WAYNESBURG, PA – The Johns Hopkins wrestling team returned to action for the first time since December 9 on Saturday and the Blue Jays turned in a strong performance with a third-place finish at the 11^th annual Waynesburg Invitational.  The Blue Jays totaled 96.5 points and produced one individual winner in senior Brent Lorin (133 pounds); in all, eight different Blue Jays earned top six finishes, including five top three showings.
 
Heidelberg rolled up 119.5 points to claim the team title, while Division II Fairmont St. (103), Johns Hopkins, Penn College (82.5) and Alma (70), rounded out the top five in the nine-team field.
 
Bonus Boys
Johns Hopkins' run to its third-place finish was due in large part to its ability to pick up bonus point victories.  Of the 29 wins compiled on the day by Blue Jay wrestlers, 18 were of the bonus point variety.  The Blue Jays compiled nine pins, seven wins by major decision and a pair of technical falls on the day; on the year, the team now counts 24 major decision, 10 technical falls and 44 pins to its credit.
 
Lorin Wins First In-Season Tournament
Lorin claimed the first regular-season tournament title of his career by going 4-0 on the day.  He eased into the title bout by sandwiching a pair of wins by major decision around a first-period pin of Waynesburg's Harley Constable (2:23).  In the final, he drew Fairmont's Nathan Pelesky and methodically worked his way to a 9-4 victory to seal his title.  Lorin has won seven straight and improved to 21-3 on the year.
 
Walnoha, Vallis Place at 184
Seniors Grant Walnoha and Colin Vallis placed second and third, respectively, at 184 pounds.  Competing in a six-man bracket, both received byes into the semifinals.  There, Walnoha scored a 36-second pin to advance to the final before falling to Heidelberg's Adam Mederios.  Vallis bounced back from a tournament-opening loss with a 43-second pin and a technical fall to grab his third-place showing.  The win for Walnoha was the 40^th of his career and 18^th by pin.  Vallis picked up career wins 11 and 12 – all 12 have come by fall (9) or technical fall (3).
 
Paul, Hoffmann Place Third
Graduate student Joe Paul went 4-1 on the day with two wins by decision, one by major decision and one by technical fall to place third at 174, while freshman Jake Hoffmann went 3-1 with three bonus point wins (2 major decisions, one pin) to grab bronze at 165.  Paul inched closer to career win number 100 as his four victories today give him 93 in his career, while Hoffmann continued his impressive rookie campaign with today's showing and improved to 16-7 on the year.
 
Powell, Pomykata Grab Fourth-Place Finishes
Freshmen Connor Powell (149) and Jacob Pomykata (285) combined for five victories on the day as they placed fourth in their respective weight classes.  Powell went 2-2 with wins by decision and major decision, while Pomykata won three of his five matches and counted two wins by fall among his three victories.
 
Other Notes of Interest
Freshman Dhilan Patel went 2-3 and earned a sixth-place finish at 125 • Graduate student Luke Hirtzel enjoyed a strong showing at 174 as he won three of his five matches and counted a major decision among his three victories • Sophomores John Libby (197) and Will Shiber (285) both went 2-2 on the day; both of Shiber's wins came by fall, while Libby added a pin of his own.
 
What's Next
Johns Hopkins will return to action on Friday, January 13 when the Blue Jays compete in the Virginia Duals.