WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Messiah wrestling team opened the 2022 Budd Whitehill Duals with a 25-19 victory over the Washington and Lee Generals on Friday morning thanks to falls from
Garret Cornell (149 lbs.),
Nick Barnhart (157 lbs.), and
Carter Urich (285 lbs.). Urich's pin sealed the weekend-opening victory for the Falcons.
In their second dual of the day, the Falcons came up short against the Castleton Spartans by a score of 29-17. Messiah had a chance heading into the final bout, but a fall for the Spartans sealed a 1-1 day for the Falcons.
Messiah will be back in action on Saturday for Day Two of the Budd Whitehill Duals beginning at 9:00 a.m. against an opponent to be determined.
Messiah defeats Washington and Lee - 25-19
Washington and Lee snagged the first two bouts of the day with decisions at 125 and 133 lbs.
Jordan Howard dropped a tight decision at 133 lbs., finishing on the short side of a 4-2 sudden victory decision. Messiah then rattled off the next three bouts, picking up bonus points in all three thanks to a technical fall from
Josiah Gehr (141 lbs.) and a pair of pins from
Garret Cornell (149 lbs.) and
Nick Barnhart (157 lbs).
At 141 lbs., Gehr earned an early take down and never let the Generals' Harris Ford earn any points in a 17-0 technical fall. Gehr's technical fall pulled the Falcons with one point at 6-5. First period falls from Cornell and Barnhart gave the Falcons a sizable lead at 17-6. In his match at 149 lbs., Cornell earned his pin in 2:37 while Barnhart stuck Harrison Kelly in just 2:18.
Washington and Lee responded with a pin at 165 lbs. and a 13-3 major decision at 174 lbs. to pull within one point at 17-16.
Ryder Slayton claimed a thrilling 3-2 decision at 184 lbs., thanks to a key first-period takedown to give the Falcons a little cushion at 20-16.
At 197 lbs., a late stalling call was handed out, effectively gifting a 2-1 decision to Washington and Lee despite no takedowns taking place in the bout. That decision closed the score to 20-19 heading to the final bout of the dual.
Needing at win at 285 lbs., Messiah's
Carter Urich bullied Clay Chadwick to his back twice earn nearfall points before earning the Falcons' third pin of the dual in 1:55. The pin sealed the victory for the Falcons. Despite losing a team point for mat conduct, Messiah earned the 25-19 victory to start their journey in the Bud Whitehill Duals.
Results
125 - Riley Parker (Washington & Lee) over
Hunter Rinehart (Messiah) Dec 8-2
133 - David Rubin (Washington & Lee) over
Jordan Howard (Messiah) SV-1 4-
141 -
Josiah Gehr (Messiah) over Harris Foad (Washington & Lee) TF 17-0
149 -
Garret Cornell (Messiah) over Josepth Tarquine (Washington & Lee) Fall 2:37
157 -
Nick Barnhart (Messiah) over Harrison Kelly (Washington & Lee) Fall 2:18
165 - Joe Salerno (Washington & Lee) over
Jared Butler (Messiah) Fall 0:22
174 - Cameron Blizard (Washington & Lee) over
Tyler Riley (Messiah) Maj 13-3
184 -
Ryder Slayton (Messiah) over Brad Basham (Washington & Lee) Dec 3-2
197 - John Ryan Sedovy (Washington & Lee) over
Sam Blevins (Messiah) Dec 2-1
285 -
Carter Urich (Messiah) over Clay Chadwick (Washington & Lee) Fall 1:55
*Messiah was deducted one team point due to mat conduct
Castleton defeats Messiah - 29-17
In their second match of the day, Messiah once again fell into an early hole, dropping the first two bouts of the dual to Castleton. The Spartans earns a fall at 125 lbs. and a major decision at 133 lbs. to take a 10-0 lead over the Falcons.
Josiah Gehr earned another dominating technical fall with a 16-0 victory over Mason Lishness at 141 lbs. to cut the deficient in half at 10-5.
Garret Cornell then earned an 11-6 decision at 149 lbs. over the Spartans Elijah Cyr.
Nick Barnhart was in control of his match with Jacob Caricato at 157 lbs., earning a late fall with the match well in had already. His second pin of the day came in 6:35 and gave the Falcons a 14-10 lead midway through the dual.
The Spartans responded by winning the next three bouts with a major decision at 165 lbs., a fall at 174 lbs., and a tight 5-4 decision at 184 lbs. The result was a 23-14 lead for Castleton with two bouts remaining. Samuel Blevins earned a 9-3 sudden victory decision at 197 lbs. to give the Falcons a chance, but a fall from Castleton's Oliver Donahue at 285 lbs. handed the Spartans a 29-17 victory over Messiah.
Results
125 - Evan Kinney (Castleton) over
Hunter Rinehart (Messiah) Fall 4:01
133 - Frank Darwak (Castleton) over
Jordan Howard (Messiah) Maj 10-1
141 -
Josiah Gehr (Messiah) over Mason Lishness (Castleton) TF 16-0
149 -
Garret Cornell (Messiah) over Elijah Cyr (Castleton) Dec 11-6
157 -
Nick Barnhart (Messiah) over Jacob Caricato (Castleton) Fall 6:35
165 - Ethan Palanca (Castleton) over
Hunter Zacerous (Messiah) Maj 13-3
174 - Jakai Townsend (Castleton) over
Tyler Riley (Messiah) Fall 0:29
184 - Haven Tatarek (Castleton) over
Spencer Clements (Messiah) Dec 5-4
197 -
Sam Blevins (Messiah) over Devin Flagg (Castleton) SV-1 9-3
285 - Oliver Donahue (Castleton) over
Carter Urich (Messiah) Fall 2:16
What's Up Next
The Falcons will wrestle tomorrow in the second day of the Budd Whitehill Duals against a slate of opponents to be determined. The action is slated to start tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
