WHEELING, W. Va. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's wrestling team (1-1) suffered their first dual loss to the Division II Wheeling Cardinals (2-0).
 
The Cardinals started the dual off strong with three falls in the first three duals. Freshman Joey Gardner (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) got the Presidents on the board with a 5-4 decision at the 157-pound weight class. Gardner was trailing 4-2 and secured a takedown in the closing second of the third period to claim the victory.
 
The momentum was taken into the 165-pound weight class as junior Jiovanni DeChicchis (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) made it two victories in a row for the Presidents with a 9-0 win by major decision.
 
After a victory by the Cardinals, sophomore Vitali Daniels (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) got the third win of the evening for the Presidents. Daniels won the 184-pound weight class with a 15-0 technical fall (4:24).
 
Additionally, junior Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) battled throughout out his 184-pound bout, but ultimately fell just short in a 1-0 decision.
 
The Presidents head to the Penn State Behrend Duals this Saturday (Nov. 15) for a three-match day.  W&J takes on the host Penn State Behrend Lions at 11:00 a.m., the RIT Tigers at 12:30 p.m., and close out the trip against the Lycoming Warriors at 2:00 p.m.
 
Full Match Results:
125: Neal Krysty (WHL) over Brandon Dami (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) (W&J) (Fall 2:36) WHL 6, W&J 0
133: Leroy Steagall (WHL) over Alex Tucker (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) (W&J) (Fall 1:15) WHL 12, W&J 0
141: Jack Dinwiddie (WHL) over Josh Smith (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) (W&J) (Fall 1:06) WHL 18, W&J 0
149: Mannix Wasco (WHL) win by Forfeit WHL 24, W&J 0
157: Joey Gardner (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) (W&J) over Bradley Spencer (WHL) (DEC 5-4) WHL 24, W&J 3
165: Jiovanni DeChicchis (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) (W&J) over Tucker Steiner (WHL) (MD 9-0) WHL 24, W&J 7
174: Frank Aquila (WHL) over John Starusko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) (W&J) (MD 10-0) WHL 28, W&J 7
184: Vitali Daniels (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) (W&J) over Vincint Sefic (WHL) (TF 15-0 4:24) WHL 28, W&J 12
197: Jaxon Burcher (WHL) over Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) (W&J) (DEC 1-0) WHL 31, W&J 12
285: Gavin Harper (WHL) over Fre Beasley (Alexandria, Va./Alexandria City) (W&J) (TF 18-3, 3:20) WHL 36, W&J 12