Waynesburg University wrestled in its first dual meet of the season Wednesday night against Division II Shippensburg University. The winner would be decided during the final match.

The dual began with a Shippensburg first period pin.

The second match featured Waynesburg’s Dylan Winters, who picked up a 19-4 technical fall. He got four takedowns in the third period.

“The kid looked a little gassed,” Winters said when talking about his opponent. “Those last second takedowns were huge.”

Waynesburg forfeited the 141-pound weight class, and Shippensburg forfeited 149. This made the team score a 12-11 lead for Shippensburg.

Waynesburg bumped Alex Coppolo up to 157 to take on Matt Milbrand. The score was tied 3-3 before Milbrand caught Coppolo and pinned him at the 3:31 mark.

At the 165-pound weight class, Shippensburg was able to pick up another fall in a close match. With 50 seconds left, Waynesburg freshman Seth Evans got pinned while trailing 4-1.

“Those hurt,” Waynesburg University head wrestling coach Ron Headlee said. “They were up a weight class. We were just hoping they stay close in the match and save us three points, but they’re battlers.”

Shippensburg then led the match 24-11.

Kyle Hinerman picked up a forfeit for Waynesburg at 174 to make the score 24-17.

Neither team had a wrestler at 184.

Headed into the penultimate matchup of the night,  Luke Lavanway knew he had to get bonus points for the Yellow Jackets. Just 14 seconds into the second period he answered the call with Waynesburg’s only pin of the night.

That set up the final match of the evening. Shippensburg led 24-23. The winner of the heavyweight match also won their team the match.

Trent Patrick took the mat for Waynesburg against Danny Sheib.

“I believed in [Patrick],” Headlee said.

Patrick weighed less than his opponent.

Despite the size disadvantage, the match was tied 1-1 after each wrestler got a quick escape to begin the second and third periods.

With just over a minute remaining, Sheib took a 3-1 lead with a takedown. Patrick could not escape until there was about ten seconds left in the match. Patrick lost 3-2.

Shippensburg won the dual meet 27-23.

Waynesburg will be back in action this Saturday during the Washington & Jefferson Invitational.

“Our whole goal is to be better than we were at the end of the semester,” Headlee said. “I thought our guys wrestled a lot better this week.”