BUENA VISTA, Va. – The Washington and Lee wrestling team compiled 47 points to finish third in the Knight Tournament on Saturday at Southern Virginia University.

The Generals finished behind Carson Newman (89.50) and Belmont-Abbey (76.50), and in front of Virginia Tech (28.50), Richmond (21.50), Southern Virginia (15.50) and Radford (11.50).

Senior John Polena (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon), sophomore Brian Avello (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Cardinal Newman) and freshman Ben Everett (Maryville, Tenn./Maryville) each finished second in their respective weight classes. Polena, grappling at 141, won 7-5 in overtime to defeat Virginia Tech's Russel Tebelef before knocking off Belmont-Abbey's Josh Kline, 7-6, to reach the finals. In the championship, Polena fell, 11-5, to Carson Newman's Cody Humphrey.

Avello (174) received a bye in the first round and defeated VT's Richard Park (7-6) to reach the final where he was pinned in 4:41 by Belmont-Abbey's Daniel Black.

Competing in the 125-pound bracket, Everett pinned Southern Virginia's Day Gold in 2:54 to reach the final before being pinned by Belmont-Abbey's J.P. McDonald (2:52).

The Generals will be back in action next Sat., Jan. 18, when they host the W&L Invitational. Matches get underway at 10:00 am.

-- GENERALS --