ANNVILLE, Pa. - On Wednesday morning the Middle Atlantic Conference released their annual wrestling awards with Wrestler of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year announced. Messiah took two of the three awards with
Josiah Gehr (125 lbs.) claiming Rookie of the Year honors after a 35-7 freshman campaign. Head coach
Bryan Brunk was named the MAC Coach of the Year for the fourth-straight season.
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Gehr, a native of Stevens, Pa., won the NCAA Division III Southeast Regional title at 125 lbs. to lead the Falcons to their sixth-straight regional team title. He won the regional title in impressive fashion, claiming a 25-10 technical fall in the title match. Gehr went a combined 4-0 at the regional, including two major decisions and a fall to go with his technical fall in the final. This past weekend, Gehr finished his first collegiate season at the National Championships, going 1-2 on the weekend. He wrapped-up his first year in Grantham with a 35-7 overall record.
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As mentioned, head coach
Bryan Brunk earns his fourth-straight conference Coach of the Year award. The honor is his fifth in the last six years after he led Messiah to their sixth-straight NCAA Division III regional title. Messiah won the Southeast Regional this season and send sent four wrestlers to nationals after earning one regional title, two runner-ups, and a third-place finish. The Falcons finished the 2018-19 campaign with a 16-6 dual record.
