LEXINGTON, Va. – The Washington and Lee wrestling team finished third of eight teams with 51.50 points competing in the 26th annual W&L Invitational in the Warner Center on Saturday.
Defending champion Washington and Jefferson finished first (81 points), followed by University of Scranton (75), W&L (51.50), Davidson (49.50), Pensacola Christian (49), Waynesburg (32), Southern Virginia (23.50) and Gallaudet (3).
Pacing the Generals (1-7) were senior Alex Poor (Perkasie, Pa./Germantown Academy) and junior Michael Bennett (Carmel, Ind./Carmel), who each won their respective classes. Poor, grappling at 165, won by injury default against Scranton junior Mike Gerchak (Palmerton, Pa./Palmerton) before defeating another Scranton wrestler, junior Tim Grover (Selden, N.Y./Centerreach), in the finals (10-5).
Bennett (197) pinned Scranton freshman Trevor Needham (Doylestown, Pa./La Salle College) in 1:00 to reach the finals, where he held off W&J junior Brad Guinn (Hamilton, N.Y./Peddie School), 3-2, for the championship.
The other winners were Waynesburg freshman Mike Olem (Herndon, Va./Herndon) at 125, W&J senior Kevin DeJulius (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) at 133, Scranton junior Mike Griffith (Hanover, Pa./Hanover Area) at 141, Pensacola Christian sophomore Steve McGettrick (Baker, Fla.) at 149, Scranton senior Darren Buseman (Mullica Hill, N.J./Kingsway) at 157, W&J sophomore, and the Invitational's Outstanding Wrestler, Matt Smith (Monongahela, Pa./Ringgold) at 174, Southern Virginia's Jeff Jardine at 184 and W&J freshman Ryan Wiles (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) at 285.
W&L will be back on the mat next Saturday morning at 11:00 am when it competes in the McDaniel Triangular.
-- GENERALS --
Shiloh Roberts (GU) d. Ben Everett (W&L), Fall 6:20
Kevin DeJulius (W&J) d. Grant Krapf (W&L), T-Fall 4:41
Ben Katshor (PCC) d. John Polena (W&L), 15-1
Adam Sperling (DC) d. Corey Little (W&L), Fall 4:45
Jason Smee (W&L) d. Nathan Jones (W&J), Fall 4:52
Ben Everett (W&L) d. Day Gold (SVU), Fall 5:20
Alex Poor (W&L) d. Mike Gerchak (US), Injury default
Brian Avello (W&L) d. Ron Saglimbene (US), 9-7 (OT)
Jason Smee (W&L) d. Chris Harris (GU), 15-4
Mike Bennett (W&L) d. Trevor Needham (US), Fall 1:00
Derek Stroke (DC) d. Ben Everett (W&L), Fall 5:20
Josh Linder (PCC) d. Grant Krapf (W&L), Fall :49
Matt Leonard (DC) d. John Polena (W&L), Fall 5:54
Chris Day (W&J) d. Corey Little (W&L), Fall 5:30
Alex Poor (W&L) d. Tim Grover (US), 10-5
Matt Smith (W&J) d. Brian Avello (W&L), Fall 2:46
Jeff Jardine (SVU) d. Jason Smee (W&L), Fall 1:08
Mike Bennett (W&L) d. Brad Guinn (W&J, 3-2
