2018-19 Waynesburg Preview
Team: Waynesburg University
Head Coach: Ron Headlee
Years at School as Head Coach: 10
Career Record at Current School: 108-75-1
Assistant Coaches: Gennaro Bonavantura – Assistant Coach, Colton Shorts – Graduate Assistant, John Yates – Volunteer Assistant
2017-2018 Dual Meet Record: 12-8
2018 NCAA Qualifiers:
Tristan Buxton, 125 lb., NQ
Ken Burrs, 197 lb., NQ
Jake Evans, 285 lb., 1st at 285
Returning NCAA Qualifiers:
Ken Burrs, 197 lb., NQ, Jr.
Jake Evans, 285 lb., 1st, Sr.
Top Returning Starters:
133 – Josh Kuslock (2nd in PAC, 4th at Regionals)
141 – Matt Lascola (14-21 overall)
157 – Zach Mackall (16-10 overall, 11 wins by pin in injury-shortened year)
174 – Caleb Baxter (27-11 overall, spent time in D3Wrestle.com national rankings)
184 – Mike Mahon (13-9 in injury-shortened season)
197 – Ken Burrs (24-7 overall, PAC champion, PAC Outstanding Wrestler, Placed third at regionals, went 1-2 at nationals)
285 – Jake Evans (50-3, overall, PAC champion, Regional Champion, National Heavyweight Champion)
Top Incoming Wrestlers:
125 – Dylan Williams (R-Fr. transfer from Pitt Johnstown, 2017 PIAA AA SW Regional Champion, 2017 PIAA AA state qualifier)
133 – Dylan Winters (2x WPIAL AAA qualifier, 104-42 overall record)
157 – Jaeden Gordon (Section Champion, WPIAL qualifier, Regional qualifier, PIAA AA state qualifier)
184-197 – Damon Drositis (two-time section placer, transfer from Old Dominion)
197 – Dalton Lough (41-11 as a senior, section champs, 3rd place at WPIALs, regional qualifier, PIAA AA state qualifier)
Season Outlook:
The Waynesburg University wrestling team will be looking to build off a historic 2017-18 season. Junior Jake Evans won the first NCAA Division III national title in school history, giving the program NCAA champions during the days where there weren’t divisions, the NAIA and the Division III ranks. The combination of Evans and Burrs (197) gives Waynesburg’s lineup one of the best one-two finishing punches in the country. At the other end of the lineup, the Jackets have brought in multiple wrestlers, including redshirt freshman Pitt Johnstown transfer Dylan Williams, to fill the spot left by graduating national qualifier Tristan Buxton. The middle portion of the starting 10 boasts both experience and solid depth at nearly every weight. Sophomores Josh Kuslock (133-141) and Matt Lascola (141-149) are expected to be followed by junior Zach Mackall, who had his sophomore year off to a strong start, before suffering a season-ending injury at 157 pounds. There are multiple contenders for the starting job at 165 pounds, including junior Dillion Charlton, who saw spot start time at the weight, as well as last year’s starting 174-pounder, Caleb Baxter. Waynesburg has several options at 174 and 184 pounds, including Baxter, senior Mike Millero and sophomore Michael Mahon.