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Falcons Get Glimpse Of Future At Messiah Open
Head coach Bryan Brunk said he was pleased with his squad's performance at Saturday's Messiah Open.

Grantham, PA — Just hours off the program’s first-ever win over Lycoming College, the Falcons wrestling team hosted Messiah Open Saturday morning, giving a variety of wrestlers a chance to compete in the individual tournament-style event

Featuring wrestlers from 16 different schools — including some NCAA Division I programs — there was no team scoring.

Messiah freshman and 174-pounder Davin Okerbloms lead the way with a first place finish, defeating four opponents on his way to the title. That path included a fall at the 6:06 mark in the championship bout.

Freshman Tim Stewart almost made it an all-Messiah final at 174 but lost in the semi-final before winning 8-3 in the third place bout. Senior Trey Speers placed fourth in the 165-pound class and posted a mark of 2-2 on the day. An outstanding performance was put in by senior Barry Thrush as well, as Thrush competed in the 149-pound bracket that featured 23 entrants. Thrush went 4-2 on the afternoon and lost in the semi-final of the third-place/fourth-place bracket.

“I felt the team really built off the efforts of last night’s big dual match win over Lycoming ,” said Messiah head coach Bryan Brunk. “It is great to see guys that are our current depth and our future starters already exhibit the ideals we are striving for in our wrestlers. Our pressure was really good and our effort and attitude of confidence and fight were consistent regardless of round or match situation.”

Messiah will return to dual-match action next, as the Falcons host perennial power and third-ranked Delaware Valley College at Brubaker Auditorium Wednesday evening. Wrestling is slated to begin at 7 p.m.