WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - The Messiah wrestling team went a perfect 2-0 on Saturday to clinch ninth place at the Budd Whitehill Duals hosted by Lycoming College. The Falcons started Saturday morning off with a 32-6 victory over the Williams Ephs and then capped off their weekend with a 27-13 victory over the Wesleyan Cardinals.

The Falcons ended their weekend with three-straight victories, including their triumph over Oswego State on Friday evening and will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 21 when they travel to York College for the 2023 MAC Championships at 10:00 a.m.

Messiah defeats Williams – 32-6
The Falcons earned one of their most dominating victories of the season against the Williams Ephs in the first dual of the ninth-place bracket. Messiah opened up a 13-0 lead after three matches and ever looked back, winning by a final score of 32-6. The Falcons won eight of the 10 bouts contested.
 
Messiah won the 125 lbs. match by way of forfeit before Asa Brunk claimed a 16-6 major decision over Jack Napeloni at 133 lbs. Mason Casey then picked up a 5-2 decision at 141 lbs. to bump Messiah's lead to 13-0.
 
Williams got on the board at 149 lbs. with an 11-6 decision, but Messiah's Garret Cornell squeaked out a 6-5 decision at 157 lbs. before Zach Needles clinched a dominating 9-0 major at 165 lbs. Another tight decision followed for the Falcons at 184 lbs., with Ryder Slayton earning a 3-1 victory. Joe Embleton gave Messiah their final points of the dual with a first-period fall in 1:58 to give Messiah a 32-3 lead with just one bout remaining. While Williams earned a 3-2 decision at heavyweight, Messiah claimed a 32-6 victory to advance to face Wesleyan with ninth-place on the line.

Messiah defeats Wesleyan - 27-13
In the ninth-place match, Messiah emerged victorious with a 27-13 victory over Wesleyan for their second-straight victory over a NESCAC foe. The Falcons claimed the first two matches with Bryce Arnold picked up a 6-3 decision at 125 lbs. and Asa Brunk finishing his strong weekend with a pin in 4:02 at 133 lbs. Brunk finished the weekend 4-1 with a pair of falls and two major decisions.

By winning the first two bouts, Messiah took a 9-0 lead. The Cardinals would quickly fight back winning three-straight matches and four of the next five bouts. Messiah's lone win in the middle weight classes came with a Zach Needles fall at 165 lbs. in 4:42. After Wesleyan's 8-7 decision at 174 lbs., Messiah held a slim, 15-13 lead thanks to the pins from Brunk and Needles.

Ryder Slayton expanded Messiah's lead with a 2-1 decision, riding out his opponent for the bulk of the third period to earn the decisive riding time point in the low-scoring match at 184 lbs. Joe Embleton won due to a first-period injury at 197 lbs. and Hayden Benner capped off the victory for the Falcons with a takedown in the final seconds at 285 lbs. to earn a 3-1 decision. Messiah earned the 27-13 and finished the Budd Whitehill Duals with three-straight victories.

Messiah will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 21 when they travel to York for the 2023 MAC Championships. The action is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. next weekend.

Messiah defeats Williams – 32-6
125 - Bryce Arnold (Messiah) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
133 - Asa Brunk (Messiah) over Jack Napeloni (Williams) Maj 16-6
141 - Mason Casey (Messiah) over Donnie Morton (Williams) Dec 6-2       
149 - Caleb Seyfried (Williams) over Camerin Deville (Messiah) Dec 11-6
157 - Garret Cornell (Messiah) over Peter Kane (Williams) Dec 6-5
165 - Zach Needles (Messiah) over Eamon Garrity-Rokous (Williams) Maj 9-0
174 - John Sumner (Messiah) over Max Hall (Williams) Dec 9-4      
184 - Ryder Slayton (Messiah) over William Smith (Williams) Dec 3-1
197 - Joe Embleton (Messiah) over Elias Chen (Williams) Fall 1:58
285 - Wyatt Moyer (Williams) over Hayden Benner (Messiah) Dec 3-2

Messiah defeats Wesleyan – 27-13
125 - Bryce Arnold (Messiah) over Greg Fischer (Wesleyan) Dec 6-3
133 - Asa Brunk (Messiah) over Shailen Savur (Wesleyan) Fall 4:02
141 - Kellen Horst (Wesleyan) over Mason Casey (Messiah) Dec 8-6          
149 - CJ Christopher Shea (Wesleyan) over Clay Gainer (Messiah) Maj 8-0
157 - Aaron Goldman (Wesleyan) over Garret Cornell (Messiah) SV-1 5-3
165 - Zach Needles (Messiah) over Jack Reusing (Wesleyan) Fall 4:42        
174 - Marco Gaita (Wesleyan) over John Sumner (Messiah) Dec 8-7
184 - Ryder Slayton (Messiah) over Aris Dashiell (Wesleyan) Dec 2-1
197 - Joe Embleton (Messiah) over Joe Colon (Wesleyan) Inj 2:47
285 - Hayden Benner (Messiah) over Kolton Gagnon (Wesleyan) Dec 3-1
 

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