DANVILLE, Va. – The Washington and Lee wrestling team improved to 12-5 overall with a 28-9 victory over Averett on Thursday evening at the Grant Center.
 
The Generals grabbed an early 6-0 lead with wins by decision by first-year Riley Parker (Virginia Beach, Va. / First Colonial) at 125 pounds and sophomore Charlie Cunningham (Pequannock, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) at 133 pounds.  Parker produced an 11-9 win over Averett's Samuel Braswell, who is ranked fifth in Division III in the weight class.  Cunningham followed with a 6-3 win over Easton Halliday.
 
Averett (6-8) got on the board when Brandon Woody logged a win by fall (6:30) over junior Matt Muller (Roanoke, Va. / Patrick Henry), but W&L responded with wins in the next six weight classes to pull away for the comfortable win. 
 
Leading the way was sophomore Ryan Luth (Milford, Conn. / Joseph A. Foran), who notched a 17-0 tech fall over Landon Childress, and first-year 149-pounder Alex Winant (Chester, N.J. / West Morris Mendham) and sophomore 197-pounder Brad Basham (Burlington, Mass. / Buckingham Browne & Nichols), who both won via major decision.  Winant won 10-0 over David Shelton and Basham posted a 9-0 victory over Kowan Lee.
 
Washington and Lee will attempt to tie the program record for wins in a season when it hosts Southern Virginia on Saturday for a 6:00 pm contest.
   
WASHINGTON AND LEE 28, AVERETT 9
125 – Riley Parker (W&L) d. Samuel Braswell (AU); 11-9
133 – Charlie Cunningham (W&L) d. Easton Halliday (AU); 6-3
141 – Brandon Woody (AU) d. Matt Muller (W&L); Fall 6:30
149 – Alex Winant (W&L) d. David Shelton (AU); MD 10-0
157 – Ryan Luth (W&L) d. Landon Childress (AU); TF 17-0 (3:19)
165 – Nick Konovalchik (W&L) d. Isaiah Deck (AU); 6-3
174 – Patrick Hofstedt (AU) d. Noah Wienclawski (AU); 3-2
184 – Rexx Hallyburton (W&L) d. George Moseley (AU); 3-1 (OT)
197 – Brad Basham (W&L) d. Kowan Lee (AU); MD 9-0
285 – Trent Ragland (AU) d. Clay Chadwick (W&L); 5-0