Posted: Jan 14, 2012
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – With the Centennial Conference dual meet schedule on the horizon, the Ursinus College wrestling team won the 2012 Will Abele Invitational on Saturday with a total team score of 106.5 points. The meet, formerly named the Homecoming Invitational, was renamed in honor of Ursinus College alumnus and Board of Trustee member Will Abele, a long time supporter of Ursinus and a former wrestler for the Bears.
Freshman Chris Donaldson (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) continued his hot start for the Bears, capturing the 125 pound weight class with a perfect 3-0 mark. At 133, senior Alex Blank (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) won his bracket, while senior Connor McNamara (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) won at 197.
Four wrestlers: freshman Dan Manganaro (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) (184), freshman Matt Krueger (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) (174), freshman Rich Jasinski (Sellersville, Pa./Penn Ridge) (157) and sophomore Elisha Gaylor (West Reading, Pa./Wyomissing) (141) took second in their weight classes.
Donaldson started his day with a 14-1 major decision over Alex Reeves of Centenary, then defeated Kenny Albert of Hunter by a 12-5 decision in the semis. In the finals, he tech falled Oliver Lopez of Hunter 18-2 at the seven minute mark.
Blank defeated Adam Swift of Centenary in his first bout, then earned a 10-2 major decision over Zach Cecchetti of W&J to move to the finals. In the finals, he defeated Ben Mikac of Oneonta, 6-3.
At 197, McNamara pinned Alec Pence of Maryland Baltimore County in 4:52, then defeated Jake Smith of Oneonta 7-2.
Ursinus will open its schedule next Saturday with Gettysburg and Johns Hopkins.