WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Messiah Wrestling team claimed the runner-up team title at the 2025 Middle Atlantic Conference Championship. The Alvernia Golden Wolves claimed the title with 159 points. The Falcons finished second with 124 and Stevens Institute finished third with 115.5.
Ryder Slayton claimed the individual title at 184 lbs. and
Caiden Heller (133 lbs.),
Shaun Quirk (141 lbs.),
Keegan Demarest (165 lbs.),
Austin Brass (174 lbs.), and
Sawyer Dereszynski (197 lbs.) each finished as the individual runner-up in their respective weight classes.
Up next, the Falcons will take the short drive to Gettysburg College for a Friday night dual on Jan. 24. Action is set to begin at 7:00 p.m..
Conference Championship Action
Following a first-round bye,
Bryce Arnold claimed a 5-1 decision over Jaydin Barreto of Misericordia to advance to the semifinals. Arnold was down 1-0 heading into the final period but earned an early reversal followed by two points for stalling and one for riding time to earn the 5-1 decision. In the semifinals, Arnold was defeated by eventual champion Keito Shaw of Alvernia via 16-0 technical fall in 3:42. In the consolation semifinals, Arnold was defeated by Kings' Patrick Horvath via 9-3 decision. Arnold earned sixth after being defeated by York's Jacob Kresicki via 11-4 decision.
At 133 lbs.,
Caiden Heller earned a commanding 16-1 technical fall over Naci Robinson of Stevens in the round of 16. In the opening period, Heller earned a takedown and four count nearfall to take an early 7-0 lead. Heller used a pair of takedowns in period two and one more in period three to earn the technical fall in 5:00. In the quarterfinals, Heller defeated Kings' Nick Germano via 5-0 decision behind a second period escape and takedown to advance to the semifinals. Heller punched a ticket to the championship bout after a 7-5 decision over Misericordia's Nikosh Marston. Heller trailed 3-2 heading into the final period but earned a four count nearfall and escape in the third to claim the win 7-5. In the championship bout, Heller was defeated by York's Vincent Paolucci via 11-3 major decision to finish as the individual runner-up.
Also wrestling at 133 lbs.,
Mason Casey dropped his opening match via 8-4 decision to Cole Anderson of Kings. Casey led 4-3 after an escape and takedown in the first period before Anderson collected four points in the third period to claim the bout. In the consolation bracket, Casey picked up a fall in 0:47 over Alvernia's Anthony Astorino before being defeated by Nick Germano of Kings.
Shaun Quirk earned a fall in 2:23 over Kings' Angel Avalos in the round of 16 at 141 lbs. after leading 10-1. Quirk used two takedowns and a four count nearfall to take a 10-1 lead before earning the fall at 2:23. In the quarterfinals, Quirk earned a 17-2 technical fall over Misericordia's Brady Quinn to advance to the semifinals. Quirk earned three takedowns and two four count nearfalls in the first period to earn the technical fall in a time of 2:06. Quirk earned his place in the championship bout after a 10-7 decision over Ryan Arndt of Delaware Valley. After being down 3-2 following the first period, Quirk wrestled back in the second and collected an escape, a takedown and two two-count nearfalls to lead 10-5 with one period remaining. A stalling point and riding time were not enough for Arndt and Quirk claimed a spot in the championship bout. Quirk squared off with Sean O'Toole of Delaware Valley in the championship and was defeated via 10-2 major decision to finish as the individual runner-up.
Following a first-round bye at 141 lbs.,
Asa Brunk earned a 14-0 technical fall over Kruz McCusker of Misericordia. Brunk led 7-0 after a first period takedown and four count nearfall. In the second, Brunk earned a takedown with just under a minute remaining in the period and claimed four nearfall points with just nine seconds remaining to earn the technical fall in 4:52. In the semifinals, Brunk was defeated by Delaware Valley's Sean O'Toole via fall in 5:30 to move to the consolation bracket. In the semifinals of the consolation bracket, Brunk lost a tightly contested battle with York's Jacob Grzybek and was defeated via 16-15 decision. Brunk took sixth after being defeated by Garrett Gehr of Alvernia via fall in 2:01.
Dalton Monger began his day with a bye round in the 149 lbs. weight class before claiming a fall over Shane Kibler of Kings in 0:41. Monger was defeated by Stevens' Carmen Cortese via fall in 2:38 in the semifinals to move to the consolation bracket. In the consolation bracket, Monger squared off with teammate
Levi Snyder. Snyder claimed the 8-0 major decision to advance. Monger finished sixth after being defeated via 11-3 major decision by Michael Williams of Misericordia.
Following a first-round bye at 149 lbs.,
Levi Snyder dropped his quarterfinals bout via 8-4 decision against Misericordia's Michael Williams. In the consolation bracket, Snyder claimed a 19-3 technical fall over Myles Tirpak of Misericordia to keep his tournament alive. After a takedown by Tirpak, Snyder earned an escape, takedown and 12 nearfall points to lead 17-3 moving into period two. Snyder claimed an early two count nearfall to earn the 19-3 technical fall in 3:19. Snyder then faced Devin Horton of Delaware Valley. A takedown and escape gave Snyder a one-point advantage heading into period two. A pair of takedowns and an early escape in period three gave Snyder the 12-4 major decision to advance to the consolation semifinals against teammate
Dalton Monger. Snyder claimed the 8-0 major decision to advance to the third-place bout where he lost via medical forfeit.
At 157 lbs.,
Noah Rice began his day with a first-round bye followed by a loss in the quarterfinals via 4-1 decision against Kings' MJ Turi. In the consolation bracket, Rice defeated Alvernia's Aiden Swann via 13-1 major decision to advance to the consolation semifinals against fellow Falcon
Clay Gainer. Rice led Swann 10-0 after a takedown in each of the first two periods and four nearfall points in the first period. He started the third period with a reversal that was followed by a Swann escape that finished the match 13-1 in Rice's favor. Rice forfeited against teammate Gainer before earning a fall in 1:45 over MJ Turi of Kings to claim fifth.
Clay Gainer opened the day with a bye in the 157 lbs. weight class before earning a 3-0 decision over Steven's Tyler Venet. Gainer's first period takedown was all that was needed to advance to the semifinals. In his semifinals match against Alvernia's Jason Reznac, Gainer was defeated via 11-3 major decision to move into the consolation bracket where he faced teammate
Noah Rice in the consolation semifinals. Gainer advanced to the third-place bout via forfeit by teammate Rice. Gainer finished fourth after being defeated by Tyler Venet of Stevens.
Drew Kozubal was defeated in the opening round of the 165 lbs. weight class via fall in 1:32 against Darrale Barrett of Delaware Valley. In the consolation bracket, Kozubal battled back after going down 4-3 against Alvernia's Ryan Lepore but it wasn't enough, and he dropped the set via 7-6 decision.
Keegan Demarest finished as the runner-up at 165 lbs. after a successful day. After opening with a bye, he defeated Alvernia's Ryan Lepore via 19-4 technical fall. Demarest led 9-2 after two takedowns and a nearfall and collected three takedowns in the second period. An escape eight seconds into the third period secured the 19-4 technical fall in 5:09. An 8-3 decision over Chris Stathopoulos of Stevens secured Demarest a spot in the championship bout. Demarest faced familiar foe Matt Lackman of Alvernia and was defeated via 4-0 decision to finish as conference runner-up.
At 174 lbs.,
Jared Butler dropped his quarterfinals match against eventual conference champion Nathan Lackman of Alvernia via 21-4 technical fall. Butler then dropped his consolation match against Chris Piazza of Stevens via 4-1 decision.
Austin Brass began his day at 174 lbs. with a 16-6 major decision over Misericordia's Anthony Matas. Brass jumped to a 6-2 lead after two first period takedowns. An escape and takedown in period two bumped him to a 10-3 lead with one period remaining. He grabbed a takedown and nearfall in the final period to secure the 16-6 major decision. His semifinal bout was more tightly contested with a 2-1 decision over Harrison Hinojosa of Stevens to head to the championship bout. Brass finished as the runner-up after a 14-4 major decision defeat against Alvernia's Nathan Lackman.
Tim Eddinger opened his day with a third period fall in the 184 lbs. weight class. He led York's Jack Wendel 6-1 after two first period takedowns. He added a takedown in the second period to go up 9-2 with one period remaining. After selecting to start down, Eddinger capitalized on a reversal to earn the fall in 6:03. In the quarterfinals, he was defeated by Alvernia's Hayden McLellan via 14-4 major decision to move to the consolation bracket where he was defeated via 7-5 decision against Branden Bulatao of Stevens.
Wrestling at 184 lbs.,
Ryder Slayton was the Falcons lone individual champion of the day. Slayton began with a first-round bye before defeating Alvernia's Gino Giacolona via 9-0 major decision. A 5-0 decision over Kings' Frankie Theroux advanced Slayton into the finals. Slayton never looked back from a first-round takedown and secured his spot in the championship bout where he squared up against Joel Martsinovsky of Stevens. In an extra rounds battle, Martsinovsky took a 1-0 lead with an escape in period two. Slayton had an escape of his own in period three to force extra time. After a scoreless fourth, Martsinovsky managed an escape with just 16 seconds remaining in the fifth period. In a sudden death moment, Slayton earned two escapes to claim the 3-2 decision and the individual title.
After beginning his day with a bye,
Micah Kunkle was a part of a nine-period battle against Simeon Hunte of Misericordia in the 197 lbs. weight class. Hunte took a 1-0 lead with an escape in the second period before Kunkle countered with an escape in the third. In extra rounds, it was again Hunte to score first with an escape in the fifth period that was again countered by Kunkle with an escape in period six. Hunte escaped in the final seconds of period eight to move into period nine. Kunkle earned an escape in the ninth period and was awarded with a 3-3 decision victory. In the semifinals, Kunkle was defeated by Stevens' Blaise Wagner via 17-2 technical fall in 3:05 to move to the consolation bracket. Kunkle defeated Jason Chiodi Jr. of Alvernia via 5-2 decision to advance to the third-place match where he finished fourth after an 18-2 technical fall against Joseph Russell of Stevens in 5:30.
Sawyer Dereszynski started his day at 197 lbs. with back-to-back 17-0 technical falls. In the opening round, Dereszynski earned a takedown and eight nearfall points in period one against Owen Dixon of York. He used a reversal and four count nearfall in period two to earn his first 17-0 technical fall of the day in 4:21. In his next bout, he earned a first period takedown against Kole Lester of Delaware Valley before earning 14 nearfall points  to claim his second 17-0 technical fall of the day in 3:00. In the semifinals, Dereszynski led Joseph Russell of Stevens 7-0 in the first period before claiming the win via fall in 2:29 to advance to the championship bout. Dereszynski finished as runner-up after being defeated by Stevens' Blaise Wagner via 22-6 technical fall.
At 285 lbs., Nathanial Manarin began his day with an 18-2 technical fall loss against Alvernia's Mauro Pellot to move to the consolation bracket. Manarin led John Farrell of York 7-2 after a strong first period and added five points in the second period before claiming the win via fall in 4:17. Manarin's day came to an end with a 21-6 technical fall loss against Max Ruiz of Stevens.
After opening his day with a bye in the 285 lbs. weight class,
Micah Martinez earned a fall over Max Ruiz of Stevens in 1:31. In the semifinals, Martinez was defeated via 12-3 major decision by Aiden Hidlay of Misericordia to move to the consolation bracket where he earned a fall in 3:26 over Aiden Myers of Delaware Valley to advance to the fifth-place bout. Martinez claimed fifth via forfeit.
Up Next
The Falcons will take the short drive to Gettysburg College for a Friday night dual on Jan. 24. Action is set to begin at 7:00 p.m..
Falcon Podium Finishers
1
st –
Ryder Slayton – 184 lbs.
2
nd –
Caiden Heller – 133 lbs.
2
nd –
Shaun Quirk – 141 lbs.
2
nd –
Keegan Demarest – 165 lbs.
2
nd –
Austin Brass – 174 lbs.
2
nd –
Sawyer Dereszynski – 197 lbs.
4
th –
Levi Snyder – 149 lbs.
4
th –
Clay Gainer – 157 lbs.
4
th –
Micah Kunkle – 197 lbs.
5
th –
Noah Rice – 157 lbs.
5
th –
Micah Martinez – 285 lbs.
6
th –
Bryce Arnold – 125 lbs.
6
th –
Asa Brunk – 141 lbs.
6
th –
Dalton Monger – 149 lbs.
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