COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - Competing in their second tournament of the year, the Messiah wrestling team earned another top-three finish at the Ursinus Racich Rumble Invitational on Saturday afternoon with a second-place finish with 162.5 team points. The Falcons had seven different wrestlers earn top-six finishes at six different weight classes. Messiah was dominate at 157 lbs with both Nick Barnhart and Garret Cornell advancing to the finals. Barnhart earned the victory with a medical forfeit. Ike Bryner took third at 149 lbs. While Zach Needles (165 lbs.), Ryder Slayton (184 lbs.), and Carter Urich (285 lbs.) all earning fifth in their respective weight classes.
 
Asa Brunk also earned a top-six finish, taking home sixth place at 141 lbs.
 
The Falcons will be back on the mat next weekend when they travel to Springfield, Mass. to take on Western New England University in a dual on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. before competing in the Doug Parker Invitational at Springfield College on Saturday.
 
Dominating the 157 lbs. Bracket
Nick Barnhart and Garret Cornell were the top two seeds at 157 lbs. on Saturday and the duo wrestled like they were. Between the two of them, they combined for six falls and a 21-4 technical fall in the seven bouts they wrestled. Each picked up a trio of falls and Cornell teched the third seeded Shawn Marchesano in the semifinals. While the two did not wrestle for the title, they should share the title after cruising through the bracket.
 
Strong Showing for Bryner
Ike Bryner (149 lbs.) started his day with consecutive pins to move into the quarterfinals. After dropping a major decision to the eventual runner-up, Alvernia's Jason Rezac, Bryner bounced back with three-straight victories and a medical forfeit to finish his day with a third-place finish. A 4-1 decision over top-seeded Anthony Chavez (NYU) in the consolation semifinals might have been the highlight of his day as he claimed the third-place finish.
 
Pinning to Fifth-Place Finish
Fifth-seeded Zach Needles, placed exactly where he was expected. After starting his day with a first-period fall, Needles was sent to the consolation bracket where he earned two more falls en route to his fifth-place finish at 165 lbs.
 
Battling Back
Asa Brunk (141 lbs.) dropped his first bout of the day by an 11-1 major decision to Elizabethtown's Zach Rupp, but earned back-to-back falls and a major decision to move into the consolation semifinals. Despite dropping his final two matches of the day, Brunk earned a sixth-place finish.
 
Both Ryder Slaton (184 lbs.) and Carter Urich (285 lbs.) took home fifth-place finishes as well. They each won their first bout of the day before being sent to the consolation bracket. Urich needed three-straight victories, including a pair of falls, to advance to the consolation semifinals while Slaton needed just two victories. Both won their fifth-place matches by forfeit.
 
What's Up Next
As mentioned, the Falcons will remain on the road next weekend when they compete in Massachusetts against Western New England University in a dual on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and then in the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College on Saturday.

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