GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah wrestling team suffered a 35-3 setback on Friday night against the Alvernia Golden Wolves on Friday night in Hitchcock Arena.
Noah Rice provided the most excitement of the evening with an overtime victory at 149 lbs. over Chance Babb. Outside of that Rice decision, Messiah dropped their other nine bouts against a tough Alvernia squad.
In total, the Golden Wolves earned five bonus-point victories with Palmer Rodenhaber capping off the night with a first-period fall at 285 lbs. to cap off the 35-3 victory over the Falcons.
The loss is Messiah's first of the season in a dual, dropping them to 3-1 on the young season. The Falcons will have a quick turnaround as they head to Hoboken, N.J. tomorrow morning for duals against the Delaware Valley Aggies and the Stevens Ducks. Messiah will wrestle Delaware Valley at 11:00 a.m. and Stevens at 3:00 p.m.
How It Happened
The Golden Wolves jumped out to an 11-0 lead after three bouts thanks to major decisions at 125 lbs. and 133 lbs.
Noah Rice got the Falcons on the board at 149 lbs. With an overtime decision over Chance Babb. After a scoreless opening period, Rice took the bottom and earned a reversal with 21 seconds remaining in the period. Babb escaped in the final seconds and the match stood in favor of Rice at 2-1 heading to the third. In the third, Babb took bottom, but Rice held on just long enough to kill off the riding time point. After Babb's escape, regulation ended with the two tied 2-2.
In the extra period, Rice earned a takedown on the edge of the mat for the 4-2 overtime winner just 45 seconds into the period. The decision, cut the Golden Wolves lead to 11-3 after four bouts.
Messiah put up a fight in a number of the later matches with
Ryder Slayton highlighting the effort at the upper weights. At 184 lbs, Slayton forced overtime, but was unable to come away with the victory, dropping his match 3-1 in overtime.
The Golden Wolves won the final six matches of the dual en route to the 35-3 victory over Messiah.
Alvernia defeats Messiah 35-3
125 – Keito Shaw (A) major dec. (13-2) over
Caiden Heller (M)
133 – James King (A) major dec. (13-4) over
Bryce Arnold (M)
141 – Avery Leonard (A) dec. (8-5) over
Asa Brunk (M)
149 –
Noah Rice (M) dec. (4-2 OT) over Chance Babb (A)
157 – Robert Lawlor (A) major dec. (12-1) over
Garret Cornell (M)
165 – Matt Lackman (A) tech. fall (15-0, 5:16) over
Zach Needles (M)
174 – Gavin Hollingsworth (A) dec. (11-6) over
John Sumner (M)
184 – Isaac Kassis (A) dec. (3-1 OT) over
Ryder Slayton (M)
197 – Mauro Pellot (A) dec. (9-4) over
Joe Embleton (M)
285 – Palmer Rodenhaber (A) pins (2:19)
Christian Conner (M)
184 Ex. – James Circle (A) major dec. (15-5) over
Donte Hibbert (M)
