WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling program looks to return to the top the Presidents' Athletic Conference standings under third-year head coach
Sonnie Blanco.
The Presidents made positive strides during Blanco's first two seasons going 1-1 and winning a share of the PAC title in the 2022-23 during his first year at the helm and 2-1 in the 2023-24 season last year.
2023-24 Season Review: First-year wrestler
Taylor Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) concluded a superior first season Friday when he competed at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships hosted by Wisconsin – La Crosse at the La Crosse Center.
Smith posted a 2-2 record Friday and fell one victory short of earning All-America status. He finished his first season, which included a PAC individual championship, with a 50-7 overall record.
The first year opened his day with a major victory over Zach Soda of New England College. Smith then picked up a win over Ty Koedam of Coe College, dominating throughout the bout to earn a 11-5 decision over Koedam. The win was the 50th of the season for Smith. He posted a first-place finish at 149 pounds at the Division III Southeast Regional Championships on Mar. 2. Smith became the 18th W&J wrestler to qualify in the last 10 Division III Championships.
Smith and
Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) claimed individual titles at the 2024 Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships, which were hosted by Washington & Jefferson College.
Saint Vincent College claimed the team title with 103.5 points. W&J finished second at 81 while Waynesburg was third with a team score of 75.5.
During the regular season, The Presidents picked up key wins over Hiram College, Waynesburg, Saint Vincent College, and Pitt-Bradford thanks to the efforts of
Taylor Smith,
Bryce Rodriguez-Uram (Carnegie, Pa./Carlynton),
Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley),
Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem), and
Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington). All tallying at least 16 individual wins for the season.
"Last year was a significant season for W&J Wrestling, and I'm incredibly proud of what our team accomplished. Finishing with a 2-1 record in conference play demonstrated our competitive spirit and the hard work our wrestlers put in throughout the season," stated Head Coach
Sonnie Blanco. "Securing second place in the PAC Championship was a testament to our team's depth and determination, and we were thrilled to see two of our wrestlers claim individual titles."
2024-25 PAC Wrestling Preseason Poll
School (first-place votes) Points 2023-24 dual meet record (PAC); PAC Championship finish
1. Saint Vincent College (6) 37 5-7 (2-1); 1
st/4 103.5 pts.
2. W&J (3) 35 5-10 (2-1); 2nd/4, 81 pts.
3. Thiel College (1) 29 4-2 (2-1); 4th/4, 60.5 pts.
4. Waynesburg University 23 2-17 (0-3); 3rd/4, 75.5 pts.
5. Hiram College 16 0-13 (0-3 vs. PAC opponents); 5th/5 at AMCC Championships
2024-25 PAC Wrestlers to Watch – W&J
Team Captains: Christian McChesney,
Hunter Swedish,
Taylor Smith
Key Returners: Taylor Smith finished his historic freshman season with a team-high 50-7 record following 2023-24, with a 15-1 dual record. The now sophomore will look to maintain his previous success and stature in the 149-weight class.
Hunter Swedish capped off last season with a 22-8 overall record and 8-2 dual record. Swedish also secured an individual title for a second-straight year (133 pounds in 2023). The now senior will look to maintain his 133 crown this season for the third consecutive season.
Bryce Rodriguez-Uram finished the previous 2023-24 season with a 24-5 overall record with an 11-1 record in duals. Rodriguez-Uram placed second at the PAC Conference Championships, snapping his would-be two-time win at 157 pounds. Rodriguez-Uram reached the finals at 157 pounds following a pair of wins by technical fall.
Jaden Fields finished with an even 14-14 overall record in 2023-24, with a 6-8 record in duals. The under-the-radar sophomore will now look to push further than is third-place finish at the conference tournament this season.
Christian McChesney plugged a whole for W&J at the 197-weight class, finishing with an 18-15 overall record and 9-6 record in duals. McChesney looks to shift his focus to the 285-weight class this season.
Newcomers: W&J welcomes the addition of nine new wrestlers to the team for the 2024-25 season.
"We're excited about the influx of newcomers in this class, and I believe they are acclimating to our team culture quite well. From the very beginning, we made it a priority to integrate them into the program by establishing an inclusive environment where everyone feels supported and valued," said Blanco. The existing team members have done a fantastic job of welcoming the newcomers, guiding them through the expectations of collegiate wrestling, and helping them adjust to the rigorous demands of our training regimen."
Colin Feeney Fr. 165 Frederick, Md./Tuscarora
Zane Garner Fr. 133 Washington, Pa./Trinity
Gunnar Hickman Fr. 149 Nashport, Ohio/Licking Valley
Ryan Kredel Fr. 157 Conway, Pa./Freedom
Griffin Sams Fr. 165/174 Chillicothe, Ohio/Chillicothe
Jackson Sandor Fr. 141/149 Apollo, Pa./The Kiski School
Casey Smith So. 157 Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata
Josh Smith Fr. 133/125 Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area
Nathan Thomas Fr. 141 Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown
"In terms of depth, these newcomers are poised to make a significant impact. This depth is crucial for withstanding the physical and mental rigors of a long season, especially during challenging stretches when fatigue can set in," replied Blanco. "I've seen them rising to the challenge, not just in terms of their individual training but also in how they are starting to bond with their teammates. This kind of unity will be essential as we navigate the demanding schedule ahead."
Looking at the Schedule: W&J will participate in five Invitationals and nine dual matchups on the road and host one Invitational of their own as well as five duals in Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
The Presidents open their season with the Ned McGinley Invitational (Nov. 2) before hosting their annual W&J Invitational (Nov.9).
W&J is then set to host Wheeling (Nov 13) in a dual matchup before traveling to Waynesburg, Pa. to take on Lycoming, Mount Union and Penn State Behrend (Nov. 17) at the Waynesburg Duals.
The Red & Black is then slated for two back-to-back weekends of Invitationals on the road at Baldwin Wallace (Nov. 23) and ONU (Dec.7) before hitting a breif break in their schedule.
The Presidents will then open the new year at the Crytzer Duals (Jan 3) where they will face off against Washington & Lee, Greensboro and McDaniel before attending the Jim Crytzer Invitational the following day (Jan. 4).
W&J is then slated for their first PAC dual at Thiel College (Jan. 10) before returning home for the Jim White Duals (Jan. 18) where they will host Marymount, Hiram (PAC contest) and Mount St. Joseph.
The Presidents hit the home mat once more for Senior Recognition night as they take on PAC competitor Waynesburg (Jan. 23).
The Red & Black's final three matchups are slated on the road at Saint Vincent (Jan. 30) for their final PAC duals match followed by Muskingum (Feb. 2) and the 38
th John Summa Invitational (Feb. 8) before the PAC Championships take place on Feb. 15.
The Final Words from Blanco: "As we gear up for the upcoming season, I'm filled with optimism and excitement about what lies ahead for our W&J wrestling program. Each season brings new challenges, and this one will be no exception, especially with the level of competition in the PAC continuing to rise. However, I truly believe that our hard work, resilience, and the depth of talent we have on our roster will allow us to compete at a high level.
Our goals this season are clear, to compete fiercely in every match, to improve individually and as a team, and to position ourselves for success at the conference tournament and beyond. We are committed to creating an environment where every wrestler feels empowered to reach their full potential, pushing each other to excel both on and off the mat.
As always, we will rely on the support of our fans, alumni, and the entire W&J community. Their encouragement fuels our passion and drive. I encourage everyone to come out and support us this season – the energy in the gym makes a difference, and we're excited to showcase our hard work and determination in front of our supporters.
In closing, I'm looking forward to a season filled with growth, competition, and camaraderie, and I can't wait to see what our student-athletes will accomplish. Let's make it a great season together!"
