Team Results - Brackets
Grantham, PA — Messiah kicked off its 2010-2011 campaign with impressive results Saturday, tying for first place in the day-long Messiah College Invitational while getting nearly all of its roster experience at the individual tournament.
The Falcons scored 105 points thanks to 10 individuals placing among the top four in their respective brackets, led by junior Matt Cross's championship in the 165-pound card. Senior Ryan Pastore advanced to the finals in the 157-pound weight class while sophomore Russell Jones did the same at 197, turning in marked improvements from last year's season-opening event.
“We had a great first showing today,” said Bryan Brunk, Messiah head coach. “This is always a good early opportunity to see where we are as a program, and I'm excited about the possibilities that this year brings.”
Highlighting those chances was Cross, an all-conference selection last season.
Cross cruised to the 165-pound championship match behind three straight pins, eventually defeating Elizabethtown College's Quint Eno by a 3-2 score in the final.
Pastore pinned Case Western Reserve University's Kurtis Jensen before recording a pair of decisions, eventually falling in the 157-pound final to Garrett Johnston of Waynesburg University. Jones captured three competitive wins before falling to Baldwin Wallace College's Tristian Stoll in the finals by a 15-7 score.
The future of Falcons' wrestling looked bright behind a pair of freshmen placings, as Kyle Coblentz finished third at the 125-pound card and Ricardo 'Rico' Plummer fourth at 174. Plummer provided a highlight in the wrestle-back bracket against Waynesburg's Ben Abbot, pinning the Yellow Jackets' junior in just 44 seconds.
On the day, each of Messiah's active wrestlers won at least one match.
“The overall team effort was impressive today,” Brunk said. “It was evident that the team has bought into a philosophy of resilient effort no matter who the opponent of what the score in the match is. I was probably most impressed with the number of guys who either came from behind to win or wore out their opponent in the third period.”
Messiah shared team-high scoring with Waynesburg at 105 points each. Elizabethtown finished third with 90 points, while Baldwin Wallace (59), Ursinus College (39), Case Western (32), the United States Coast Guard Academy (30.5), the University of Maryland-Baltimore County (27) and McDaniel College (17.5).
The Falcons will return to action next Saturday, competing in the Roger Williams Invitational. Wrestling in the individual tournament is slated to begin at 10 a.m.
