ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. — The Davis & Elkins College wrestling team competed at the Blue Jay Classic on December 7, highlighted by several strong performances from its athletes.
Senior Bradden Galassi (174 lbs) led the Senators with a second-place finish, earning 21.0 team points. Galassi opened his day with a dominant technical fall over Elmira's Casey Cooper (16-0) and followed it with a pin against Elizabethtown's Caden Droege in 4:04. He continued his run with a technical fall against Scranton's Charles Kitching (17-0) and an 8-5 decision over Wilkes' Lucas Miller in the semifinals. In the first-place match, Galassi narrowly fell to Wilkes' Melquan Warren, 12-11.
At 141 lbs, senior Richard Davis placed sixth, contributing 12.5 team points. Davis advanced to the quarterfinals with a bye and an 8-7 sudden victory over Wilkes' Michael Richardson. He rebounded in the consolation bracket with a pin against McDaniel's Justin Soriano (1:48) and a technical fall against Richardson (19-4). Davis finished the day with a sixth-place result after falling to Penn College's Isaac McGregor.
Senior Garrett Eddy (197 lbs) also earned a sixth-place finish, scoring 14.5 team points. Eddy's day featured a 16-0 technical fall against Elizabethtown's Yerick Tlacuatl and back-to-back falls in the consolation rounds, including a 22-second pin over Penn College's Ronan Moynihan. Eddy's run ended due to an injury default in the fifth-place match.
In the 157-pound class, sophomore Gabriel Pujadas secured a win in the second round with an 11-8 decision over Penn College's Gavin Gomes. Although he didn't place, Pujadas scored 2.0 team points for the Senators.
Freshman Wyatt Stemberger moved up to 133 for the tournament and earned his first collegiate win after defeating Pravith Siriwardhana of Wilkes University 8-6. Stemberger earned 1.0 team point for the Senators, finishing 1-2 on the day.
Junior Nathaniel Taylor also competed on the day at 149 pounds.
The Senators earned 51 team points to finish in ninth place as a team, improving on last season's 36 points team finish at the Blue Jay Classic.
Up next
The Senators continue to build momentum as they prepare for the upcoming Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. on January 10-11.
