GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah wrestling team took to the mats for the second-straight day on Saturday afternoon squaring off with The College of New Jersey Lions in a Round Robin event in Hitchcock Arena. A total of 31 matches were contested with Jake Coniglio leading the way for the Falcons with a pair of falls at 157 lbs.
 
In addition to Coniglio's two pins, Ike Bryner (149 lbs.), Josh Paige (157 lbs.), and John Sumner (165 lbs.) also earned decisions for the Falcons against a stout Lions squad.
 
For the Lions, Dom Difrancescatonio set the tone, earning a pair of first-period falls and a technical fall at 133 and 141 lbs. His three victories helped TCNJ to an overall record of 26-5 on the day.
 
The Round Robin event had two mats going simultaneously throughout the day, with the lighter weights on Mat One and the upper weights on Mat Two. The Falcons faired a little better in the lighter weights on the day.
 
Mat One Recap
Ike Bryner got the action going on Mat One with a 7-5 decision over TCNJ's Joey Fiordaliso. Bryner scored an early takedown in the opening period before eventually taking a slim 4-3 lead into the third. After an escape from Fiodaliso, Bryner scored the go ahead takedown with just over a minute left in the match. Despite and escape, Bryner held on for the decision.
 
Two matches later, Coniglio took to the mat against Ethan Hamilton. Three first-period takedowns put Coniglio up 6-2 after three minutes of wrestling. In the second, his lead expanded to 12-3 thanks to a set of near fall points. He capped off his match in the third with a takedown just eight seconds into the period and a fall less than 30 seconds later.
 
Six matches later Coniglio was at it again, this time pinning Alex Stavrou late in the second period. Like his first match, Coniglio was command from the start, taking a 4-1 lead after the first period. He expanded that lead to 9-2 late in the second period before putting Stavrou on his back for his second fall of the afternoon.
 
Joshua Paige earned Messiah's final victory of the afternoon on Mat One, defeating Matt Paglia at 157 lbs. by a 7-3 decision. After a great battle against David Santiago in his first match, Paige had a strong victory in his second bout of the day. He fell into a 2-1 hole after the first period, but tied the match up at 3-3 with a takedown late in the second. After a third-period escape, a takedown with just under a minute left secured the victory by a 7-3 margin.
 
Mat Two Recap
John Sumner earned Messiah's only victory of the afternoon on Mat Two, claiming the first bout of the day by a 10-4 decision over Nick Golden at 165 lbs. It was a strong victory, that saw Sumner steadily build this lead throughout the match. Sumner held control of the bout for its entirety en route to the victory.
 
The remaining matches on Mat Two featured a couple of tight decisions with Dan Swarr dropping a tight 4-3 decision against Reid Colella at 174 lbs. and Sam Blevins falling 2-0 against Tom Maretta at 285 lbs. The remainder matches on Mat Two went in favor of the Lions by at least four points. TCNJ picked up a total of four falls on Mat Two on Saturday afternoon.
 
What's Up Next
After today's Round Robin, Messiah and TCNJ will square off once again later this week. The Falcons will travel to Ewing, N.J. for a dual against the Lions at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening.

 

Results

Mat 1
149 - Ike Bryner (M) dec. (7-5) over Joey Fiordaliso (NJ)
141 - Dom Difrancescatonio (NJ) tech fall (18-2) over Jordan Howard (M)
157 - Jake Coniglio (M) fall (5:34) over Ethan Hamilton (NJ)
125 - Nick Denora (NJ) fall (2:06) over Payton Jackson (M)
133 - Larry Melchiodna (NJ) tech fall (16-0) over Joshua Flores (M)
149 - Joey Fiordaliso (NJ) fall (1:28) over Trevor McGowan (M)
157 - David Santiago (NJ) dec. (11-9) over Joshua Paige (M)
141 - Dom Difrancescatonio (NJ) fall (1:50) over Ike Bryner (M)
157 - Jake Coniglio (M) fall (4:45) over Alex Stavrou (NJ)
133 - Nick Denora (NJ) fall (5:49) over Asa Brunk (M)
133 - Jake Giordano (NJ) tech fall (17-1) over Jordan Howard (M)
141 - Jake Falleni (NJ) fall (4:51) Trevor McGowan (M)
157 - Joshua Paige (M) dec. (7-3) over Matt Paglia (NJ)
133 - Dom Difrancescatonio (NJ) fall (1:03) over Joshua Flores (M)
141 - Jake Falleni (NJ) maj. dec. (13-4) over Ike Bryner (M)
149 - Bob Dinger (NJ) tech fall (18-3) over Jake Coniglio (M)

Mat 2
165 - John Sumner (M) dec. (10-4) over Nick Golden (NJ)
174 - Thomas Stigliano (NJ) dec. (8-1) over Wyatt Bingaman (M)
174 - Reid Colella (NJ) dec. (4-3) over Dan Swarr (M)
184 - Brett MacMath (NJ) fall (4:37) over Donte Hibbert (M)
184 - Kal El Corbitt (NJ) dec. (5-0) over Max Martin (M)
285 - Joe Daddario (NJ) dec. (7-1) over Christian Conner (M)
285 - Tom Maretta (NJ) dec. (2-0) over Sam Blevins (M)
285 - Dylan D'Amore (NJ) fall (3:51) over Hayden Benner (M)
165 - Thomas Stigliano (NJ) dec. (8-4) over John Sumner (M)
174 - Reid Colella (NJ) maj. dec. (15-3) over Max Martin (M)
174 - Nick Golden (NJ) fall (1:54) over Donte Hibbert (M)
184 - Brett MacMath (NJ) maj. dec. (10-2) over Wyatt Bingaman (M)
285 - Tom Marretta (NJ) maj. dec. (11-1) over Christian Conner (M)
285 - Peter Wersinger (NJ) dec. (11-4) over Hayden Benner (M)
285 - Dylan A'More (NJ) fall (4:49) over Sam Blevins (M)

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