Bristol, RI - The Falcons used a complete team effort to win the Roger Williams Invitational with 178.5 points. Messiah had five finalists and crowned four individual champions which included Lucas Malmberg (125), Kaleb Loht (141), Larry Cannon (157), and Josh Thomson (174). Jeremy Bailes lost his finals match to take second at 184 pounds. 

Messiah won the tournament by 13.5 points over runner-up Johnson & Wales University (165 points). The Falcons were led by four champions, but Hunter Harris (125, 3rd), Jacob English (165, 6th), Jason Wright (197, 4th), Kyle Koser (197, 5th), and Isaiah Shipman (285, 3rd) sealed the team win with their effort through the consolation rounds. 

At 125 pounds, Lucas Malmberg looked dominant as he earned at least a major decision in all of his matches. Malmberg posted a major decision in the round of 16, a pin in the quarterfinals, a 17-9 major decision in the semifinals, and a 12-3 major decision in the finals over Bobby Jordan from Johnson & Wales University. 

Returning national champion, Kaleb Loht won with a 22-5 technical fall in the semifinals over Matthew Pelton from Wesleyan University. In the finals Loht beat Michael Firende from Johnson & Wales University by a 4-2 decision. The score was close, but Loht was in control of the match and was never in real danger. 

Larry Cannon turned in another dominant performance by the Falcons at 157 pounds. Cannon earned three falls to advance to the finals. In the championship bout Cannon wrestled Andrew Stock from Johnson & Wales University and earned a 13-3 major decision to earn gold. 

At 174 pounds Josh Thomson earned a major decision, a fall, and two more major decisions to reach the finals. In the finals Thomson beat William Burns from Norwich by a 9-3 decision to give the Falcons another individual champion. 

Jeremy Bailes wrestled tough at 184 pounds and had to grind out some close matches to reach the finals. In the quarterfinals Bailes defeated Pete Hailer from Johnson & Wales University by a 9-6 decision. In the semifinals he won by another close victory with a 6-4 decision over Marc Wagner from Coast Guard. Bailes was eventually defeated in the finals by Michael Labell from Johnson & Wales University. 

Messiah had two place winners in the 197 pound weight class. Jason Wright and Kyle Koser both made it to the semifinals on opposite sides of the bracket and both wrestlers were defeated. Wright won his consoloation semifinal over Andrew Cavanna from Johnson & Wales University by a 3-2 decision while Koser lost his consolation semifinal to Dillon Branchaeu by a 5-1 decision.

Wright lost his match to Branchaue in the consoloation championship by a 8-3 decision. Koser won his fifth place match over Cavanna by a 5-0 decision.

At 285 pounds Isaiah Shipman lost his first match of the tournament and won five straight matches to earn third place. Shipman won by fall in the consolation finals over Kyle Foster from Roger Williams University to seal the Falcons team championship. 

The Falcons will take the mat next weekend at the Mount Union Duals in Alliance, Ohio. 
 

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