WILKES-BARRE, Pa. –
Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) led the Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team with a podium finish at the Ned McGinley Invitational on Saturday (Nov. 2).
Swedish mustered a 4-1 record on the day, ensuring a top finish as he worked his way through the 141-pound bracket. He opened the morning with a major decision (19-6) victory over Sean Rinebolt of Shenandoah. He then logged two-straight tech falls against Jack Doran of York (19-3) and Noah Clawson of Kings (17-2). Swedish locked his title bout with an 11-8 win by decision over Matt Castillo of Roger Williams. In the 141 finals, Swedish lost by fall against Tyler Kadish of NYU in the first minute of action.
Casey Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) was the next best finisher for W&J in the 157-pound bracket, earning a fourth-place finish on the day with a 4-2 record. Smith started his day in similar fashion to Swedish, posting a major decision victory over Casper Stewart of USMAPS/Army Prep, 18-6. Smith rattled off three more victories, with two by tech fall and one by decision. Smith dropped his first bout of the day in the semi-finals of the championship bracket by medical forfeit.
In his first collegiate competition in the heavyweight class,
Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg-Salem) posted a fifth-place finish and 4-1 record. McChesney logged a major decision against Rocco Ardulnl of Keystone (10-2) to start his day. The following match, he got bumped out of the championship bracket after dropping a major decision to Reid Garrison of US Merchant Marine Academy, 10-0. Bouncing back from the loss, McChesney closed out the remainder of the day undefeated with two tech falls and one additional major decision victory.
Josh Smith (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) finished with a 2-2 record in the 133-pound bracket. Smith logged a win by fall (2:46) and a win by decision (12-9) on the day.
Joshua Searle (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek Central) picked up two victories with a 2-2 record in the 174-pound bracket. Searle logged a win by fall (6:35) and a win by tech fall (19-3) on the day.
Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) wrapped the Presidents' top finishers with a 2-2 record in the 197-pound bracket. Fields logged two wins by fall against Carson Queen of York (4:43) and Dane Henry of Hunter (2:15).
W&J hits their home mats for the first time in 2024 this coming Saturday (Nov. 9), hosting the W&J Invitational. Bouts are scheduled to commence at 9:45 a.m.
