HERSHEY, Pa. - The Messiah wrestling team hosted the 2021 Chocolate Duals on Saturday, taking on Millersville, Millikin and Delaware Valley. The Falcons went 2-1 on Saturday, earning a 23-21 victory over the Delaware Valley Aggies in their final dual of the day. Earlier in the day, Messiah dropped duals against Millersville (30-14) and Millikin (31-14).
Josiah Gehr (141 lbs.) and
Jake Coniglio (149 lbs.) highlighted the Falcons' effort on the afternoon with the duo going a combined 6-0. Gehr earned a pair of falls and a decision, while Coniglio earned a trio of technical falls, outscoring his opponents 54-1 on the day.
Messiah will take off the final two weeks of 2021 and be back on the mats for competition on Jan. 7-8 at the Budd Whitehill Duals hosted by Lycoming College.
Millersville defeats Messiah 30-14
The Falcons earned three victories in their match against Division II Millersville University. After Millersville took the first two bouts of the dual with a decision and a technical fall,
Josiah Gehr earned a 7-0 decision against Josh Tuckey at 133 lbs. for the Falcons' first points of the match. Immediately following at 149 lbs.,
Jake Coniglio earned a dominating technical fall by a score of 17-0 to tie the match at 8-8. Millersville went on to claim the next five matches, earning bonus points in all five before
Carter Urich earned a first-period fall in just 1:16 to make it a final score of 30-14.
Results
125 Bryce Beatty (MV) dec (12-7)
Hunter Rinehart (Mess)
133 Devin Flannery (MV) TF (17-1)
Jordan Howard (Mess)
141
Josiah Gehr (Mess) dec (7-0) Josh Tuckey (MV)
149
Jake Coniglio (Mess) TF (17-0) Clayton Reed (MV)
157 Jonathan Parilla (MV) maj. dec (15-5)
Garret Cornell (Mess)
165 Guy DeLeonardis (MV) TF (19-3)
Zach Needles (Mess)
174 Anthony Yacovetti (MV) TF (17-0)
Tyler Riley (Mess)
184 Anthony Giampietro (MV) maj dec (12-2)
Ryder Slayton (Mess)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
197 Bruce Vaughan (Mv) maj dec (13-4) Chris Cratsley (Mess)
285
Carter Urich (Mess) pin (1:16) Bishop McCoy (MV)
Millikin defeats Messiah 31-14
Millikin took a quick 10-0 lead with a fall and a major decision, but the Falcons responded with
Josiah Gehr (141 lbs.),
Jake Coniglio (149 lbs.), and
Nick Barnhart (157 lbs.) earned consecutive victories to give the Falcons a 14-10 lead, but the Big Blue won the final five bouts to earn a 31-14 victory in the match.
Josiah Gehr claimed a third-period fall over DJ Millett, sticking him in 6:25 while
Jake Coniglio earned another dominating technical fall with a 17-1 final against Jordan Carson at 149 lbs.
Nick Barnhart earned the third-straight Messiah victory with a 9-2 decision over Peter McCusker. A number of tight decisions went to the Big Blue with
John Sumner (174 lbs.) and
Ryder Slayton (184 lbs.) suffering losses by two points or less.
Results
125 Tommy Russell (Mi) pin (3:26)
Hunter Rinehart (Mess)
133 Zac Blasioli (Mi) maj dec (15-1)
Jordan Howard (Mess)
141
Josiah Gehr (Mess) pin (6:25) DJ Millett (Mi)
149
Jake Coniglio (Mess) TF (17-1) Jordan Carson (Mi)
157
Nick Barnhart (Mess) dec (9-2) Peter McCusker (Mi)
165 Braden Birt (Mi) pin (0:56)
Zach Needles (Mess)
174 Dejan Glaster (Mi) dec (7-6)
John Sumner (Mess)
184 Micah Downs (Mi) dec (5-3)
Ryder Slayton (Mess)
197 Niles Ager (Mi) dec (8-1) Joe Embelron (Mess)
285 Brayan Reyes (Mi) pin (2:43)
Carter Urich (Mess)
Messiah defeats Delaware Valley – 23-21
Messiah's final dual of the day came against conference rival Delaware Valley. After the Aggies earned a pair of decisions in the first two bouts of the dual to take a 6-0 lead, Messiah rattled off four-straight victories and five of the next six to take a 23-12 lead in the match. The Aggies earned the final two bouts, but Messiah held on for the 23-21 victory.
Josiah Gehr earned his third victory of the day with a fall in 4:43 at 141 lbs. Like Gehr,
Jake Coniglio earned his third victory of the day with a technical fall with a 20-0 victory over Greg Croce at 149 lbs. In total, Goniglio earned three technical falls on the day, outscoring his opponents 54-1 on the day.
Nick Barnhart claimed a 5-1 decision at 157 lbs. and
Zach Needles earned a victory due to injury at 165 lbs. After an Aggies' fall, Messiah's
Ryder Slayton claimed a 9-3 decision over Jake Nase at 184 lbs. for Messiah's final victory of the day.Â
Results
125 Ryan Kelly (DV) dec (14-7)
Hunter Rinehart (M)
133 Rashad Stratten (DV) dec (3-0)
Jordan Howard (M)
141
Josiah Gehr (M) pin (4:43) Russ Benson (DV)
149
Jake Coniglio (M) TF (20-0) Greg Croce (DV)
157
Nick Barnhart (M) dec (5-1) Adam Coleman (DV)
165
Zach Needles (M) inj. def. Cooper Kid (DV)
174 Youssef Ait Boulahri (DV) pin
John Sumner (M)
184
Ryder Slayton (M) dec. (9-3) Jake Nase (DV)
197 Jackson Crawn (DV) pin (2:31)
Joe Embleton (M)
285 Dan Eckley (DV) dec (4-2)
Carter Urich (M)
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be away from competition for the remainder of the 2021 calendar year. Messiah will be back on the mats on Jan. 7-8, 2022 when they travel to Lycoming for the Budd Whitehill Duals in Williamsport, Pa.
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