Competing Saturday in the Waynesburg University Invitational, six Wildcats reached the podium with one first-place finish, two thirds, one fifth and two sixths. In all, 10 of 13 Penn College matmen earned points that contributed to the team's fourth-place finish in an 11-team field.
Freshman Mason Leshock, of Shamokin, led the way by going 3-0 with three pins to claim gold in the 165-pound weight class. In the title bout, he decked his opponent in 1:08.
Claiming third-place finishes were Noah Hunt, of Muncy, who went 5-1 with three pins at 141, and Cullen Van Rooyen, of Dresden, Ohio, who went 5-1 at 157. Battling back through the losers bracket, Van Rooyen recorded five falls, including his last of the day that avenged his opening loss by decision at the hands of Alejandro Castro, of Defiance College.
Liam Goodrich, a freshman of Cogan Station, went 4-2 on the day to finish fifth at 149, while placing sixth was Gabriel Kennedy-Citeroni, of Blairsville, who went 3-2 at 197, and Zachary Miller, of Lock Haven, who went 2-3 at 157.
Also earning team points for the Wildcats were Ryan Berstler, of Middletown, at 125; Brett Patton, of West Chester, at 141; Nick Semon, of Norristown, at 157; and Billy Bumbarger, of Morrisdale, at 285.
