WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team battled with Thiel College in Wednesday's dual meet. The teams exchanged wins throughout the night before a victory in the final match of the night helped the Tomcats edge the Presidents by a 25-23 score at Salvitti Family Gymnasium.

Michael Cruz (Malvern, Pa. / Great Valley) opened the evening with by sudden victory for the Presidents at 125 pounds. Cruz pulled out the win in overtime by a 13-10 score in overtime over EJ McCarthy.

After dropping the 133-pound match, W&J recorded three-straight wins. Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) earned bonus points for the Presidents at 141 pounds. Swedish picked up a tech. fall victory by a 22-5 score in 4:12 over Dreyvin Livingston.

Taylor Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) gave W&J more bonus points. Smith needed just 1:46 to win by fall over Austin Parker at 149 pounds. Smith continued his impressive freshman campaign and holds a 28-4 overall record. 

Joshua Searle (Red Creek, N.Y. / Red Creek Central) followed that up with a win by major decision at 157 pounds. Searle gained an early lead and rode the momentum en route to a 14-3 victory over Jacob Potts of the Tomcats.

Trailing by an 18-6 score, the Tomcats battled back and took the lead with three-straight victories. Thiel won by decision at 165 pounds before recording back to back wins by fall at 174 and 184. The string of victories, which included a pair of bonus point victories, put the Tomcats in the lead at 21-18.

Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa. / Greensburg-Salem) helped W&J regain the lead in the team score with a win by technical fall at 197 pounds. McChesney rolled to a 15-0 victory Howard Congdon. The decisive victory gave W&J a 23-21 edge in the team standings entering the final match.

Thiel was able to secure the team win with a victory by major decision at 285.
 

Match-By-Match Results
125 – Michael Cruz (W&J) wins by sudden victory (13-10) over EJ McCarthy (Thiel) – (W&J 3-0)
133 – Evan Whiteside (Thiel) wins by fall (:52) over Daniel Verscharen (W&J) – (Thiel 6-3)
141 – Hunter Swedish (W&J) wins by tech. fall (22-5 - 4:12) over Dreyvin Livingston (Thiel) – (W&J 8-6)
149 – Taylor Smith (W&J) wins by fall (1:46) over Austin Parker (Thiel) – (W&J 14-6)
157 – Joshua Searle (W&J) wins by major decision (14-3) over Jacob Potts (Thiel) – (W&J 18-6)
165 – Dominic Hartman (Thiel) wins by decision (7-2) over Kevin Courseault (W&) – (W&J 18-9)
174 – Frank Gill (Thiel) wins by fall (4:19) over Sean Banks (W&J) – (W&J 18-15)
184 – Jared Curcio (Thiel) wins by fall (3:39) over Jaden Fields (W&J) – (Thiel 21-18)
197 – Christian McChesney (W&J) wins by tech fall (15-0 – 4:20) over Howard Congdon (W&J 23-21)
285 – Seth Phillips (Thiel) wins by major decision (11-1) over Trevor Manley (W&J) – (Thiel 25-23)