WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College men's wrestling program 2026-27 under fourth year head coach
Sonnie Blanco.
2025-26 Season in Review: The Presidents wrapped the 2025-26 season with a 6-12 overall record with a 4-1 conference mark.
"Last season was a strong step forward for our program. We finished 4–1 in conference matches and placed third at the PAC Championships," said Head Coach
Sonnie Blanco. "As a team, we showed consistency, competed with confidence, and continued building a culture centered on growth and accountability."
W&J claimed key dual wins against Saint Vincent, Waynesburg, Johns Hopkins, Muskingum, Hiram and Bethany throughout the regular season. The Presidents claimed five PAC weekly honors throughout the season, including three wrestlers of the week and two newcomer of the week.
The Presidents went on to finish third at the Presidents' Athletic Conference Championships. The team finished with 67 team points behind Saint Vincent (118.5) and Thiel (100).
Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington) (197) and
Jack Viti (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) (184) led the way for the Presidents with first place finishes in their respective weight classes.
Brandon Dami (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) took second for W&J in the 125-pound weight class.
Jiovanni DeChicchis (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) rounded out the top finishers for the Presidents, placing fourth at 165 pounds.
W&J placed 11th at the NCAA Division III Regional with 38.5 team points. Sophomore
Vitali Daniels (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) led the way for the Presidents with a fifth-place finish in the 184-pound weight class to conclude the season.
"We had two conference champions in
Jack Viti (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) and
Jaden Fields (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington), with
Brandon Dami (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) finishing as the runner-up. At the regional tournament, several of our wrestlers earned All-Region recognition. Those achievements reflect the work of the entire team, including the daily commitment of our athletes and the support of our staff and community," said Blanco. "We can build on that foundation this season by continuing to improve in the room, support one another, and approach each competition with purpose. Our goal is to keep raising our standard as a team and see what we can accomplish together."
| 2026-27 PAC Men's Wrestling Preseason Poll |
| School (first-place votes) |
Points |
2025-26 dual meet record (PAC); PAC Championships finish |
| 1. Saint Vincent College (4) |
34 |
5-2 (4-1); 1st/6, 118.5 pts. |
| 2. Thiel College (2) |
31 |
4-2 (4-1); 2nd/6, 100 pts. |
| 3. Washington & Jefferson College (1) |
28 |
6-12 (4-1); 3rd/6, 67 pts. |
| 4. Hiram College |
19 |
2-8 (1-3); 4th/6, 58 pts. |
| 5. Waynesburg University |
16 |
1-10 (0-5); 5th/6, 24 pts. |
| 6. Bethany College |
13 |
3-6 (1-3); 6th/6, 23.5 pts. |
| 7. Chatham University |
6 |
First-year program |
PAC Wrestlers to Watch in 2026-27
1 = 2025-26 1st Team All-PAC; 2 = 2nd Team; HM = Honorable Mention
"I know it may sound cliché, but I'm excited to see every returning wrestler continue to develop and work toward his goals," replied Blanco. "Each athlete is at a different point in his growth, and our job as a staff is to help each one keep moving forward. Seeing that progress across the team is what I'm looking forward to most."
Key Returners: The W&J men's wrestling team returns a mix of youth and experience to their unit for the 2026-27 season. The team retains its three captains from the 2025-26 season including
Jiovanni DeChicchis (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township),
Peyton Carter (Front Royal, Va./Skyline) and
Josh Smith (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra).
"Having all three captains return gives us valuable experience and continuity. We expect them to lead through their daily habits, hold themselves accountable, and support the growth of their teammates. On the mat, we expect them to keep developing and compete with the consistency and toughness our program asks of everyone," said Blanco. "At the same time, leadership is earned each day. We're grateful for the athletes who helped lead us last season, and this new season is an opportunity for every wrestler in our program to step up and contribute. The captains can help set that standard, while making room for new voices to emerge."
The team features an eight-man senior class consisting of
Brandon Dami (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan),
Connor Garren (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy Orange),
Adis Karybekov (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan/),
Logan Smith (Washington, Pa./McGuffey),
John Starusko (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin),
Vontez Tyus (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Maple Heights), Carter and DeChicchis.
Dami will look to lead a young group of wrestlers again at the 125-pound weight class. The senior lightweight finished last season with 15 victories, seven coming by fall. DeChicchis will look to build off of his fourth-place finish at the 165-pound bracket during the 2025-2026 PAC Championships this coming spring. Starusko was a versatile piece for the Presidents the past seasons, able to move into multiple weight classes. Starusko will look to contribute at 165 pounds this season. Garren and Smith return as two of the five wrestlers W&J has equipped to compete at the 285 heavyweight class.
The junior class features six Presidents, headed by standout
Vitali Daniels (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth). Daniels, despite a season hampered by injury, led W&J at the NCAA Regionals in his first season as a member of the Red & Black. Daniels finished with a 2-1 record at the regional tournament with wins over Greensboro and Southern Virginia. Daniels will look to secure the top 184-pound slot for the Presidents this season at the conference championships after missing the 2025-26 rendition a season ago. Daniels was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American following his first season at W&J.
"Vitali is a proven competitor who showed what he can do even while managing injuries last season. Finishing fifth at Regionals speaks to his ability, but we believe he has another level to reach when he can train and compete consistently" replied Blanco. "If he stays healthy through the PAC Championships, he can be a major presence for our team and put himself in position to make a run at a national title. Our focus is to support his development, help him stay ready, and prepare him to compete at his best when it matters most. We believe he can get there."
Junior captain J. Smith will look to return to the mat this season following a shortened 2025-26 campaign. Smith picked up 11 victories last season and will look to build off of his progress on the mat at 133 this coming season.
Dual-sport athletes
Jackson Sandor (Apollo, Pa./The Kiski School) and
Will Domico (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield Area) will also look to contribute to the lineup this season as part of the junior class. Juniors
Gunnar Hickman (Nashport, Ohio/Licking Valley) and
Colin Feeney (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) will also look for opportunities this season.
Rounding out the Presidents returners include seven sophomores.
Jack Viti (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) and
De'Mier Hamilton (Canton, Ohio/McKinley) highlighted this class in their first seasons. Viti finished as one of two PAC Champions for the Presidents at the 184-pound weight class. Viti continued a four-year streak of a freshman W&J wrestler winning their weight class. Hamilton finished the season with 14 victories at 165 pounds.
"De'Meir and Jack made a strong impact as freshmen, and we're looking forward to seeing how they build on that experience. Jack's PAC championship was a meaningful accomplishment, and we're proud of the work he put in to earn it," said Blanco. "Both young men have room to keep growing, and we expect them to bring that same commitment to the team this season."
Albert Sherman (New Orleans, La./Holy Cross),
Logan Rumberger (Tyrone, Pa./Tyrone),
Jayden Johnson (Keansburg, N. J./Keansburg) and
Abrahem House (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth) will all look to contribute to this season on the mat as well. Sherman and Johnson each competed at 285- and 197-pounds last season. Rumberger, a highly touted newcomer last season, competed in nine total matches in a shortened freshman campaign at 133 and 141 pounds.
"Logan showed a lot of promise before injury limited his season. Our priority is helping him return healthy and continue developing at the right pace," replied Blanco. "We believe in his potential, and we'll support him as he works back into competition and finds his role with the team."
Newcomers: W&J welcomes the addition of 15 new wrestlers to the team.
"The newcomers are continuing to adjust to the expectations of college wrestling, both in the classroom and in the room. We have a young group, so building relationships and helping each athlete find a routine and a role are important parts of the process," stated Blanco. "Our returning wrestlers have also helped them feel connected to the team. Their presence adds depth and creates more competition in practice. That helps everyone improve and gives us more options as we work through a long season. We'll keep developing the group and ask each wrestler to be ready to contribute when his opportunity comes."
Adam Baloga (Burgettstown, Pa./Burgettstown) / Fr. / 285
Lucas Barr (West Alexander, Pa./McGuffey) / Fr. / 133/141
Chris Bradford (Stephenson, Va./Millbrook) / Fr.
Behr Bruckner (Washington, Pa./Trinity) / Fr. / 184/197
Cameron Danna (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny) / Fr. / 285
Keegan Deeds (Pensacola, Fla./Gulf Breeze) / Fr. / 133/141
Dylan Droboj (West Alexander, Pa./McGuffey) / Fr. / 174/184
Ty Jackson (Pittsburg, Calif./Mt. Diablo) / Fr. / 125
Noah Kimberland (Avella, Pa./Avella) / Fr. / 157
Caleb Patton (Washington, Pa./Washington) / Fr. / 149/157
Malachi Peak (California, Pa./California) / Fr. / 197/285
Joshua Silnutzer (Monroeville, Pa./The Kiski School) / Fr. / 184
Jacob Stewart (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell) / Fr. / 141/149
Zachary Turberville (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock) / Fr. / 157
Emmett Wolfe (Claysville, Pa./McGuffey) / Fr. / 141/149
Coaching Staff: Sonnie Blanco, a 2017 Washington & Jefferson College graduate and the program's all-time wins leader, joined W&J as head coach of the W&J wrestling program in September 2022. Blanco will enter his fifth season as head coach in 2026-27.
W&J won it's eighth Presidents' Athletic Conference Wrestling Championship in Blanco's third season as head coach. Blanco has collected two PAC Championships during his time at W&J.
Returning to the staff for this season are
Ron Dami,
Brandon Matthews and
Kenneth Burrs. The Presidents also add
August Mizia,
Bryce Rodriguez-Uram and
Isham Peace to the staff.
"I'm grateful to welcome August and Isham to our staff, and to have Bryce return. Each coach brings a valuable perspective, and I expect them to invest in our student-athletes, communicate well, and help us build a consistent, supportive training environment," said Blanco. "Bryce's familiarity with our program gives us continuity as we bring the new coaches into the group. Reclaiming the PAC Championship is a goal we share, and our staff will work together to prepare our wrestlers for that challenge. The daily work, development, and commitment of our athletes will be central to reaching it."
Looking at the Schedule: The Presidents have four invitationals and 10 dual meets on the schedule. Two of the invitationals and nine duels will be held here at the Salvitti Family Gymnasium.
The Presidents open their season at the Ned McGinley Invitational (Nov. 7). W&J follows up with their annual home W&J Invitational (Nov. 14). The Red & Black travel to Muskingum (Nov. 19) for the first dual meet of the season. W&J will compete at the Penn State Behrend Duals (Nov. 21) prior to Thanksgiving break.
The Presidents travel to the Ohio Northern Invitational (Dec. 5) to cap the 2026 portion of the season.
W&J will kickoff the new year with a trip to the UAA Challenge (Jan. 2) followed by the two-day Virginia Duals (Jan. 8-9). The team will return home for duals against Otterbein (Jan. 16) at home and the first PAC meeting of the season with Bethany (Jan. 19) on the road.
The team will be hosting the annual Jim White Duals (Jan. 23) here in Washington and will be battling conference foes, Hiram and Chatham. Senior Recognition will be celebrated during the Chatham match of the Jim White Duals. The Presidents close out the regular season with a three-dual slate of Saint Vincent (Jan. 28), Thiel (Jan. 30) and Waynesburg (Feb. 5) all on the road.
The PAC Championships will be held at Saint Vincent on Saturday (Feb. 13). NCAA Regionals (Feb. 26-27) will be held two weeks later and the NCAA Championships will be held on Friday (Mar. 12) and Saturday (Mar. 13) in La Crosse, Wis.
Final Word from Blanco: " We're grateful for the support of our coaches, athletes, families, alumni, and fans. Their commitment means a great deal to our program. We have important work ahead, and we're looking forward to growing together and competing this season."
