WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's wrestling team (1-0, 1-0) powered its way to a statement victory over the Saint Vincent Bearcats (0-1, 0-1), 29-20.
 
Brandon Dami (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) kicked off W&J's home and Presidents' Athletic Conference opener in electric fashion, working his way to a 34 second pinfall victory at 125 pounds, up 6-0.
 
Following a Bearcats pin at 133 pounds, Captain Josh Smith (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) got the Presidents back in the driver's seat with a 15-7 victory by major decision at 141 pounds, 10-6.
 
A tech fall loss at the 149-pound weight class gave Saint Vincent their first and final lead of the night at 11-10. Freshman Joey Gardner (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) picked up an emphatic pinfall victory to give the Presidents the lead back, 16-11. Garnder got the pin in 1:19 seconds of action in his first collegiate match at 157 pounds.
 
Captain Jiovanni DeChicchis (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) added to the lead with a crucial 5-3 victory by decision to elevate the W&J lead to 19-11.
 
Sophomore Vitali Daniels (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) got the ball rolling again for the Presidents at 184 pounds with a pin 51 seconds. Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) sealed the victory with a 11-3 win by major decision at 197 pounds.
 
"Tonight demonstrated all the hard work and dedication that every single member of the team, athletes and coaches, has been putting in, day in and day out," stated Head Coach Sonnie Blanco. "I am so proud of how we competed and came together as a family. We are all excited to see how we progress as a team as the season continues."
 
The Presidents remain home this Saturday (Nov. 8) as they host the W&J Invitational. First matches of the tournament have a scheduled start time of 9:30 a.m.
 
Match-By-Match Results
125: Brandon Dami (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) (W&J) over Dylan Klim (SVC) (Fall 0:34)
133: Logan Connolly (SVC) over Alex Tucker (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) (W&J) (Fall 4:39)
141: Josh Smith (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) (W&J) over Brett Klim (SVC) (MD 15-7)
149: Anthony Orlandini (SVC) over Nathan Thomas (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) (W&J) (TF 21-6 3:47)
157: Joey Gardner (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) (W&J) over Ryan Yocum (SVC) (Fall 1:19)
165: Jiovanni DeChicchis (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) (W&J) over Logan Bechtold (SVC) (Dec 5-3)
174: Chase Brandebura (SVC) over John Starusko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) (W&J) (Dec 4-0)
184: Vitali Daniels (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) (W&J) over Michael Miller (SVC) (Fall 0:51)
197: Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) (W&J) over Chase Stuchal (SVC) (MD 11-3)
285: Jonah McCoy (SVC) over Connor Bauman (Eastampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) (W&J) (Fall 3:35)