The Apprentice wrestling squad had a stellar performance at the Waynesburg Invitational, placing 2nd of 18 teams despite not having an entry at two different weights. Alma College and Washington & Jefferson were co-champions with 110 points, followed by Apprentice with 104 and Mount St Joseph with 95.
Sophomore Kolin Johnson was the lone title winner for the Builders. The 133 lb chump rolled through the bracket with three straight pins after a bye and a forfeit in the opening rounds. It took Kolin only 75 seconds to dispatch his opponent from Case Western Reserve in the finals. He is the first to win the event since assistant coach Josh Rodriquez in 2015.
Seniors Colton Messick and Chad Simmons also advanced to the finals but would both finish in second. Messick, the second seed tallied three decisions before falling to 7th ranked NCAA D3 Jordan Burkholder of Muskingum. Simmons secured a major decision and a tech fall in two of his three wins to the finals.
Freshman Trey Templeton won his first two bouts, including a 6-4 decision over the #1 seed in his opening match to advance to the semi-finals. After dropping his next two he would find a come from behind pin for 5th place at 133.
Wes Sorey started strong at 184 lbs with a pair of pins and a decision to also advance to the semi-finals. In the consolation bracket he held on to an 8-6 decision to secure 3rd place as his last opponent had reached his six bout limit.
The last place winner, heavyweight freshman Peter Cortapasso bagged three pins before falling to D3 National Champion Jake Evans of Waynesburg. Passo found yet another pin in the wrestle-backs before being pinned in the closing seconds of the third place bout while leading by six.
Next Up:
Apprentice will stay close to home to wrestle in the 39th annual Virginia Duals. Apprentice will be bringing their strongest line-up in years to the event dubbed "THE GRANDADDY OF THEM ALL"