GREENVILLE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling team bested the Thiel Tomcats in a Friday dual, 30-14.
 
W&J picks up their first Presidents' Athletic Conference and dual win of the season, lifting to an overall record of 1-6 (1-0 PAC). Thiel drops to 0-1 on the season and in conference play.
 
Michael Cruz (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley) opened the evening for the Presidents with a 9-3 win at the 125-pound weight class over EJ McCarthy to put W&J up, 3-0.
 
Following a loss at 133, Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley) logged a pin over Chase Kyler (2:27) at 141 to elevate the W&J score to 9-6. Peyton Carter (Front Royal, Va./Skyline) and Casey Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata) logged back-to-back victories for the Presidents at 149 and 157, respectively. Carter defeated Jacob Potts by decision (12-8) while Smith defeated Landon Mead by tech fall (4:51) to push the lead to 17-6.
 
Dropping a match at 165, the Presidents rebounded with wins from Joshua Searle (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek Central) and Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington). At 174, Searle logged a win by major decision over George Green (19-7). In the 184-pound weight class, Fields won by fall over Logan Groover (2:54) within the first period.
 
Capping off the night for W&J was 285 heavyweight, Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg-Salem), who logged a 7-1 win by decision over Seth Phillips to complete the 30-14 conference victory.
 
The Presidents return to their home mats to host the Annual Jim White Duals to face Marymount, Hiram and Mount St. Joseph. First match is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m.
 
Match-By-Match Results
125 - Michael Cruz (W&J) dec. EJ McCarthy (THI), 9-3 [W&J 3-0]
133 - Dreyvin Livingston (THI) pinned Josh Smith (WJ), 2:17 [T 6-3]
141 - Hunter Swedish (W&J) pinned Chase Kyler (THI), 2:27 [W&J 9-6]
149 - Peyton Carter (W&J) dec. Jacob Potts (THI), 12-8 [W&J 12-6]
157 - Casey Smith (W&J) tech. fall Landon Mead (THI), 4:51 [W&J 17-6]
165 - Dominic Hartman (THI) dec. Jiovanni DeChiccis (W&J), 7-2 [W&J 17-9]
174 - Joshua Searle (W&J) maj. dec. George Green (THI), 19-7 [W&J 21-9]
184 - Jayden Fields (W&J) pinned Logan Groover (THI), 2:54 [W&J 27-9]
197 - Joey King (THI) tech. fall Logan Smith (W&J), 3:29 [W&J 27-14]
285 - Christian McChesney (W&J) dec. Seth Phillips (THI), 7-1 [WJ 30-14]