WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The No. 16 Messiah wrestling team swept their way through the opening day of the Budd Whitehill Duals at Lycoming College on Friday. Messiah earned victories over Williams College (32-17), Lycoming (30-18), and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (26-19) to advance to the Championship bracket, competing for first-place on Saturday.

The Falcons will be back on the mats tomorrow morning beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the semifinals against Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Messiah defeats Williams - 32-17  |  Results
Messiah started the day with a big win over the Ephs, claiming a 32-17 victory. The Falcons trailed early with the Ephs winning three of the first four matches, including a technical fall at 141 lbs. to take an 11-5 lead. Josiah Gehr was the lone Falcon to win in the early going, earning a 16-0 technical fall at 133 lbs.

Stephen Maloney cruised to a 17-0 technical fall over Williams' Yo Anselmi at 157 lbs. to get the Falcons within one at 11-10. Back-to-back falls at 165 lbs. and 174 lbs. by Matt Pangle and Brian Shermeyer, respectively, put the Falcons out in front 22-11. Pangle picked up his fall in 6:13 while Shermeyer earned a second-period pin in 4:24.

After a fall from Williams' William Smith at 184 lbs., Joe Embleton claimed a major decision at 197 lbs. with a 12-2 victory before Sam Blevins earned a forfeit at 285 lbs. for the Falcons to get Messiah to the final score of 32-17.

Messiah defeats Lycoming - 30-18  |  Results
In the early afternoon against Lycoming, Messiah raced out to a 24-0 lead behind bonus-point victories from Sean Redington (125 lbs.), Nick Barnhart (149 lbs.), and Stephen Maloney (157 lbs.). Redington started the dual with a 12-1 major decision before consecutive decisions from Josiah Gehr and Dalton Daugherty at 133 lbs. and 141 lbs.

A fall early in the second period by Nick Barnhart at 149 lbs. and a 17-0 technical fall at 157 lbs. by Stephen Maloney bumped the Falcons' lead to 21-0. Matt Pangle followed with an 8-2 decision to extend the lead to 24-0.

The final four bouts were all decided by falls with the David Stevens earning the only Messiah win of the four at 184 lbs., earning a pin in 6:26. Stevens' pin clinched Messiah's 30-18 victory.

Messiah defeats Wisconsin-Stevens Point - 26-19  |  Results
Messiah capped off a perfect day with a 26-19 victory over the Pointers from Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Falcons won six of the first eight bouts to take a 26-7 lead. The Pointers earned pins in the final final two matches, but Messiah held on for their third win of the day.

The Falcons earned a forfeit to start the match at 125 lbs. to take an early 6-0 lead. After the Pointers claimed a major decision at 133 lbs., Messiah won three straight and five of the next six bouts. Nick Barnhart highlighted the stretch for the Falcons with a third-period pin at 149 lbs.

Stephen Maloney (157 lbs.) and Brian Shermeyer (174 lbs.) both earned major decisions during the run while Dalton Daugherty (141 lbs.) and David Stevens (184 lbs.) claimed decisions.

Back-to-back falls for the Pointers ended the dual, but the Falcons prevailed for a 26-19.

What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday when they compete in the semifinals against Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Results
Messiah defeats Williams - 32-17
125 - David Yeh (Williams) over Jordan Howard (Messiah) TB-1 2-0
133 - Josiah Gehr (Messiah) over Dietrich Hartman (Williams) TF 16-0
141 - Joseph Rossetti (Williams) over Dalton Daugherty (Messiah) TF 16-0
149 - Albert Xing (Williams) over Nick Nunez (Messiah) Dec 6-4
157 - Stephen Maloney (Messiah) over Yo Akiyama (Williams) TF 17-0
165 - Matt Pangle (Messiah) over Nick Anselmi (Williams) Fall 6:13
174 - Brian Shermeyer (Messiah) over Dante Gutbrod (Williams) Fall 4:24
184 - William Smith (Williams) over Kevin Diehl (Messiah) Fall 3:13
197 - Joe Embleton (Messiah) over Dylan Millson (Williams) Maj 12-2
285 - Sam Blevins (Messiah) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

Messiah defeats Lycoming - 30-18
125 - Sean Redington (Messiah) over Shane Casey (Lycoming) Maj 12-1
133 - Josiah Gehr (Messiah) over Samuel Hanley (Lycoming) Dec 9-4
141 - Dalton Daugherty (Messiah) over Ethan Landis (Lycoming) Dec 6-1
149 - Nick Barnhart (Messiah) over Joe Santomarco (Lycoming) Fall 3:32
157 - Stephen Maloney (Messiah) over Paul Santomarco (Lycoming) TF 17-0
165 - Matt Pangle (Messiah) over Hunter O`Connor (Lycoming) Dec 8-2
174 - Hadyn Swartwood (Lycoming) over Brian Shermeyer (Messiah) Fall 2:18
184 - David Stevens (Messiah) over Mason Novak (Lycoming) Fall 6:26
197 - Brody Keefe (Lycoming) over Joe Embleton (Messiah) Fall 1:21
285 - John Fulmer (Lycoming) over Carter Urich (Messiah) Fall 2:00

Messiah defeats Wisconsin-Stevens Point - 26-19
125 - Sean Redington (Messiah) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
133 - Matt Berlin (Wis.-Stevens Point) over Josiah Gehr (Messiah) Maj 10-2
141 - Dalton Daugherty (Messiah) over Zane Strubler (Wis.-Stevens Point) Dec 6-2
149 - Nick Barnhart (Messiah) over Mason Wheeler (Wis.-Stevens Point) Fall 6:19
157 - Stephen Maloney (Messiah) over Brandon Peckham (Wis.-Stevens Point) Maj 11-2
165 - Jordan Weinzetl (Wis.-Stevens Point) over Matt Pangle (Messiah) Dec 9-3
174 - Brian Shermeyer (Messiah) over Zack Moon (Wis.-Stevens Point) Maj 12-1
184 - David Stevens (Messiah) over Taran Holland (Wis.-Stevens Point) Dec 9-3
197 - Jerry Lipke (Wis.-Stevens Point) over Joe Embleton (Messiah) Fall 1:49
285 - Noah Wieczorek (Wis.-Stevens Point) over Samuel Blevins (Messiah) Fall 6:50

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