Results
Grantham, PA - The annual Messiah Open took place today in Hitchcock Arena. Junior
Stephen Cannon won the 174-pound weight class with a pin, while sophomore
Kyle Dayhoff placed third at 165 lbs.
Cannon wrestled two great matches to begin the tournament, both of the wins coming by tech. fall. His semifinal bout was a little closer, ending in a 7-4 decision. He would come right back with another dominating performance in the finals though, where he got a pin on his opponent at 1:45.
Competing at 165 lbs., Dayhoff won his first two matches, one of them by major decision, before losing to the eventual champion in the weight class. He then won his first match in the consolation bracket in a very exciting 10-9 decision. In the third place match, Dayhoffs opponent had to suffer a medical forfeit, giving Dayhoff the win.
Other highlights for the men today included sophomore
Evan Canady placing in fifth for the 285-pound weight class, senior
Steven Bandstra placing fourth at 184 lbs., and freshman
Jason Wright also coming in fourth for the 197-pound weight class.
Wright had a tough first match to start out the day, he was seeded second in his bracket but lost in a major decison 11-2. However, after moving down to the consolation bracket, he won the next four matches getting him all the way up to the third place bout. Two of those wins were from a pin. Unfortunately Wright then got pinned for third place by Cole Tristram of The College at Brockport.
A wrestler that didn't get a placing spot in the tournament but had some good performances was freshman
Andres Gutierrez at 133 lbs. He fell quickly to the consolation bracket but from there he collected two wins, both by way of pin. The first came at 0:31 and the second pin came at 3:41.
The Falcons will next travel to the Wheaton College Invitational in Illinois this coming weekend, February 1.
Check out some photos of the Messiah wrestlers from the day.
Wrestlers Compete in Messiah Open Gallery
