Generals claimed the team title at the annual Jim Crytzer Invite, defeated regional rivals Ferrum College and Messiah College.

After returning from Florida, the Generals got right to work preparing to host the annual Jim Crytzer Invitational. The Jim Crytzer Invitational is held every year in honor of Jim Cytzer ’77, a 3x NCAA Qualifier and a tremendous fan and supporter of W&L Athletics after his graduation. This year’s tournament featured a number of regional rivals, including #17 Messiah, Ferrum College, Averett University, and neighboring Southern Virginia University. The Generals scored 153.5 points on the strength of 3 champs (Alex Winant, 149 lbs; Ryan Luth, 157 lbs; and Rexx Hallyburton, 184 lbs) and two other finalists (Riley Parker, 125 lbs and Shane Conners, 165 lbs). It was a tight team race with Ferrum finishing with 148 pts and Messiah with 146.5 pts. This was the first time that W&L Wrestling won the Jim Crytzer tournament since 2013. 

Tournament Champs Alex Winant (FY, 149), Ryan Luth (SO, 157), Rexx Hallyburton (SR, 184)

Generals travel to Florida for Holiday Tournament

In late December, the Generals wrestling team traveled to Fort Lauderdale, FL for the first time ever to take part in the Citrus Invite. Against a tough field, featuring #3 Augsburg, #7 Baldwin Wallace, #16 NYU, #21 John Carroll, along with #24 Washington and Lee and in-state rival Ferrum College, the Generals finished in 6th place. Seniors Rexx Hallyburton and Shane Conners took 3rd place at 184 and 165 lbs, respectively. Sophomore Brad Basham finished in 4th place at 197 lbs and junior Bryce Crew finished in 5th in his first competition at 141 lbs. Other placers include 6th for Alex Winant (FY, 149 lbs), 7th for Joe Salerno (Soph, 149 lbs), and 8th for Ryan Luth (FY, 157 lbs) in his first action of the season. But results do not tell the whole story of this trip. The team had a great experience and really enjoyed the chance to spend a lot of time together- on the bus, training and competing, and even getting an opportunity to relax on the beach! It was a great team trip.  

After the tournament, the team had a day to spend at the beach and enjoy some well deserved time to relax.

Up Next

The Generals now are preparing to take part in the two day Budd Whitehill Dual tournament, hosted by Lycoming College. In this event the Generals will be placed in a pool of 4 teams and will wrestle three matches on Friday. On Saturday the Generals will wrestle two matches in an advancement bracket, determined on the results of Friday’s duals. The event features a number of ranked teams, including #11 TCNJ, #17 Messiah, #20 Castleton, and #24 Washington and Lee.