WAYNESBURG, Pa. – The Fairmont State wrestling team captured second place out of 11 teams after earning 103.0 points at the Waynesburg Invitational on Saturday (Jan. 7).
 
In his first event wrestling with Fairmont State, Colton Stoneking took home first place in the 149 lbs weight class and won all four of his matches. Seven Fairmont State wrestlers placed in the 11-team event. Nate Pelesky (133 lbs), Kolton Parsons (149 lbs) and Mason Atkinson all earned second place, while Aydan Edwards (197 lbs) finished in third. Brandan Myers (125 lbs) and Austin Gibson both claimed fourth place in their divisions.
 
"It was a very solid day for us," remarked Fairmont State Head Wrestling Coach Gennaro Bonaventura. "Colton Stoneking had a tremendous debut winning the title, and he put a lot of points on the board for our team."
 
Stoneking, a George Mason transfer, defeated his opponents from Defiance and Heidelberg with a technical fall. He advanced to knock off his opponent from Johns Hopkins for the right to wrestle in the championship match. His teammate, Parsons, edged his opponents from Washington & Jefferson, Alderson Broaddus and Waynesburg to meet Stoneking in the championship. Stoneking won the battle between the two Fighting Falcons in the championship match. Parsons posted a record of 3-1 and Stoneking went 4-0 to contribute to Fairmont State's dominance of the 149-pound weight class.
 
"Stoneking and Parsons had a great battle in the championship match," said Bonaventura. "Parsons entered the event unseeded and for him to make it to the finals is a great accomplishment. I cannot be happier for those two."
 
At 133 lbs, Pelesky collected wins over Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg and Defiance to claw his way into the championship. Pelesky dropped a 9-4 decision in the championship match to his opponent from Johns Hopkins but earned a second-place finish and a 3-1 record. Atkinson defeated opponents from Muskingum, Johns Hopkins and Alma to achieve a spot in the 285-lbs championship. Atkinson went 3-1 and brought home second place.
 
"Pelesky and Atkinson both had solid runs to the championship match and wrestled at a high level," said Bonaventura.
 
Meyers racked up a pair of victories over Muskingum and one win over Johns Hopkins to claim third place in the 125 lbs bracket. Austin Gibson went 2-2 on the day and won fourth place, which included wins over Muskingum and Alma. Edwards picked up victories over Washington & Jefferson, Defiance, Heidelberg and Muskingham to go 4-1 on the afternoon and a third-place finish in the 197 lbs bracket.
 
"This was a fantastic event for our team, and it is a great day to be a Falcon," commented Bonaventura. "I am looking forward to a huge conference dual at home against a tough Glenville State squad."
 
The Fairmont State wrestling team will compete for the final time this season in Joe Retton Arena on Wednesday (Jan. 11) at 5 p.m. versus MEC foe Glenville State.