ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Washington and Lee wrestling team claimed the program's first conference title in 41 years on Saturday, finishing first out of seven teams at the 2020 Centennial Conference Championship hosted by Muhlenberg College.
 
The Generals last hoisted the hardware in 1979 when they won the ODAC title.  W&L has competed in the Centennial Conference since 1998-99.
 
Sophomore Ryan Luth (Milford, Conn. / Joseph A. Foran) finished as the individual champion at 157 pounds, just the third conference champion in W&L's 21 years as a member of the Centennial Conference and the first since Ron Tassoni '16 in 2014.  All told, eight Generals made the podium, including five that competed in the title bout of their respective weight classes.
 
The Generals accumulated 75.5 points to out-pace the host Mules, who posted 69.5 points.  The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy finished third with 64.5 points, followed by Ursinus (60.5), McDaniel (41), Johns Hopkins (30.5) and Gettysburg (14.5).
 
Luth needed just one match to claim his title, receiving a bye in the first round and a forfeit in the second.  He then registered a 15-2 major decision over McDaniel's Alex LaVeck in the championship match, avenging one of his only two losses on the season (20-2).
 
Sophomore Charlie Cunningham (Pequannock, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep) finished as the runner-up at 133 pounds, falling to Caleb Kreitter of the Merchant Marines, 6-0, in the championship match.
 
Junior Bryce Crew (St. Mary's, Ga. / Camden County) was also runner-up at 141 pounds, dropping a 12-2 major decision in the finals to Ryker Eckenbarger of McDaniel, who was later named the outstanding wrestler of the championship.
 
Senior Shane Conners (Mount Airy, Md. / South Carroll) also earned a runner-up finish, falling to Dominick Reyes of Johns Hopkins by a score of 9-3 in the title match.  Conners advanced to the final by knocking off Muhlenberg's Dylan Schwartz in the semis by a score of 8-7.  The defending 165-pound champion, Schwartz entered the day ranked 10th by d3wrestle.com.  Classmate Rexx Hallyburton (Bishop, Ga. / Oconee County) also made it to the finals where he squared off with Josh Glantzman of the Merchant Marines.  Glantzman won 3-0.
 
Junior Nick Konovalchik (North Andover, Mass. / Brooks School) earned a third-place finish at 174 pounds by going 3-1 overall, sophomore Brad Basham (Burlington, Mass. / Buckingham Browne & Nichols) went 2-1 for a third-place finish at 184 pounds and sophomore Clay Chadwick (Arlington, Va. / Yorktown) went 3-1 overall for a third-place finish at 285 pounds.
 
Washington and Lee will be back in action next Sunday when it takes part in the Northeast/Mideast Futures Tournament hosted by Muhlenberg.  Action begins at 9:00 am.
   
133 Pounds
Charlie Cunningham (W&L) d. Ray Calderaio (Ursinus); MD 12-3
Caleb Kreitter (USMMA) d. Charlie Cunningham (W&L); 6-0 (Championship match)

141 Pounds
Bryce Crew (W&L) d. Greg Baum (Muhlenberg); Fall 6:15
Ryker Eckenbarger (McDaniel) d. Bryce Crew (W&L); MD 12-2 (Championship match)

149 Pounds
Alfred Corradeti (Ursinus) d. Alex Winant (W&L); 6-2
Eric Mougalian (Gettysburg) d. Alex Winant (W&L); 8-6

157 Pounds
Ryan Luth (W&L) won by forfeit
Ryan Luth (W&L) d. Alex LaVeck (McDaniel); MD 15-2 (Championship Match)

165 Pounds
Shane Conners (W&L) d. Jason Zollers (Ursinus); Fall 2:27
Shane Conners (W&L) d. Dylan Schwartz (Muhlenberg); 8-7
Dominick Reyes (JHU) d. Shane Conners (W&L); 9-3 (Championship Match)

174 Pounds
Nick Konovalchik (W&L) d. Gary Nagle (Ursinus); 6-1
Brian Jamison (Muhlenberg) d. Nick Konovalchik (W&L); 9-3
Nick Konovalchik (W&L) d. Michael Bromley (McDaniel); 9-4
Nick Konovalchik (W&L) d. Joe Paul (JHU); 7-4 (Third-Place Match)

184 Pounds
Rexx Hallyburton (W&L) d. Brendan Loder (Gettysburg); Fall 4:53
Rexx Hallyburton (W&L) d. Nathan Wertheimer (JHU); 10-3
Josh Glantzman (USMMA) d. Rexx Hallyburton (W&L); 3-0 (Championship Match)

197 Pounds
Luca Colestock (Muhlenberg) d. Brad Basham (W&L); 12-6
Brad Basham (W&L) d. Jon Stix (Gettysburg); Fall 2:14
Brad Basham (W&L) d. Andrew French (USMMA); 7-5 (OT) (Third-Place Match)

285 Pounds
Clay Chadwick (W&L) d. Paul Pelham (Gettysburg); 4-0
Ben Maack (Ursinus) d. Clay Chadwick (W&L); 5-4
Clay Chadwick (W&L) d. Dan Dubinsky (USMMA); 2-0
Clay Chadwick (W&L) d. Henri Behaeghel (JHU); 7-0 (Third-Place Match)