WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson wrestling team began the PAC portion of its schedule with a hard-fought 30-21 victory over Thiel on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the Henry Memorial Center. 

With the win, the Presidents improve to 6-3 on the year in dual matches, winning each of their last three. 

W&J earned tonight's victory by logging four pins. Robert West ( Washington, Pa./Trinity) began the meet with a pin over Caleb Garvey (5:15) at 197 pounds to pick up his first win of the year. Vinnie Catania (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) was next at 133, giving the Red & Black a 12-9 lead with a fall over Michel Duncan in 5:27. 

In the very next match, Vinny Palm (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) (141) pinned Vincent Mion in 2:14 to put W&J up 18-9. The Presidents' advantage continued to grow with Michael Heinl's (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) convincing fall over Selom Kalin-Samlan (1:05) at 149 pounds, putting the home team up 24-9. 

The final Red & Black victory of the evening came from Jared Walker (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette), who earned a medical default over Austin Bonacci (3:21) at 165 pounds. 
 
W&J will travel to Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, Jan. 19, for the Case Western Duals with the opening match against Trine slated for 12:00 p.m.  


Washington & Jefferson 30, Thiel 21
125 – Devyn Giovengo (TC) dec. Manny Dovshek (W&J), 13-10
133 – Vinnie Catania (W&J) pinned Michel Duncan (TC), 5:27
141 – Vinny Palm (W&J) pinned Vincent Mion (TC), 2:14
149 – Michael Heinl (W&J) pinned Selom Kalin-Samlan (TC), 1:05
157 – Jason Miller (TC) pinned Zach Schrott (W&J), 5:48
165 – Jared Walker (W&J), medical default Austin Bonacci (TC), 3:21
174 – Caleb Garvey (TC) dec. Jaden Datz (W&J), 3-1
184 – Dominic Farabaugh (TC) dec. Alex Miller (W&J), 4-2
197 – Robert West (W&J) pinned Caleb Garvey (TC), 5:15
HWT – Gage Gladysz (TC) pinned Jake Walker (W&J), 2:47