Brackets |
Team ResultsWheaton, IL - The Falcons finished second at the Pete Willson-Wheaton Invitational with 134.5 points. Messiah finished behind No. 2 Wisconsin-Whitewater who had 173 team points. The Falcons crowned two individual champions in No. 2
Lucas Malmberg (125) and No. 1
Kaleb Loht (141).
Kyle Koser (197) finished second while
Josh Thomson (174) and
Ben Swarr (184) finished third in their respective weight classes. Rounding out the Falcons placewinners was
Derek Beitz (165) who finished in fifth place.
No. 2
Lucas Malmberg (125) started his championship journey with a 14-0 major decision over Anthony Munoz of Elmhurst. In the quarterfinals, Malmberg earned another major decision by a 15-6 score over Ronzel Darling of Wisconsin-Parkside. Next for Malmberg was No. 8 Nick Mancini of Mount Union in the semifinal bout. Malmberg posted an impressive 11-2 major decision over his ranked opponent to advance to the finals.
Malmberg rolled to another major decision in the championship bout with a 10-2 victory over Robert Cunningham of Ferrum. Malmberg led 5-1 heading into the third period until he scored two takedowns and secured riding time and captured the major decision.
No. 1 ranked, and defending national champion
Kaleb Loht posted impressive victories on his way to another Pete Willson Wheaton Invitational championship. Loht started his tournament with two major decisions and a 6-1 decision over Layton Binion from North Central in the semifinals.
Loht faced a familiar foe in the finals in No. 8 Matt Adcock of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The two wrestlers faced off last year for the national title where Loht won by a 6-3 decision. In the finals of the Wheaton Invitational Loht trailed 2-1 after the first period. Loht stormed back in the second period with two takedowns to grab the lead. During the second takedown, Loht caught Adcock in a cradle and won by fall in 4:35.
At 157 pounds, No. 8
Larry Cannon finished second behind Mount Union's fifth ranked wrestler Jon Garrison. Garrison scored the only takedowns of the match, which ultimately was the deciding factor of the match. Cannon earned a decision and major decision on his way to the semifinals. In the semifinal round Cannon defeated No. 10 Tom Gerzewski of Wisconsin-Whitewater by a score of 6-3.
Derek Beitz wrestled his way to the semifinals by defeating his first two opponents by fall and medical forfeit. The medical forfeit victory was over No. 5 Terner Gott from John Carroll. Beitz lost his championship and consolation semifinal matches and reached the fifth place match. In the fifth place bout, Beitz defeated Ryan Behke of Wisconsin Eau Claire by a 4-2 decision. Beitz used excellent riding from the top position to secure the victory.
No. 3
Josh Thomson got out to a fast start at the Pete Willson-Wheaton Invitational by recording two falls and an 8-2 decision to reach the semifinals. In the semifinals, Thomson lost a close, and controversial match to No. 9 Jordan Newman of Wisconsin-Whitewater by a 14-13 score. Thomson won his consolation semifinal match and defeated Frank Aiello of Wheaton by a 10-6 score.
At 184 pounds,
Ben Swarr earned a major decision and a decision to reach the semifinals. Once he reached the semifinals he lost a tight 3-2 decision to Dan Olsen of Wheaton. Swarr dominated his consolation semifinals match with a 12-2 major decision and defeated Thomas Reyhons of Augustana by a tough 3-2 decision to earn third place.
Kyle Koser had a successful tournament by rallying off four straight wins by major decision, fall, and two decisions to reach the finals. Koser had a tough opponent in the finals in No. 1 ranked Shane Siefert of Wisconsin-Whitewater and lost by technical fall.
The Falcons will take the mat again on February 5, when they take on the Spartans of York College in a dual meet at Messiah College.
