FERRUM, Va. – The Washington and Lee wrestling team opened its 2021-22 campaign with a 35-7 road victory over Ferrum on Wednesday evening.
 
The Generals (1-0) claimed their third straight win over the Panthers by winning the first seven weight classes to open a 29-0 lead.
 
Junior Riley Parker (Virginia Beach, Va. / First Colonial) got things started with an 8-4 win over J.D. McMillin at 125 pounds.  The Blue & White managed two technical falls, one pin and one major decision across the next six weight classes to open the 29-point lead. 
 
Sophomore Thomas O'Keefe (Middletown, N.J. / Middletown North) notched at 16-0 tech fall over Kaleb Horn at 133 pounds and junior Ryan Luth (Milford, Conn. / Joseph A. Foran) posted a 17-2 tech fall over Christian Hite at 157 pounds.  Senior 165-pounder Joe Salerno (Princeton Junction, N.J. / West Windsor-Plainsboro South) notched a pin of Colson Pritchard in just 46 seconds and junior Cameron Blizzard (Greensboro, N.C. / Ragsdale) defeated Michael Oliver by major decision, 11-3.
 
The Panthers (0-1) took matches at 184 and 197 pounds, but senior Clay Chadwick (Arlington, Va. / Yorktown) wrapped things up with a win by fall over Rayshawn Dixon in 4:39 for the final margin.
 
Washington and Lee will be back in action on Saturday when it takes part in the Messiah Invitational.  Wrestling begins at 9:00 am.
   
WASHINGTON AND LEE 35, FERRUM 7
125 – Riley Parker (W&L) vs. J.D. McMillin (FC); 8-4 [3-0]
133 – Thomas O'Keefe (W&L) d. Kaleb Horn (FC); TF 16-0 (4:06) [8-0]
141 – Charlie Cunningham (W&L) d. Hayden Funck (FC); 7-1 [11-0]
149 – Joseph Tarquine (W&L) d. Tyler Ramirez (FC); 6-3 [14-0]
157 – Ryan Luth (W&L) d. Christian Hite (FC); TF 17-2 (4:09) [19-0]
165 – Joe Salerno (W&L) d. Colson Pritchard (FC); Fall 0:46 [25-0]
174 – Cameron Blizard (W&L) d. Michael Oliver (FC); 11-3 [29-0]
184 – Sam Slate (FC) d. Brad Basham (W&L); 11-3 [29-4]
197 – Braden Homsey (FC) d. Matt Majoy (W&L); 10-3 [29-7]
285 – Clay Chadwick (W&L) d. Rayshawn Dixon (W&L); Fall 4:39 [35-7]
 
EXHIBITION
157 – Nic Zamaloff (W&L) d. Charles Tisby (FC); Fall 2:11
165 – Rhett McDurmon (W&L) d. Jared Worley (FC); Fall 0:42
184 – Jack McCusker (W&L) d. Cullen Nash-Cleek (FC); 4-1