W&J claims first PAC wrestling title since 1999

W&J claims first PAC wrestling title since 1999

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Results
WASHINGTON, Pa. (pacathletics.org)--Washington & Jefferson College won its first Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) wrestling team championship since the 1998-99 season Saturday afternoon at the Salvitti Family Gymnasium. 

The PAC title is W&J's sixth. 

W&J totaled 106.50 points in the three-team field, edging three-time defending PAC champion Waynesburg University by one-half of a point (106) for the top spot. Thiel College finished third (91.50).  
 
W&J finished with five individual champions, one runner-up finisher and a pair of third-place finishers. Waynesburg had three individual champions, five runners-up and two third-place finishers. Thiel had two individual champions, four runners-up and six third-place finishers. 

This year's league championships featured double-elimination brackets with each school having the opportunity to enter up to two student-athletes in each of the 10 weight classes.

Waynesburg freshman heavyweight Rocky McGeary (McDonald, Pa. | West Allegheny) was voted both the PAC Newcomer of the Year and the PAC Most Outstanding Wrestler. McGeary won the PAC title after earning a 15-3 major decision over Thiel freshman Khalil Messai (Jamestown, Pa. | Jamestown) in the semifinals. He won by fall (6:30) over Thiel senior Gavin Colligan (Portville, N.Y. | Portville) in the title bout. 

W&J ninth-year head coach Tommy Prairie was voted the PAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his career. 

W&J senior 165-pounder Hunter Neely (Cokeburg, Pa. | Bentworth) secured his fourth-straight PAC title Saturday, posting a 16-6 major decision victory over Waynesburg senior Zach Mackall (Austintown, Ohio | Austintown Fitch) in the title bout. He won at 157 in 2019, 165 in 2018 and 157 in 2017. 

All three programs will represent the PAC at this year's Division III Southeast Regional Championships, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 28-29 at Messiah College's Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. This year's Division III Championships, scheduled for Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in Grand Rapids, Iowa.
 
All-PAC First Team (Individual PAC champions)
Wt. Name School Yr. Hometown | High School
125 Manny Dovshek W&J So. Scenery Hill, Pa. | Bentworth
133 Jake Alberts Thiel Fr. Ellwood City, Pa. | Lincoln
141 Jason Baker Thiel Fr.  New Alexandria, Pa. | Derry
149 Michael Heinl W&J Sr. Glenshaw, Pa. | Shaler
157 Colby Morris Waynesburg Fr. Waynesburg, Pa. | Waynesburg Central
165 Hunter Neely W&J Sr. Cokeburg, Pa.  | Bentworth
174 Jared Walker W&J Sr. McDonald, Pa. | South Fayette
184 Dan Verhovsek Waynesburg Sr. Johnstown, Pa. | Richland
197 Alex Donahue W&J So. Indiana, Pa. | Indiana
285 Rocky McGeary Waynesburg Fr. McDonald, Pa. | West Allegheny
     
PAC Sportsmanship Team
Wt. Name School Yr. Hometown | High School
133 Jake Alberts Thiel Fr Ellwood City, Pa. | Lincoln
197 Robert Craig W&J Sr. Stroudsburg, Pa. | Pocono Mountain East
174 Corey Supan  Waynesburg Sr. McDonald, Pa. | South Fayette