SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Messiah wrestling team competed in their first dual of the 2021-22 season on Friday night and earned a thrilling 25-19 victory over the Western New England Golden Bears. With the match tied 19-19 after nine bouts,
Carter Urich earned a first-period fall at 285 lbs. to give the Falcons the six-point victory.
The Falcons and Golden Bears each won five bouts on the evening, but it was Messiah earning bonus points in all but one of their victories to pick up the victory.
Hunter Rinehart (125 lbs.) and
Zach Needles (165 lbs.) earned technical falls, while
Jake Coniglio (149 lbs.) and
Carter Urich (285 lbs.) picked up the falls.
The Falcons have a quick turnaround as they complete their New England trip with the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College, beginning tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
How It Happened
Hunter Rinehart started the dual with a dominate 16-1 technical fall over Nicholas Faraci at 125 lbs. Rinehart need just 3:44 to earn the victory for the Falcons and give Messiah an early 5-0 lead in the dual.
The Golden Bear took a 9-5 lead after a medical forfeit and a decision at 133 lbs. and 141 lbs., but Messiah would respond with a second period fall by
Jake Coniglio at 149 lbs. Coniglio earned his second fall of the season by pinning the Golden Bears' Cam Hines at the buzzer ending the second period to give the lead back to Messiah at 11-9.
A major decision by Western New England at 157 lbs. gave them the lead back at 13-11, but just as they did earlier, Messiah responded. This time it was with a dominating performance at 165 lbs. by
Zach Needles. Wrestling Sean Monteiro, Needles scored early and often en route to a 16-0 technical fall in 5:15 to put Messiah back in front.
Western New England won two of the next three bouts with decisions, but
Ryder Slayton claimed a tight 4-2 decision at 184 lbs. to keep Messiah alive. Following the Golden Bears' decision at 197 lbs., Messiah and Western New England were tied 19-19.
With just one bout remaining,
Carter Urich squared off with Spencer Dickinson. Urich earned a takedown and then stuck Dickinson in 1:26 for the first-period fall and the team victory by a final score of 25-19. The pin was Urich's was his fifth of the season.
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action tomorrow morning when they wrap up their trip to New England with the Doug Parker Invitational hosted by Springfield College. The action starts at 10:00 a.m.
Messiah defeats Western New England - 25-19
125 -
Hunter Rinehart (Messiah) over Nicholas Faraci (Western New England) (TF 16-1 3:44)
133 - Nicholas Arborio (Western New England) over
Dalton Daugherty (Messiah) (Def.)
141 - Colby Reilly (Western New England) over
Asa Brunk (Messiah) (Dec 7-4)
149 -
Jake Coniglio (Messiah) over Cam Hines (Western New England) (Fall 5:00)
157 - Luke Pinzino (Western New England) over
Joshua Paige (Messiah) (MD 12-2)
165 -
Zach Needles (Messiah) over Sean Monteiro (Western New England) (TF 16-0 5:15)
174 - CJ Glaropoulos (Western New England) over
John Sumner (Messiah) (Dec 8-2)
184 -
Ryder Slayton (Messiah) over Cory Grifka (Western New England) (Dec 4-2)
197 - Darby McLaughlin (Western New England) over
Christopher Cratsley (Messiah) (Dec 9-5)
285 -
Carter Urich (Messiah) over Spencer Dickinson (Western New England) (Fall 1:26)
