Falcons Step Up Against NCAA D-1 Competition At Liberty Quad
Posted: 1/26/2008
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Sophomore Trent Zempel proved his mettle against NCAA Division I opponents, posting a 3-0 record on the day.

Lynchburg, VA — Looking for perhaps its biggest challenge of the season to date, the 23rd-ranked Messiah College wrestling team traveled to the NCAA Division I Liberty University Quad Saturday, posting a 1-2 record on the day.

Messiah (9-11) dropped a 9-32 defeat to The Citadel in the day’s first round, but responded to capture a 28-18 win over Davidson College in second-round action. The host Flames handed the Falcons a 15-30 defeat in their final tilt of the day, while head coach Bryan Brunk said he was extremely pleased with his team’s collective performance.

“All in all, this was a really good day for us,” Brunk said. “I feel we gave these three (NCAA) Division I programs a very good showing. We were really pleased to get a (team) win over Davidson, but even in the losses we wrestled really well.”

Perhaps no one on the Falcons’ roster had a more productive day than sophomore Trent Zempel, as the Conrad, Montana native went 3-0 on the day, winning one match by fall and another by major decision.

“Trent was great today,” Brunk said. “He certainly dominated his opponents, and I think he felt very confident as soon as we got here today.”

Zempel was one of three Messiah grapplers to take wins in the day’s first match against The Citadel, defeating the Bulldogs’ Brendan Prince by a 5-2 score at the 165 weight. Classmate Alex DeHart — who also finished undefeated on the day in two appearances — earned a decision at 141 with a 4-2 win over Michael Fenton, while freshman David Jones provided the Falcons with their final three points in an 8-3 decision at 174.

“Alex had an incredible day as well,” Brunk said. “It was the best he’s looked all year.”

DeHart was given credit by Brunk for getting the team’s win over Davidson underway, as after trailing by a 12-0 score to open the match, DeHart earned a 6-0 decision over Davidson’s Jack Templeton.

As if following on cue, Messiah received extra-point wins from junior Craig Gin, freshman Mike Bressler and Zempel in the next three weight classes, turning a 12-3 deficit into an 16-12 lead.

Brunk’s squad got insurance points at the 184 and 197 weights, where sophomores Matt McHugh and Dando Speers each won by forfeit.

“Alex’s match against Davidson really set the tone for us and kind of got the ball rolling,” Brunk said. “We kind of fed off his points, and wrestled really well after that.”

Gin and Zempel earned Messiah’s second and third pins of the day against Liberty, while Speers added an 11-9 decision over the Flames’ Jacobi Johnson in the 197 weight.

“Craig Gin wrestled very well all day, even in his loss to (The Citadel’s Derek Royster,)” Brunk said. “He looked really good, especially in the final two matches, where he got near fall points against Davidson and then pinned his opponent from Liberty.

“We’re excited to start building off this for the upcoming Wheaton Invitational.”

Messiah will next compete in the 30-team, Pete Willson Invitational, a mega-event slated for Friday and Saturday. For a detailed look at complete event information, click here.  

Results:

The Citadel 32 over #23 Messiah College 9 (ROUND ONE)

125 – Tyler Sims (CIT) fall Andrew Clark (M), 2:50
133 – Anthony Easter (CIT) fall John Ayers (M), 2:13
141 – Alex DeHart (M) dec. Michael Fenton (CIT), 4-2
149 – Derek Royster (CIT) dec. Craig Gin (M), 7-2
157 – Keith Koziel (CIT) major dec. Jordan Ohman (M)
165 – Trent Zempel (M) dec. Brendan Prince (CIT)
174 – David Jones (M) dec. Derek Sickel (CIT), 8-3
184 – Darius Caldwell (CIT) major dec. Matt McHugh (M), 9-0
197 – John Buck (CIT) dec. Dando Speers (M), 9-4
285 – Aaron Brown (CIT) fall Elias Arbaiza (M), 0:58

#23 Messiah College 28 over Davidson College 18 (ROUND TWO)

125 – Ben Altman (DC) fall Andrew Clark (M), 2:03
133 – Alex Radsky (DC) fall John Ayers (M), 2:49
141 – Alex DeHart (M) dec. Jack Templeton (DC), 6-0
149 – Craig Gin (M) major dec. Clark Sandercock (DC), 12-2
157 – Mike Bressler (M) fall Joe McGinley (DC), 1:55
165 – Trent Zempel (M) major dec. Kevin Cook (DC), 12-4
174 – Trebor Clavette (DC) dec. David Jones (M), 8-4
184 – Matt McHugh (M) forfeit
197 – Dando Speers (M) forfeit
285 – Charlie Wolff (DC) dec. Tim Hopkins (M), 12-8

Liberty University 30 over #23 Messiah College 15 (ROUND THREE)

125 – Sean Katz (LU) fall Andrew Clark (M), 1:14
133 – T.J. Mitchell (LU) fall John Ayers (M), 0:40
141 – Collin Lewis (LU) dec. Matt Bradshaw (M), 11-5
149 – Craig Gin (M) fall Sam Walters (LU), 6:40
157 – Julian Colon (LU) dec. Mike Bressler (M), 7-5
165 – Trent Zempel (M) fall Joseph Son (LU), 2:47
174 – Aaron Kelley (LU) dec. David Jones (M), 6-2
184 – Nick Knowles (LU) dec. Matt McHugh (M), 12-5
197 – Dando Speers (M) dec. Jacobi Johnson (LU), 11-9
285 – Patrick Walker (LU) fall Eli Arbaiza (M), 1:02