WASHINGTON, Pa. – Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) and Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem) led the Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team for a second-straight week at the 17^th Annual W&J Invitational each with podium finishes.
 
The Presidents top unit finished as the eighth best team in the 40-team field.
 
Swedish wrapped the day with a 3-1 record, finishing second as he worked his way through the 141-pound bracket. After a first-round bye, Swedish kicked off his day with a pin against Austin Parker of Thiel (1:24). He then added a tech fall over Lewis Deloach of Hiram and a win by decision over Cole Neil of Penn State Behrend. In the championship bout, Swedish was bested by Colton Stoneking in an 11-6 decision.
 
McChesney took fourth on the day for the Presidents with a 2-2 record in the 285-pound heavyweight class. He commenced his morning with a pin against Lincoln Trapp of Southern Virginia with a win by fall (2:13). In the next round, McChesney tacked on a 12-3 victory by major decision against Aiden Pham of Fairmont State. McChesney could not finish the tournament, wrapping the final two matches with forfeits.
 
Freshman standout Josh Smith (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) finished the day with the Presidents' best record of 5-1 to place fifth in the 133-pound weight class. Smith picked up back-to-back wins by tech fall against Michael Wickstrom of Theil (21-6) and Luke Boram of Fairmont State (17-2). Dropping his third match in the winners bracket, Smith got back to gaining wins in the consolation bracket with a win by decision over Joseph Slatzer and a win by forfeit. In the fifth-place bout, Smith bested Anthony Coukart of Lycoming in a 18-3 win by tech fall.
 
Fellow freshman Nathan Thomas (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) accumulated a 4-2 record on the day in the 149-pound weight class. Thomas earned his first collegiate victory against Connor Graser of Waynesburg, taking a 17-2 win by tech fall. Following his first collegiate victory, Thomas logged his first collegiate win by fall against Corbin Mecham of Southern Virginia (0:40). Thomas capped his day with a win by decision over Caleb Everhart of Fairmont State and a 17-2 win by tech fall over Kyle Haverstick of Lycoming
 
W&J remains home to face off with Division II Wheeling this Wednesday (Nov. 9) in Salvitti Family Gymnasium. First bout is scheduled to commence at 7:00 p.m.