Grantham, PA - The Falcons finished 3-0 at the East-West Duals by defeating the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson College 41-9, the Yellow Jackets of Waynesburg University 30-12, and the Knights of Heidelberg University 31-11.
Lucas Malmberg helped the Falcons get out to a strong start against Washington & Jefferson with a technical fall in just three minuets and twenty five seconds. After losing the 133 pounds bout, returning national champion Kaleb Loht put the Falcons back in the win column with a 14-5 major decision and started an eight-match win streak in the dual.
The eight-match win streak was highlighted by falls from Larry Cannon, Jake English, and Jeremy Bailes. Adam Peris, Josh Thomson, and Nick Havener won by decision while Kyle Koser received a forfeit at 197 pounds.
The Falcons second match of the day was against No. 23 Waynesburg University. Lucas Malmberg continued his winning ways and earned a major decision and gave Messiah an early 4-0 lead. At 141 pounds Kaleb Loht was in a tight 4-3 match until he locked up a tight cradle and earned the fall in three minutes and fifty-five seconds.
Two-time All-American Josh Thomson earned a fall at 174 pounds, while Kyle Koser completed a fall of his own at 197 pounds. Larry Cannon continued his hot streak with a major decision at 157 pounds. Ben Swarr added another major decision for the Falcons at 184 pounds as well.
Messiah defeated Heidelberg in their final match of the evening 31-11. Kyle Koser collected the lone fall of the dual at 197 pounds while Larry Cannon, Josh Thomson, and Ben Swarr earned decisions. Derek Beitz captured a 9-0 major decision at 165 pounds while Lucas Malmberg and Kaleb Loht collected forfeits for the Falcons.
The highlight of the Heidelberg dual was at 184 pounds between Ben Swarr and Heidelberg's Richard Dowdley. Swarr had a comfortable 8-4 lead in the third period when Dowdley quickly escaped for one point and threw Swarr to his back. The sequence gave Dowdley six points and a 10-8 lead late in the third period. Swarr escaped and earned the winning takedown with seconds remaining and collected the victory.
The Falcons improved to 16-1 on the year after this weekend and will compete in the MAC championships next weekend held at Wilkes University.
Match #1 Messiah defeated Washington & Jefferson College 41-6
125 - Lucas Malmberg (Messiah) over Salvatore Anderson (W&J) Tech Fall 17-2
133 - Jacob Spearman (W&J) over Kurt Rodriguez (Messiah) Fall 1:25
141 - Kaleb Loht (Messiah) over Daniel Pommerer (W&J) Maj 14-5
149 - Adam Peris (Messiah) over Trevor Meyers (W&J) Dec 4-1
157 - Larry Cannon (Messiah) over Samuel Florentino (W&J) Fall 5:19
165 - Jake English (Messiah) over Declan Haggerty (W&J) Tech Fall 16-1
174 - Josh Thomson (Messiah) over Sonnieboy Blanco (W&J) Dec 9-2
184 - Jeremy Bailes (Messiah) over William Oberschelp (W&J) Fall 5:55
197 - Kyle Koser (Messiah) won by Forfeit
285 - Nick Havener (Messiah) over Antonio Santoro (W&J) 2-0
Match #2 Messiah defeated Waynesburg University 30-12
125 - Lucas Malmberg (Messiah) over Gordan Bieber (Waynesburg) Maj 17-5
133 - Flippo Crivelli (Waynesburg) over Hunter Harris (Messiah) Dec 15-10
141 - Kaleb Loht (Messiah) over DJ Grindle (Waynesburg) Fall 3:55
149 - Luke Lohr (Waynesburg) over Adam Peris (Messiah) Maj 14-3
157 - Larry Cannon (Messiah) over Landon Lohr (Waynesburg) Maj 8-0
165 - Sam Guidi (Waynesburg) over Derek Beitz (Messiah) Dec 6-2
174 - Josh Thomson (Messiah) over Austin Davidson (Waynesburg) Fall 4:15
184 - Ben Swarr (Messiah) over Eric Tuck (Waynesburg) Maj 17-5
197 - Kyle Koser (Messiah) over Gennaro Bonneventura (Waynesburg) Fall 0:15
285 - Greg Kumer (Waynesburg) over Isaiah Shipman (Messiah) Dec 7-5
* Waynesburg had one team point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct
Match #3 Messiah defeated Heidelberg University 31-11
125 - Lucas Malmberg (Messiah) won by Forfeit
133 - Joseph Brodman (Heidelberg) over Hunter Harris (Messiah) Maj 18-4
141 - Kaleb Loht (Messiah) won by Forfeit
149 - Damon Cheek (Heidelberg) over Adam Peris (Messiah) Maj 8-0
157 - Larry Cannon (Messiah) over Tyler Fahrer (Heidelberg) Dec 6-0
165 - Derek Beitz (Messiah) over Aaron Banko (Heidelberg) Maj 9-0
174 - Josh Thomson (Messiah) over Brennan Kelly (Heidelberg) Dec 6-0
184 - Ben Swarr (Messiah) over Richard Dowdley (Heidelberg) Dec 13-12
197 - Kyle Koser (Messiah) over Matt Shurina (Heidelberg) Fall 5:30
285 - Nino Majoy (Heidelberg) over Jason Wright (Messiah) 2OT 2-1
