WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The No. 16 Messiah wrestling team finished as the runner-up in the MAC Wrestling Championships on Saturday. The Falcons finished with 145.5 team points, just 8.5 points behind the MAC Champion and No. 24-ranking Stevens Ducks (154 team points).
 
Sean Redington and David Stevens claimed individual championships for the Falcons at 125 lbs. and 184 lbs., respectively, while six other Falcons earned top-four finishes. In the conference. Matt Pangle (165 lbs.) and Brian Shermeyer (174 lbs.) both ended the Championships as the runner-up in their respective weight class.
 
As mentioned, the Stevens Ducks took home the Conference Championship, their first Middle Atlantic Conference Title in their first year in the conference. The Falcons finished as the runner-up with 145.5 points while Lycoming (125 points), Alvernia (83.5), and Wilkes (81.5) rounded out the top-five.
 
Redington and Stevens Win Titles
Both Sean Redington and David Stevens claimed individual titles for the Falcons at 125 lbs. and 184 lbs., respectively. Competeing in a small, six-wrestler bracket at 125 lbs., Redington earned a bye into the semifinals. In his semifinal match against Lycoming's Garrett Lee, Redington earned a dominating 19-6 major decision that included eight nearfall points, a reversal, and three takedowns.
 
In the final, Redington met Lycoming's Shane Casey. In the third period the match was tied 6-6 with Casey on top, Redington earned a reversal before picking up two nearfall points to claim the 10-6 decision and the 125 lbs. title.
 
David Stevens claimed the 184 lbs. title with a 2-0 decision in the title match over Alvernia's Ali Capobianco. Stevens earned a reversal in the second period for the only points of the match. Stevens had a strong showing in the opening rounds to get him to the Championship. Against Joseph Davis from King's, Steven picked up a 24-6 technical fall early in the second period before claiming a 16-5 major decision against Mason Novak (Lycoming) to move into the semifinals.
 
A medical forfeit in the semifinals, moved Stevens into the championship against Capobianco.
 
Pangle and Shermeyer Finish as Runner-Ups
Redington and Stevens were two of four Falcons to appear in their respective Championship matches. Matt Pangle (165 lbs.) and Brian Shermeyer (174 lbs.) put together solid runs to advance to their championship, but fell in the final bout to earn runner-up finishes in consecutive weight classes.
 
Pangle started his day at 165 lbs. with a technical fall over Lycoming's Hunter O'Connor and a first-period fall against Wilkes' Xavier Barber to move into the semifinals. In the semis, Pangle shutout Kade Kravits from King's, 8-0 to move into the finals with a major decision. In the finals, Pangle suffered a 12-4 major decision against Stevens' Thomas Poklikuha to finish as the runner-up.
 
Much like Pangle at 165 lbs, Brian Shermeyer made quick work of his foes in the early rounds at 174 lbs. Shermeyer earned a pair of falls against Frank Medina (Stevens) and Isaac Mensah (King's) to move into the semifinals. In both matches, Shermeyer held sizable leads before picking up the pins early in the second period. Against John DeVito of Wilkes in the semifinals, SHermeyer earned a convincing 18-1 technical fall late in the second period.
 
Shermeyer dropped a tight, 2-1 decision in the finals to Lycoming's Hadyn Swartwood to finish as the runner-up. Both Shermeyer and Swartwood earned escapes in the match, but a riding time point for Swartwood proved to be the difference.
 
Barnhart and Maloney Fight Back
Stephen Maloney had a stellar day for the Falcons at 157 lbs., wrestling in four matches and picking up three technical falls. Maloney advanced to the semifinals with a 17-1 first-period technical fall against Delaware Valley's Patrick O'Neil. Wrestling against Stefan Major from Stevens in the semifinals, Maloney suffered an 8-6 setback in sudden victory after a controversial takedown was awarded to his opponent.
 
In the consolation bracket, Maloney made quick work of his two opponents, earning technical falls against Alvernia's Gavin Hollingsworth (20-4) and Lycoming's Trevor Cori (17-0) to earn third place.
 
Nick Barnhart also earned a third-place finish on Saturday, but had to win four-straight matches in the consolation bracket to do so. After dropping his first match of the day against Jonah Schechtman (Stevens) 4-1, Barnhart earned a pair of falls to move into the consolation semifinals. Once there Barnhart squared off with Schechtman once again, this time earning a 3-0 decision to move into the third-place match. Against Cody Dix from Wilkes, Barnhart completed his run through the consolation bracket with a 3-0 decision to claim third-place at the MAC Championships.
 
Other Notable Performances
Messiah also earned a pair of fourth-place finishes from Josiah Gehr (133 lbs.) and Dalton Daugherty (141 lbs). Gehr claimed a major decision in his first match of the day and edged out Lycoming's Samuel Hanley in a high-scoring, 13-11 decision in the consolation semifinals while Daugherty highlighted his day with a pair of falls in the quarterfinals and consolation semifinals.
 
Joe Embleton (197 lbs.) and Carter Urich (285 lbs.) also claimed fifth-place finishes for the Falcons while Jordan Howard (125 lbs.) finished the day in sixth.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action next Friday when they make the short trip to Gettysburg to take on the Bullets at 7:00 p.m. in a dual. Their dual against the Bullets will be Messiah's final tune-up before traveling to the Wheaton Invitational at the end of the month on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

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