Feb 16, 2026 3 min read

HIRAM, Ohio – Waynesburg University junior Jeesie Orbin continued his dominant season by winning his second consecutive 174-pound title and being named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship held Saturday at Hiram College.

Orbin, a Chartiers-Houston graduate, entered the tournament as the top seed and started by pinning Saint Vincent’s Judson Dean in 2:40. He qualified for the championship match with a 20-3 technical fall over Hiram’s Kaden Duke. That win set up perhaps the most decorated bout of the tournament that pitted Orbin against Saint Vincent’s Chase Brandebura, who was going for for his third-straight PAC title.

Brandebura, who won his first two conference crowns at 165 pounds, looked in great position to pick up the victory when cradled Orbin in the second period and nearly scored the fall. Orbin was able to fight off his back, but trailed heading into the third period. Shortly into the third, the Yellow Jackets junior was able to get Brandebura into a cradle of his own and got the fall in 5:55.

Orbin became the first Waynesburg wrestler to win consecutive PAC championships since Colby Morris won three titles from 2019 to 2024. Morris was also the last Jacket to win OW honors, doing so in 2023.

Orbin improved his season record to 29-2 and stretched his current win streak to 22 matches.

Washington & Jefferson finished third in the team standings with a pair of champions.

Junior Jaden Fields (197) and freshman Jack Viti (184) won their weight classes.

As the top seed, Fields finished with two pins and a technical fall. The first pin came in the opening round and shortly after the opening minute. Both the semifinals and finals finished in just under six minutes. Fields pinned the No. 5 seed in the semifinals and secured the title by winning 16-1.

Viti was the No. 2 seed. In the quarterfinals, He wrestled his way to a 17-5 major decision against the No. 7 seed. In a tight semifinal, Viti was able to pin the No. 3 seed in just under five minutes while holding a 10-9 lead. The freshman used that momentum in the finals as Viti secured the 184-pound title with an 11-0 major decision.

W&J junior Brandon Dami (Canon-McMillan) finished in second place in the 125-pound weight class. As the No. 2 seed, Dami got a bye to the semifinals. He won by fall in a little more than two minutes. Dami ultimately fell to the top seed of the weight class in the finals.

Presidents junior Jiovanni DeChicchis (Peters Township) wrestled to a third-place finish in the 165-pound weight class.

Saint Vincent won the team title. Hiram freshman Taveon Moss was named PAC Newcomer of the Year and Thiel’s Craig Thurber was named the PAC Coach of the Year.

The NCAA regional will be hosted by Ohio Northern. The event will take place Feb. 27-28.