Waynesburg University’s wrestling team competed in its first collegiate tournament in nearly two years. The only competition last season was one dual meet against Garrett College.

The Ned McGinley Invitational, however, did not go as the Yellow Jackets hoped. They finished 14th among a 15-team field.

Junior  Luke Lavanway had the best performance for Waynesburg going 2-2 at the 197-weight class in the tournament.

After a first-round bye and a 10-6 decision victory, Lavanway was in the quarterfinals. He lost that match but bounced back with a 15-5 major decision in his first consolation match.

His performance earned hima top-eight finish.

“It’s nice going out there and having that feeling of having something to train for,” Lavanway said.

The only other Yellow Jacket to win any match was freshman heavyweight Trent Patrick. He pinned his opponent at the 6:49 mark of his first match, but lost his next two matches.

For most of Waynesburg’s participants, it was their first college tournament.

“It’s a lot different from high school. Getting that first match out of the way is key,” Lavanway said. “I think coming forward they’ll be able to understand what they need to do to conduct a match.”

Waynesburg head coach Ron Headlee recognizes the growing pains of having a young squad.

“We had a couple matches we probably could’ve won,” Headlee said. “We just got a little over-anxious.”      

Rocky McGeary, Harley Constable, and Dylan Winters were all unable to compete.

“It’s tough. We knew we weren’t going to have our top guns,” Headlee said.

Waynesburg has its first dual meet of the season at the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Nov. 10, which the Yellow Jackets have won each of their last eight dual meets. Waynesburg takes on Division II Shippensburg at 7 p.m.