WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Four consecutive wins fueled the Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team in a 29-20 win over visiting Saint Vincent Wednesday evening in a Presidents' Athletic Conference dual match at the Salivitti Family Gymnasium. 

The win improves the Presidents to 1-1 in PAC matches while the Bearcats drop to 1-1 in conference dual matches. 

After dropping matches at 285 pounds and 125 pounds to start the evening, W&J ripped off four-straight wins to take the lead in the match. Maxwell Jackman (West Chester, Pa. / B. Reed Henderson) provided the spark for the Presidents at 133 pounds. His win by fall gave W&J its first points of the night.

Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) then used a third period takedown to edge Tyler Debnar by a 5-3 score at 141 pounds. 

Taylor Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) and Bryce Rodriguez-Uram (Carnegie, Pa./Carlynton) tacked on bonus-point victories to push the Presidents in front.

Smith earned his 32nd win of the season by securing a first period fall over Liam Flanigan at 149 pounds. Rodriguez-Uram then scored early and often in a 20-3 technical fall victory in 4:55 over Charlie Mesich. 

After suffering defeats at 165 pounds and 174 pounds, W&J closed strong with victories at 184 pounds and 197 pounds. Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington) needed just 1:26 to secure the win by fall at 184 pounds and put W&J up by a 26-20 team score.

Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) closed the bout with a 5-1 win by decision at 197 pounds. 

The meeting was the first between the two schools in a number of decades, as the 2023-24 campaign marks the return of wrestling as a varsity program for the Bearcats, who last wrestled in 1975. 

W&J hosts the Jim White Duals in the Ross Recreation Center on Saturday, Jan. 20. Start time is scheduled for 10 a.m. 


Team Score – W&J 29, Saint Vincent 20 
(Note - Match Started at 285 Pounds)

125 – Sean Cain (SVC) wins by major decision (17-9) over Michael Cruz (W&J) 
(SVC 10-0)
 
133 – Maxwell Jackman (W&J) wins by fall (2:09) over Ryan Yocum (SVC) 
(SVC 10-6)
 
141 – Hunter Swedish (W&J) wins by decision (5-3) over Tyler Debnar (SVC) 
(SVC 10-9) 
 
149 – Taylor Smith (W&J) wins by fall (2:26) over Liam Flanigan (SVC) 
(W&J 15-10)
 
157 – Bryce Rodriguez-Uram (W&J) wins by tech. fall (20-3 4:55) over Charlie Mesich 
(SVC) – (W&J 20-10)
 
165 – Chase Brandebura (SVC) wins by fall (1:29) over Kevin Courseault (W&J) 
(W&J 20-16)
 
174 – Logan Bechtold (SVC) wins by major decision (13-3) over Adam Zerbee (W&J) 
(Tied 20-20)
 
184 – Jaden Fields (W&J) wins by fall (1:26) over Michael Miller (SVC) 
(W&J 26-20)
 
197 – Christian McChesney (W&J) wins by decision (5-1) over Dakota McDermott (SVC) 
(W&J 29-20)
 
285 – Jake Beistel (SVC) wins by fall (5:30) over Trevor Manley (W&J)
(SVC 6-0)