Zach Bylykbashi at the 2017 National Tournament at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse.
2017
NCAA National Qualifier | 2017 NCAA East Region Placer (3rd) | 2017 Centennial Conference Placer (2nd) | VaSID First Team All-State
2016
NCAA East Region Placer (6th) | Centennial Conference Placer (2nd) | School Record Most Wins in a Season (34) | D.C. Montgomery Award Winner as top first year wrestler | VaSID Second Team All-State
BIO
2016-2017
Placed 3rd at the NCAA East Region to qualify for the NCAA Championship for the first time in his career. Representing the Generals at the national tournament, Zach lost his first match, before winning two wrestle-back matches. He fell in the blood round, a match shy from All-American status. Zach had a great sophomore season, finishing 2nd in the Centennial Conference Championships and winning 26 matches (to only 6 defeats). He had a great start to the year, going 12-1 in 1st semester action while winning the ONU Invite and finishing 2nd at the W&J Tournament. He missed some time due to injuries during the 2nd half of the season, but still managed to finish the season strong and earn his first berth to the National Tournament.
2015-2016
Zach had what might be the best rookie campaign in W&L wrestling history. He won 34 matches, setting a single season record, while also claiming the single season record for takedowns (96). He finished the year with a 34-10 record at 133 pounds and a 6th place finish at the NCAA East Regional Tournament. Along the way Zach placed at every tournament: Washington & Jefferson Invite (3rd), Ohio Northern Invitational (5th), Jim Crytzer Memorial (2nd), Centennial Conference Championships (2nd), and of course, the NCAA East Regional (6th). He earned numerous awards including the Gary Franke Award for most takedowns and the D.C. Montgomery Award as top first year wrestler. He was named to the VaSID 2nd Team All-State and All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Before W&L
Lettered in wrestling, football and baseball at Southington High School. Zach helped lead the football team to a state championship during his junior year. He was a 3x state place-winner and a 2x state open runner-up and a 3x Member of the CT Freestyle and Greco National Team. 2x Academic All-American.
Personal
Zach is the son of Robert Bylykbashi and Jill Wagner. He has a younger brother, Shaun Wagner, who is also a wrestler and in the graduating high school class of 2018. Zach plans to double major in Business Administration and Politics within the Williams School of Commerce.
