LATROBE, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College wrestling logged a victory over the highly-touted Saint Vincent Bearcats in a midweek Presidents' Athletic Conference dual, 24-19.
 
Following the victory, the Presidents improve their undefeated mark in conference bout to 4-0 while elevating to a 5-7 overall record. The Bearcats fall 2-1 in conference bouts while sliding to 4-7 overall.
 
The Presidents got on the board in their third bout of the night after dropping matches at 125 and 133 pounds. W&J's lightweight anchor, Hunter Swedish (Cranberry Twp., Pa./Seneca Valley), kicked off the team scoring with a win by major decision over Ryan Yocum of the Bearcats (18-7 MD).
 
Evening the team score at seven was Taylor Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata), who logged a victory at 149 pounds. Smith bested Anthony Orlandini of the Bearcats by a 7-3 decision.
 
Sibling and teammate Casey Smith (Mifflintown, Pa./Juniata), granted the Presidents their first lead of the bout after defeating the Bearcats 157-pound wrestler. Smith registered an overpowering tech fall over Logan Bechtold of Saint Vincent (16-0 TF 5:59) to give W&J a 12-7 advantage.
 
Two losses at 165 and 184 pounds by decision matched with a loss by fall at 174 pounds allowed the Bearcats to grow a 19-12 lead heading into the final two bouts.
 
In his first appearance on a wrestling mat since the 2022-23 season in Red & Black, Brayden Roscosky (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) logged a crucial victory at 197 pounds. Roscosky defeated Dakota McDermott of the Bearcats in the first period of wrestling (1:47), to chip away at the Saint Vincent lead, 19-18.
 
In a make-or-break match, 285-pound heavyweight Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg-Salem), logged a win sealing match. McChesney defeated Brad Miller of the Bearcats by fall (2:56) in the final seconds of the opening period of the final bout to grant the Presidents a 24-19 victory.
 
The Presidents return to the mat on the road against the Muskingum Fighting Muskies, Tuesday (Feb. 4). First bout is scheduled to commence at 6:00 p.m.
 
Match-By-Match Results
125 - Sean Cain (St. Vincent College) over Michael Cruz (W&J) (8-0 MD) (4-0 SVC)
133 - Kyle McCollum (St. Vincent College) over Josh Smith (W&J) (8-5 Dec.) (7-0 SVC)
141 - Hunter Swedish (W&J) over Ryan Yocum (St. Vincent College) (18-7 MD) (7-4 SVC)
149 - Taylor Smith (W&J) over Anthony Orlandini (St. Vincent College) (7-3 Dec.) (7-7)
157 - Casey Smith (W&J) over Logan Bechtold (St. Vincent College) (16-0 TF 5:59) (12-7 W&J)
165 - Chase Brandebura (St. Vincent College) over Jiovanni DeChicchis (W&J) (10-3 Dec.) (12-10 W&J)
174 - Nathan Barkley (St. Vincent College) over Joshua Searle (W&J) (Fall 3:20) (16-12 SVC)
184 - Ryan Weinzen (St. Vincent College) over Jaden Fields (W&J) (5-0 Dec.) (19-12 SVC)
197 - Brayden Roscosky (W&J) over Dakota McDermott (St. Vincent College) (Fall 1:47) (19-18 SVC)
285 - Christian McChesney (W&J) over Brad Miller (W&J) (Fall 2:56) (24-19 W&J)