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Messiah Wins Two, Drops Two At North-South Duals
Freshman Tim Stewart picked up two wins Saturday, one by forfeit and the other by a 10-6 score.

Collegeville, PA — The 27th-ranked Messiah wrestling squad competed at the annual North-South Duals hosted at Ursinus College Saturday, finishing the day with a record of 2-2. Messiah (5-5) earned a big win on the day over conference foe Oneonta State University 25-18 and then dominated Trinity College 40-12. The Falcons’ two losses came at the hands of nationally-ranked Universit of Wisconsin-LaCrosse (39-6) and USMMA at King’s Point by the score of 21-16.

Opening the day versus the 12th-ranked Mariners of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Messiah fell behind in the lower weights and trailed 0-12 going into the 157-pound bout. Senior Craig Gin then earned a major decision (11-0) and began a run of four straight Falcon wins: Junior Arthur Milner defeated the Mariners’ Martin Bell 7-1 at 165 while sophomore David Jones followed with a tight 5-4 decision over Justin Diesel to pull Messiah within two points at 10-12. Junior Matt McHugh (184) then earned six points for the Falcons as his opponent was disqualified, putting Messiah up 16-12. Sophomore Tim Hopkins put forth a great effort at 197 but came up short in a 5-2 decision versus the Mariners’ Judd Connell — a result that pulled USMMA within one (16-15 )in the team score. USMMA’s Eric Vincent garnered a fall at 285 and secured the Mariners victory 21-16 over the Falcons.

Messiah head coach Bryan Brunk said he was pleased with the team’s effort but noted the missed opportunity to notch a win over one of the top 15 programs in the country.

“We were right there with the 12th-ranked team and had we won just one of the matches we lost we would have won the dual meet,” he said.

Perhaps disappointed, the Falcons responded well in their next dual with a 25-18 victory over Oneonta. Coach Brunk said he was impressed with how the team overcame the adversity they faced in the match.

“Our starter at 184 was injured in the first dual of the day and we were without our top wrestler, Trent Zempel at 165,” Brunk said. “We also had to overcome a nine-point swing when our 125 pounder got caught and pinned at the end of his match after leading 5-2.”

Freshman Rich Pennisi got the Falcons back on track quickly with a fall at 3:30 in the 133-pound tilt, and junior Alex Deltart then came up just short in his battle at 141 — falling by the score of 2-0. Three straight decisions by Messiah (including a major decision from freshman Matt Cross at 157) pushed the Falcons lead to 16-9. Freshman Tim Stewart (184) and Hopkins (197) secured the Messiah win with victories.

Messiah then cruised to a 40-12 win over Trinity in the day’s next match, as Pennisi (133), sophomore Logan Putman (149) and Cross (157) all recorded falls. Freshman Davin Okerblom picked up a victory as well for the Falcons recording a 9-0 major decision at 174 pounds. Trinity forfeited their matches at the 141, 184 and 197 weight classes.

Wisconsin-LaCrosse entered the event ranked fifth in the latest NWCA Top 25 Poll and proved too much for the Falcons as they defeated Messiah 39-6. Sophomore Mike Bressler earned one of the two Messiah victories with a 7-3 decision at 149. Senior Craig Gin then pulled out a 2-0 win at 157. Jones (174) and Hopkins (197) wrestled great matches as well but fell just short, with Jones dropping a 9-8 decision while Hopkins took his opponent to overtime before losing 4-2.

“I felt like the team’s overall performance was a good one on the day and was an indicator of the depth that we have built into the program,” Brunk said. “We were able to wrestle a number of our number two guys and compete very well against some very talented programs.”

Messiah will next take a week to prepare for next weekend’s Bud Whitehill Duals at Lycoming College. The Falcons will take on five teams in the two-day event. Wrestling is slated to begin at 12 p.m. Friday.