- About
- |
- Schedules
- |
- Camps
- |
- Facilities
- |
- Directory
- |
- Visitor's Guide
- |
- Athletic Training
- |
- Aquatics
- |
- Resources
|
Squad Drops Regular-Season Finale At Muhlenberg, 20-25
Sophomore David Jones pinned Muhlenberg's Kenneth Ludwig at 165, but it wasn't enough to help hang on to a team victory.
Allentown, PA — It was a decision of only the slightest proportions Thursday night, as host Muhlenberg College handed Messiah a 25-20 defeat in the Falcons’ final regular-season match of the year. Messiah (11-12) captured five of the evening’s 10 decisions and clung to a 20-19 lead heading into the final bout of the night, but a pin from the Mules’ Nick Pallotta at the 285-weight class finalized the team scoring in favor of the hosts. “I feel that we wrestled hard, disciplined and confidently,” said Bryan Brunk, Messiah head coach. “We had the right attitude and effort, just came up a little short. Both teams won five matches so it came down to bonus points, and they were able to get a couple falls that we weren't.” Muhlenberg (4-6) was able to get on the board in somewhat surprising fashion in the 133 class, as junior Domineak Commodore was pinned with less than a minute remaining in regulation. Leading 7-3 after one period and still boasting a 9-6 advantage with the third-period clock winding down, Commodore fell with just 48 seconds remaining, a disheartening loss after what looked to be a dominant effort through the majority. That result gave the team scoring back to Muhlenberg, as freshman Danny Lethbridge opened the night with a 9-4 decision over the Mules’ Ryan Hoffman at 125. Junior Alex DeHart made it a 6-6 score with a 6-4 decision in the 141-pound weight class, setting up a back-and-forth match that would witness five lead changes. Muhlenberg reclaimed a 10-6 lead following a dramatic major decision at 149 — sophomore Mike Bressler was taken down with just nine seconds left in the third, leading to the Mules’ extra point — while senior Craig Gin put the advantage back in the visitors’ hands (11-10) with a technical fall over Keith Swanson. When sophomore David Jones recorded his sixth pin of the year in the 165-pound class, Messiah led by a 17-10 score. A pair of Muhlenberg pins over the final four weight classes would eventually spell the difference, however, as sophomore Tim Hopkins was the only Falcon to record a decision during that time — taking a 4-1 win over Muhlenberg’s Bill Sholly. The match was Muhlenberg’s final home event of the season, while all four of the Mules’ senior wrestlers captured wins. Messiah now heads to post-season competition, as the team will compete at the Empire Conference Championships next Saturday at Oswego State University. “I think that we are mentally and physically prepared for the conference tournament,” Brunk said. “We have 10 starters, being pushed every day by their teammates in the room, who will each have individual goals for next weekend. For many placing in the top four, and thus earning the recognition of all-conference, will be the goal. We have a few guys who have a realistic chance to earn a spot in the national tournament this next weekend. If we wrestle to our potential and each individual achieves what he is able, then we should place in the top four teams at conference.” Results: #27 Messiah College 20; Muhlenberg College 25 |
