d. Ryan Taylor (PSD), 17-1 TF 4:11
165 — Kyle Bish (PSD) won by forfeit
174 — Eric Kohr (W&J) d.Stephen Terwillger (PSD), 7-5
184 – No contest
197 — Alex Cressley (W&J) d. Joe Shields (PSD), 7-4
285 — Ty Sampsell (W&J) d. Jim Mosher (PSD), 3-1
-- PRESIDENTS --
PRESIDENTS PLACE 14TH AT SPRINGFIELD INVITATIONAL (11/21)
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team placed 14th of 18 teams on Saturday at the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College. W&J recorded 47.5 points.
Williams won the tournament with 136 points, while SUNY-Brockport (133.5), Wesleyan (124.5), Springfield (119) and Rhode Island College (111.5) rounded out the top five teams.
Sophomore Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski) led the Presidents with a fifth-place finish in the 125-pound bracket after earning a 4-2 record with three falls. Cecchetti claimed fifth place with a 19-second pinfall victory over Roberts Wesleyan's Kaare Stokdal.
Freshman Robbie Mies (Boonsboro, Md./Williamsport) {above} racked up three victories in the 197-pound bracket, including two falls, while classmate Ty Sampsell (Milton, Pa./Milton) also notched three wins. The last of his three victories was by fall in 4:10 over Stevens' Brian Schmaltz.
W&J is idle until Friday, Nov. 4th, when hosting Penn State-DuBois at 8:00 pm at the Henry Memorial Center.
-- PRESIDENTS --
BERGER SELECTED AS PAC WRESTLER OF THE WEEK (11/19)
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College freshman wrestler Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) and sophomore swimmer Brittany Vogel (Butler, Pa./Butler) were named as the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Players of the Week in their respective sports by the conference office earlier this week.
Berger finished fifth in the 141-pound bracket at the 4th Annual W&J Open on Saturday at the Henry Memorial Center. The freshman went 6-2 on the afternoon and collected two falls. In his first collegiate tournament on November 7th at the Clarion Open, Berger finished seventh in the 141-pound weight class after posting a 3-2 record.
Vogel earned the award after winning six times last week as W&J collected swimming and diving victories against Chatham (123-99) and Baldwin-Wallace (134-103) last week.
She touched first in the 200 freestyle (2:03.21) and 200 backstroke (2:14.07), while swimming a leg for the winning 400 medley relay (4:13.01) against Chatham on November 11th.
In Saturday’s victory in Berea, Ohio, she won the 200 freestyle (2:01.12) and 400 IM (4:45.95) along being a part of the 400 medley relay (4:16.50).
The Presidents, who dropped a 170-127 decision against Westminster last night in New Wilmington, will return to the pool on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Gambier, Ohio to participate in the Kenyon College Quad Meet.
The wrestling team travels to Scranton University tonight (Thursday) for a 7:30 pm dual match and will compete in the Springfield Invitational on Saturday afternoon in Massachusetts.
-- PRESIDENTS --
W&J RECORDS VICTORY IN FIRST DUAL MEET OF THE SEASON (11/19)
SCRANTON, Pa. -- Sophomore 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski) {right} recorded a fall in the opening bout and Washington & Jefferson held off a late Scranton charge to post an 18-13 victory over the host Royals at the Long Center.
Cecchetti pinned Josh Javitz in 2:53 to help W&J post a 6-0 lead. Freshmen 141-pounder Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) and 149-pounder Brett Jeffries (Pataskala, Ohio/Watkins Memorial) added back-to-back wins to push the lead to 12-4.
Berger notched a 3-1 victory over Mike Ebert and Jeffries followed with a 7-2 decision against Tom Manning.
Sophomore 165-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) made it a 16-7 margin with a 14-4 victory over Steve Glickman before the Royals (2-7) closed to within 15-13 after a pair of wins and a point deduction for unsportsmanlike conduct.
However, freshman Ty Sampsell (Milton, Pa./Milton) sealed the victory with a 3-2 win in the heavyweight bout.
Washington & Jefferson (1-0) continues its northeast trip on Saturday at the Springfield (Mass.) Invitational.
-- PRESIDENTS --
PRESIDENTS OPEN WRESTLING SEASON AT CLARION (11/7)
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling squad opened its 2009-2010 season on Saturday at the Clarion Knight Point Open. The Presidents were one of two Division III teams competing at the unscored invitational.
W&J had a trio wrestlers win three matches during the tournament led by junior 133-pounder Brandon Sansom (Brookville, Pa./Brookville) {pictured} who placed sixth overall in an 18-wrestler bracket. Sansom opened with a fall (2:27) against Franklin & Marshall’s Matt Murray.
Sansom then topped J.R. Fidler (Unattached) by fall in 5:58 before earning a 9-2 quarterfinal victory against Penn State’s Tom Reynolds by a 9-2 margin. Sansom dropped to the consolation bracket after being pinned by American’s Thomas Williams in 1:29. He was then defeated by F&M’s Jake Bucha (9-4) and Maryland’s Danny O’Malley (6-5).
Sophomore 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) and freshman 141-pounder Tyler Berger (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) both tied for seventh place after 3-2 showings.
Demor opened with a fall (7:00) against Anthony Laverghetta of Lock Haven and then topped LHU’s Justin Loudon in the second round by a 13-2 margin. He dropped a 3-2 decision to Army’s Patrick Marchetti, but rebounded with a fall against Penn State-Dubois’ Chris Reitz. In his final match, Demor was knocked off by Bloomsburg’s Bryce Busler.
Berger recorded his first career victory, a 12-4 decision, over American’s Nick Pitus in the first round. He then topped Clarion’s Michael Horne, 2-0, before suffering a 9-3 setback to Pitt-Johnstown’s Dane Johnson. Berger bounced back with a fall (2:16) against PSU-Dubois’ Garrett Singer, but was eliminated by Hunter Harrison (Unattached), 5-3.
Freshman 174-pounder Eric Kohr (Ellicott City, Md./River Hall) was the only other President to win more than one match. Kohr finished with a 2-2 record and posted victories over Bloomsburg’s D-man Saksek (9-3) and Jonathan Clark (Unattached) by disqualification.
Washington & Jefferson was scheduled to open its home slate on Friday evening versus West Virginia Tech; however, the match has been postponed. The 4th Annual W&J Open Invitational is scheduled to begin at 9:00 pm on Saturday at the Henry Memorial Center.
-- PRESIDENTS --
WASHINGTON AND JEFFERSON WRESTLING PREPARES FOR 77th VARSITY SEASON
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington and Jefferson College wrestling team, led by fourth-year Head Coach Jay Robison, is hoping to take the next step to return to the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Presidents, who have not won a conference title since 1999, open the season on Saturday, November 7th, competing at the Clarion Open.
Although the roster features 15 freshman and sophomores, Robison returns a strong nucleus, including two sophomores who were crowned as conference champions last year in 125-pounder Zach Cecchetti (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) {pictured} and heavyweight Taylor Potts (Moundsville, W.Va./John Marshall).
Cecchetti finished the 2008-09 campaign with an overall record of 28-10, including seven falls. He capped off his season by placing third at the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament, winning three out of his four matches. Cecchetti also claimed W&J’s only individual tournament championship last year, winning the 125 pound weight class at the Florida Citrus Wrestling Open.
Potts, who is also a member of the W&J football team, posted a mark of 13-9 last season with two victories by fall. He took fifth place at the NCAA Midwest Regional after notching a pair of wins.
The Presidents also return four other starters from last year’s lineup: juniors 133-pounder Brandon Sansom (Brookville, Pa./Brookville) and 184-pounder Alex Cressley (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney) along with sophomores 157-pounder Dominick Demor (Georgetown, Pa./South Side Beaver) and 149-pounder Brandon Roshon (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville).
Sansom closed out the season with a record of 20-19 and led the team in pinfalls with eight, while Cressley earned a 14-15 record and collected four falls. Demor went 21-7 last season, including five triumphs by fall, while Roshon recorded 11 victories last season.
The squad will also be bolstered by the return of senior 165-pounder Brandon Foye (Lowell, Mass./Lowell), who did not compete last season. Foye will look to earn a starting position at 165 pounds, while also serving as a veteran leader for the Presidents.
Robison is also excited about eight freshmen who will suit up for the Red & Black this season. The Presidents open their home schedule at the Henry Memorial Center on Friday, Nov. 13, when hosting WVU Tech and the Fourth Annual W&J Open will take place a day later.