LEXINGTON, Va. – The Washington & Jefferson wrestling team remained in Virginia to face off at the Crytzer Invitational, Saturday (Jan. 4). The team placed ninth of the 11 teams that competed at the invite.
Christian McChesney (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg-Salem) capped off the Presidents' weekend trip to Virginia with emphasis, winning the 285-pound heavyweight bracket with a 4-0 record. McChesney opened the day with a round one 6-0 victory by decision over Hunter Probasco of Ohio Northern University to advance to the quarterfinal. In his next match, he took an 8-2 win by decision over Deondre Johnson of Ferrum College. In the semifinal round, McChesney logged another win by decision over Trent Ray of Ferrum College, 4-2. In the championship bout of the 285-bracket, McChesney sealed his triumph of the bracket with a 5-3 victory by decision over Jadon Brownlee of Ohio Northern University.
Joshua Searle (Red Creek, N.Y./Red Creek Central) finished next best for the Presidents in the 174-pound bracket, taking second with a 2-1 record. Searle opened the Crytzer Invitational in the quarterfinal round, earning a 7-4 win by decision over John Radey of Ohio Northern University. Advancing to the semifinal round, Searle won over Dylan Weaver of Shenandoah University by injury default (0:54). Searle dropped the 174-bracket championship by medical forfeit.
John Starusko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) wrapped up the W&J wrestlers who earned placements at the invitational, finishing sixth in the 174-pound bracket with a 2-3 record. After dropping his first bout of the morning, Starusko won his first match in the consolation bracket by tech fall over Taalib-Din Grier of Greensboro College (TF-1.5 3:24 (16-0)). He also picked up a win in the third round of the consolation bracket over Jake Knight of Ferrum College by fall (1:40).
Daniel Verscharen (Eighty Four, Pa./Ringgold) and
Trevor Manley (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) both finished with a 2-2 record on the day but ultimately did not earn placements.
The W&J wrestling team returns to action in Greenville, Pa. to square off with Thiel on Friday (Jan. 10). First bout is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
