COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College wrestling team competed in its final tournament on Saturday before Centennial Conference action begins next week. The Bears hosted the Will Abele Invitational and saw three wrestlers compete in championship brawls while also placing third as a team. Taking first for Ursinus was Kyle Schaffer with Terry Adams and Shawn Marchesano placing second.

"The coaching staff is proud of how the kids battled today," said head coach Joe Jamison. "This event has been much tougher than in previous years, and we answered the call. Kyle Schaffer was particularly impressive today. We're looking forward to Wednesday."

At 184, Kyle Schaeffer was the last Bear wrestler to compete in his championship match and capped off his impressive day with a first-place win. The sophomore won via technical fall in his first brawl of the day before edging out a 3-1 decision to earn a spot in the final four. At that point, there was no stopping Schaeffer. He won an impressive 11-4 decision and then followed it up by winning 8-2 in the championship brawl.

Adams (125) and Marchesano (149) also made the championship round in their respective weight class brackets. Adams had a dominant performance in the quarterfinals, winning by technical fall before edging a 4-3 decision in the semis. Adams would lose via fall in 45 seconds in the finals to place second. Meanwhile, Marchesano won a major decision in his first brawl of the day and then followed it up, winning via fall in 1:50. In the finals, the freshman lost a major decision, 11-3, placing second.

In the third championship of the day for the Bears

In the 174-bracket, Gary Nagle won his first match of the day by fall just 41 seconds in on his way to the semis where he was edged in a 3-2 decision. Benjamin Maack won back-to-back matches via fall before losing a 3-1 decision in the semis.

Also placing for the Bears was Malcolm Hunt at 197. Hunt won his first brawl via fall in 5:31 before losing a 3-1 decision. The sophomore bounced back to win by fall in 2:04 in the 5th-6th place matchup. Raymond Calderaio took fifth as well to make it seven Bears placing on the day. Calderaio won his first two matches, including a technical fall in the opener, before losing his next two. The junior clinched fifth place by winning a comfortable 9-2 decision.

As a team, the Bears placed third with 103 points. That trailed only TCNJ (156.5) and Nassau (132.5). 

The Bears begin Centennial Conference action on Wednesday when they host Muhlenberg at 7 p.m.