TRAFFORD, Pa. (Feb. 5) – After leading the Saint Vincent wrestling team to a 2-0 week, sophomore Kyle McCollum and freshman Charlie Mesich have garnered recognition from the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC).
 
McCollum (Beallsville, Pa./Bethlehem-Center) was named the PAC Wrestler of the Week, while Mesich (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) was named the wrestling Newcomer of the Week.
 
The 133-pound McCollum went 2-0 on the week with a pair of bonus point victories. On Thursday against Thiel, McCollum earned a 19-8 major decision over the Tomcats' Evan Whiteside. Three days later, in the Bearcats' victory over Division II Fairmont State, McCollum ended his match by scoring 15 unanswered points en route to a 19-4 technical fall over Austin Brett. The two wins move McCollum's record to 6-1 on the season, with four victories coming by either tech fall or major decision. He now becomes the first wrestler in the Bearcats' modern history to be named the PAC Wrestler of the Week.
 
Mesich had a pair of dominant victories in the 157-pound weight class, needing just 69 seconds to record two pins. On Thursday against Thiel, Mesich pinned Austin Parker in 43 seconds. On Sunday at Fairmont, he pinned Esdras Castillo in just 25 seconds. They were the fourth and fifth pins of the season for Mesich, four of which have come in fewer than 90 seconds. Mesich is the third SVC freshman to land PAC Newcomer of the Week honors this season, joining teammates Chase Brandebura, who was recognized on Jan. 15, and Ryan Klingensmith, who earned the honor on Nov. 20.
 
The Bearcats closed the regular season, their first as a program since 1975, with a 5-7 dual match record. They will now prep for the 2024 PAC Championships, slated for Friday, Feb. 16, at Washington & Jefferson College.