WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College men's wrestling freshman Joey Gardner (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) led the team with a fifth-place finish in the 157-pound weight class at the 18^th Annual W&J Invitational.
 
Gardner started the home event 2-0 with two major decisions against wrestlers from Hiram and Alfred State. Gardner fell in round four to a wrestler from Gettysburg. In the consolation bracket, Gardner went on to win three matches on his way to fifth place with two pins and a decision against wrestlers from Penn State Behrend and Gettysburg.
 
Freshman Alex Tucker (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) finished the home invitational 2-2 at the 133-pound weight class. In the opening round, Tucker pinned his opponent from Mount St. Joseph. He fell in round two to a wrestler from Gettysburg. In the back draw, Tucker pinned his opponent from Gettysburg before falling in the fourth round.
 
Junior captain Jiovanni DeChicchis (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) wrestled his way to a 3-2 finish in the 165-pound weight class. He opened the event with a 6-2 decision against a Southern Virginia wrestler before falling to the No. 2 seed in the bracket from Penn State Behrend. DeChicchis picked up two wins in the back draw from a tech fall and decision before falling out of the bracket prior to the placing round.
 
Junior captain Peyton Carter (Front Royal, Va./Skyline) went 2-2 on the day at the 165-pound weight class. His two wins were by pinfall.
 
Freshman Drake Buzzard (Avella, Pa./Avella Area) went 2-2 in the 125-pound class with wins by decision and major decision. Freshmen Vince Coleman (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville) and Fre Beasley (Alexandria, Va./Alexandria City) also picked up their first collegiate victories.
 
The Presidents return to the mats for their first dual on the road against the Wheeling Cardinals on Wednesday (Nov. 12). The dual will commence at 7:00 p.m. in Wheeling.