Jackets finish in top half at D3 Mideast Regionals
The Waynesburg University wrestling team finished its season after its two-day stay at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Tournament this past weekend. The Yellow Jackets were in the top half of the competing teams, finishing eighth in a field of 18 teams.
The eighth place finish ranked them first among Presidents’ Athletic Conference teams, as Thiel finished in 11th place and Washington & Jefferson finished in a tie for 12th place.
“We were happy to finish in the top half,” said head coach Ron Headlee. “We have a young team and we battled really well. It’s just a really tough region.”
The team was led by freshman heavyweight Jake Evans, who fell just one win shy of qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Championships with a fourth place finish. Evans finished his freshman season with a 37-9 record after his 5-2 performance at the regional tournament, which included a victory against the top-seeded heavyweight at the tournament, senior Cole Tristram of Brockport State. Tristman, entering regionals, was also the number-7 ranked heavyweight wrestler in the country.
“I think Jake was our best shot to win or get to nationals,” said Headlee. “He wrestled really well and he was disappointed he fell just short.”
Sophomore Tristan Buxton and junior Filippo Crivelli both performed well on the day, with Buxton placing fifth and Crivelli placing sixth in weight classes 125 and 141, respectively. Buxton finished the season with a 32-14 record and Crivelli ended his junior campaign with a 31-13 record.
“125-pounds was probably the toughest class to compete in,” said Headlee. “Placing fifth was very good for Tristan.”
Crivelli put up a good fight with the top-seeded wrestler in the 141-pound weight class, senior Justin Kihn from Heidelberg, but fell just short in a 2-1 loss. Kihn would go on to win the weight class.
Headlee was happy with a lot of wrestlers’ performances for the weekend, noting improvements from many men on the team.
“[Sophomore] Landon [Lohr] wrestled as good as we have seen him this year,” said Headlee. “[Sophomore] Derek [Hull] wrestled some of his best this weekend as well.”
Freshman Mike Millero and junior Ryan Shank both went 2-2 in the tournament in weight classes at 174-pounds and 184-pounds, respectively. Freshman Joshua Sneeringer won by pin at 197-pounds for his lone victory of the day.
“Mike always battles hard and has really learned a lot this year,” said Headlee. “Ryan didn’t have his best stuff at the tournament and Josh always wrestles hard.”
Headlee is optimistic as the team begins to look towards next season, citing the teams youth as a critical variable.
“We have a young team that continued to get better and gain experience this year,” said Headlee. “I’m really proud of what these men have done this year.”
Headlee had nothing but good things to say about his team, as he is happy to see the drive and motivation each man has on the team.
“I’m really encouraged because everyone wants to get back to it; everyone wants to know when they can get back on the mat,” said Headlee. “They are all hungry for more and can’t wait to compete again.”