Final Brackets  |  Final Team Scores

Cedar Rapids, IA – The No. 4 Falcons of Messiah College crowned two NCAA champions and earned six total All-Americans at the NCAA Championships. The two NCAA Champions and six All-Americans are both Messiah Wrestling program records. Lucas Malmberg earned his first NCAA Championship at 125 pounds after Runner-Up finishes the previous two seasons. The second NCAA Champion for Messiah was Ben Swarr at 174 pounds. Malmberg and Swarr are the third and fourth NCAA Champions in proram history.
 
As a team Messiah finished second with 100 points, 29.5 points behind NCAA Champions Wartburg (129.5 points). The Runner-Up finish was the highest NCAA Tournament finish in program history. In addition, Messiah is the fifth school other than Wartburg or Augsburg to finish second as a team since 1995. All-Americans for the Falcons included Larry Cannon (157, 4th), Jeff Hojnacki (165, 6th), Josh Thomson (184, 2nd and Jason Wright (285, 6th). Thomson became Messiah Wrestling's first four-time All-American.

Bryan Brunk was honored with the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Head Coach of the Year award and Craig Hogan was honored with the NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year award for Messiah's outstanding season.

125 Pounds
 
Lucas Malmberg vs. Arnulfo Olea (Wartburg) – Semifinals
Lucas Malmberg advanced to his third straight finals with an 8-1 decision over Arnulfo Olea of Wartburg in the semifinals. Malmberg struck first with a single leg attack and led Olea 2-0. Next, Olea tried to stand up and escape but Malmberg picked Olea up and perfected a turk for four near fall points.
 
Malmberg rode Olea for the remainder of the first period and racked up 2:51 of riding time. Olea chose neutral in the second period and both wrestlers were scoreless. During the third period Malmberg quickly escaped and led 7-0. The official hit Malmberg for his second stalling warning which gave Olea his first point of the match. However, Malmberg stayed in good position and cruised to the 8-1 decision.

Lucas Malmberg vs. CJ Pestano (Central) – NCAA Finals
Lucas Malmberg won a national title in dominating fashion over CJ Pestano of Central  with a 14-6 major decision. Malmberg was ready to wrestle after finishing second the past two years and took Pestano down in the first five seconds of the match.
 
Pestano escaped and Malmberg perfected an ankle pick for another takedown to pull ahead of Pestano 4-1. Next, Pestano escaped and Malmberg used his scrambling abilities to secure another takedown at the edge of the match to conclude the first period.
 
The start of the second period had Pestano escape and Malmberg score another takedown off a powerful double leg. Pestano escaped and Malmberg held a 8-4 lead heading into the third period. During the third period Malmberg escaped and quickly scored a takedown for a commanding 11-4 lead.
 
Pestano escaped once more and Malmberg kept attacking with a single leg to secure his final takedown of the match.

 
157 Pounds
 
Larry Cannon vs. Nick Bova (Wabash) – Consolation Quarterfinals
Larry Cannon dominated Nick Bova of Wabash by a 16-3 major decision and advances to the consolation semifinal round. Cannon tallied the first takedown of the match and Bova quickly escaped. Both wrestlers ended up in a scramble position after Bova tried to throw Cannon, but Cannon found a way on top for the takedown.
 
Bova escaped and Cannon hit a powerful double leg towards the end of the second period for a 6-2 lead. In the third period Cannon blew the match open with an escape, two takedown, and set of four near fall points for the 16-3 major decision with riding time.
 
Larry Cannon vs. Tristan Zurfluh (Luther) – Consolation Semifinals
Larry Cannon won by fall over Tristan Zurfluh of Luther in 2:17 and advanced to the third place bout. Cannon was in on a deep shot and Zurfluh was hanging on tight to not give up the takedown. Next, Cannon circled Zufluh to his back for the electrifying first period pin.
 
Larry Cannon vs. Jorge Lopez (Williams) – 3rd Place Match
Larry Cannon dropped a hard fought match to Jorge Lopez by a 10-8 decision for fourth place at the NCAA Tournament. Cannon came out ready to wrestle in the beginning of the match and scored a takedown for a 2-0 lead.
 
Trailing 2-0, Lopez escaped and hit a shrug for a takedown and took a 3-2 lead over Cannon. Next, Cannon got caught in a headlock coming up from the bottom position and gave up four near fall points but immediately reversed Lopez to trail 7-4.
 
In the second period Cannon earned an escape and trailed 8-5 after the second period. Lopez escaped to begin the third period and extended his lead to 9-5. With time running out of the match, Cannon picked up the pace and earned a stalling point and a takedown with six second remaining to make the score 9-8 in Lopez's favor. Cannon cut Lopez and nearly caught Lopez in a cement mixer but lost 10-8.
 
165 Pounds
 
Jeff Hojnacki vs. Nick Velez (Ithaca) – Consolation Quarterfinals
Jeff Hojnacki grinded out a tough 4-3 decision over Nick Velez of Ithaca and advanced to the consolation semifinal round. Hojnacki shot in on a double leg and Velez displayed good defense, but Hojacki popped his head out to the side and secured the first period takedown. Velez escaped and Hojnacki held a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
 
Velez immediately escaped to begin the second period and Hojnacki responded with a quick reattack and kept his toes in bounds for his second takedown of the bout. Velez escaped again and Hojnacki held a 4-3 lead heading into the third period. During the third period Hojnacki held good position and defended Velez's attacks for the victory.
 
Jeff Hojnacki vs. Colin Navickas (Stevens Institute of Technology) – Consolation Semifinals
Jeff Hojnacki was edged by Colin Navickas of Stevens Institute of Technology by an 8-6 decision and will be wrestling for fifth place. Navickas got on the board first with a takedown but Hojnacki quickly reversed Navickas and tied the score at two. Next, Navickas escaped and earned another takedown to pull ahead of Hojnacki 5-2.
 
Hojnacki escaped at the end of the first period and the beginning of the second period to cut Navickas's lead to 5-4. With momentum building for Hojnacki, the Falcon wrestler took a shot and nearly had takedown and near fall points. Instead, Navickas tallied another takedown and won by a final score of 8-6.
 
Jeff Hojnacki vs. Eric Hensel (Augsburg) – 5th Place Match
Jeff Hojnacki was edged 12-10 by Eric Hensel of Augsburg and finished in sixth place at the NCAA tournament. Hensel tallied the first takedown of the match and Hojnacki quickly reversed Hensel to tie the score at two.
 
Next, Hensel escaped and secured another takedown to extend his lead to 5-2. Towards the end of the first period Hojnacki battled back with an escape and a takedown and tied the score at five. Hensel escaped to regain a 6-5 lead at the end of the first period.
 
During the second period Hojnacki stood up for an escape and tied the bout at six. In the third period Hensel escaped to regain a 7-6 lead and added cushion to his lead with a takedown at the edge of the mat. Hojnacki escaped again but Hensel added another takedown for a 10-8 lead.
 
Finally, Hojnacki escaped and found a takedown of his own and trailed 11-10. With time running out, Hojnacki let Hensel escape so he could work for a takedown to tie the score. However, Hojnacki ran out of time and fell by a 12-10 final.
 
174 Pounds
 
Ben Swarr vs. Tyler Schneider (Wisconsin-La Crosse) - Semifinals
Ben Swarr won by fall over Tyler Schneider of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the second period and advanced to the national finals. Swarr struck first with a slick duck under to a shot and Schneider escaped for a 2-1 lead for Swarr heading into the second period.
 
Schneider chose bottom to start the second period and Swarr locked up a tight tilt for the fall in 3:26.

Ben Swarr vs. Eric Devos (Wartburg) – NCAA Finals
Ben Swarr defeated Eric Devos with a tight 3-1 decision to become a NCAA Champion at 174 pounds. Swarr is the fourth NCAA Champion in program history and he second this year. After a scoreless first period, Devos escaped and Swarr was hit with a stalling warning to end the second period.
 
In the second period Swarr escaped and tied the match at one a piece. With under 20 seconds remaining, Swarr perfectly timed a duck under to a high crotch and switched off to a double leg for the winning takedown.
 
184 Pounds
 
Josh Thomson vs. Austin Cook (Wisconsin-La Crosse) - Semifinals
Josh Thomson handled Austin Cook in his semifinal bout by an 11-1 major decision and advanced to the national finals for the first time in his career. Thomson went to work right away by scoring a takedown and locking up a tilt for two near fall points for a 4-0 lead after the first period.
 
In the second period Thomson escaped and attacked right away for a takedown to take a 7-0 lead heading into the third period. Once again, Thomson escaped and secured another takedown for the 11-1 major decision.

Josh Thomson vs. Riley Lefever (Wabash) – NCAA Finals
Josh Thomson fell to two-time defending NCAA Champion Riley Lefever of Wabash by a 12-4 major decision. Lefever scored the first takedown of the match off an ankle pick and Thomson quickly escaped to end the first period.
 
In the second period Thomson escaped to tie the match at two but Lefever responded with another takedown for a 4-2 lead. Next, Thomson escaped once again and Lefever tallied another takedown for a 6-3 advantage heading to the third period.
 
Lefever escaped to start the third period and secured two more takedowns for the 12-4 major decision.

285 Pounds
 
Jason Wright vs. Tyler Maher (Stevens Institute of Technology) – Consolation Quarterfinals
Jason Wright won by fall in the third period over Tyler Maher of Stevens Institute of Technology and advanced to the consolation semifinals. After a scoreless first period, Wright escaped and held a 1-0 lead going into the third period.
 
During the third period Maher escaped and Wright tallied a pivotal takedown with under 30 seconds remaining. Next, Maher attempted to hit a roll but Wright caught him on his back for the fall in 6:48.
 
Jason Wright vs. Lance Evans (Wartburg) – Consolation Semifinals
Jason Wright was pinned by Lance Evans of Wartburg in the second period and will be wrestling for fifth place. After a scoreless first period, Lance Evans rode Wright tough and locked up a tight pinning combination for the fall in 4:30.
 
Jason Wright vs. Paul Triandafilou (Gettysburg) – 5th Place Match
Jason Wright fell to Paul Triandafilou by a 5-1 decision for sixth place at the NCAA Tournament. After a scoreless first period, Wright escaped and headed to the third period leading 1-0. In the third period Triandafilou escaped, scored a takedown, and two near fall points in a scramble position.
 
 

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