ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Messiah Wrestling team was in action on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Scotty Wood Invitational hosted by Muhlenberg College. The Falcons earned the team win with 163.5 points, finishing ahead of Elizabethtown (154) and Muhlenberg (104.5) in the field of nine teams. Messiah claimed four first-place finishes from
Caiden Heller (133 lbs.),
Clay Gainer (157 lbs.),
Keegan Demarest (165 lbs.), and
Tucker Seidel (197 lbs.) in addition to 17 other podium finishes.
Messiah will return to the mats on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6, when they host the Petrofes Invitational in Hitchcock Arena. Action is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.
First-Place Finishes
Caiden Heller opened his day at 133 lbs., with a bye round before earning a fall in 4:40 over Shenandoah's Heath Burks after leading 10-0. Heller then secured a fall in 1:25 over Jack Yannuciello of Muhlenberg before a 9-5 decision over Elizabethtown's Febian Dawit sent Heller into the championship bout. In the championship, Heller faced teammate Ratledge and earned the 12-6 decision to finish first.
Clay Gainer had a quick start to his day at 157 lbs. with an opening bye round and a win via medical forfeit. In his first contested bout, Gainer took a 14-0 first period lead over Washington & Jefferson's Vontez Tyus before securing the fall in 2:49. In the semi-finals, Gainer earned the win by default over teammate Rice before earning first via a medical forfeit in the championship bout by teammate Hollar.
At 165 lbs.,
Keegan Demarest opened his day with a pair of first-period technical falls, first earning a 21-6 technical fall in 1:58 over Muhlenberg's Collin Boldt before a 22-4 technical fall in 1:24 over Marymount's Joshua Estrada. Demarest advanced to the championship bout following a medical forfeit in the semifinals. In the championship bout, Demarest jumped to a 6-1 lead over Justice Hockenberry-Folk of Elizabethtown before extending his lead to 12-2 with one period remaining. An escape and pair of takedowns in the third period secured the 19-3 technical fall in 5:47.
Tucker Seidel opened his day at 197 lbs. with a 17-0 technical fall in 1:57 over Markelyn of Marymount with a takedown and 14 nearfall points. Siedel then led Gavin Wagner of Elizabethtown 14-1 before earning the fall in 3:14. In the semifinals, Seidel earned a 15-0 technical fall over Keystone's Nero Bono in 1:23 to advance to the championship bout. Seidel held a 6-2 lead over Will Davis of Elizabethtown following two periods. Davis battled back with an escape to come within one point before Seidel escaped with two seconds remaining to secure the 7-5 decision and the first-place finish.
Other Podium Finishes
Tyler Ratledge opened his day at 133 lbs. with a 14-6 major decision over Elizabethtown's Keegan Allan before earning a 4-2 decision over Duncan Stadler of Johns Hopkins. Ratledge advanced to the championship bout following a medical forfeit where he was defeated by teammate Heller to finish second.
At 157 lbs.,
Mikey Hollar opened his day with a bye round before earning a 17-0 technical fall over Elizabethtown's Dominic Rizzotto in 2:27. Hollar then secured a 17-2 technical fall in 7:00 over Brennan McGrann of Johns Hopkins to advance to the semifinals. Following a default victory over Muhlenberg's Trey Miletics in the semifinals, Hollar secured the second-place finish after medically forfeiting to teammate Gainer.
In the 174 lbs. weight class, Â
Drew Kozubal opened his day with a 12-2 major decision over Muhlenberg's Noah Schlofer before picking up a 9-2 decision over Elizabethtown's Jacob Speed. In the semifinals, Kozubal earned the 6-2 decision over Muhlenberg's Lucas Velando to advance to the championship bout. Kozubal finished second following a loss via 7-2 decision to Elizabethtown's Gavin Fehr.
At 184 lbs.,
Austin Brass opened his day with a fall in 0:29 over Zander Tompkins of Washington & Jefferson before securing a 16-1 technical fall in 3:21 over Shenandoah's Jack Birth. Brass earned a place in the championship bout following a 7-1 decision over Vitali Daniels of Washington & Jefferson. In the championship bout, Brass faced a familiar foe in Elizabethtown's Ganon Smith. Smith held a 5-1 lead after two periods and a takedown from Brass brough the score within one before and escape and riding time point solidified the 7-5 decision for Smith.
At 285 lbs., Â
Kaleb Britting opened his day with a bye in the round of 16 before securing a fall in 1:59 over Washington & Jefferson's Fre'Jon Beasley. In the semifinals, Britting earned the 4-2 decision over Muhlenberg's Hayk Grigorian to advance to the championship bout. Britting finished second following a 15-11 decision against Ksawery Niewadomy of Elizabethtown.
In his opening bout at 133 lbs.,
Chris Brooks trailed Washington & Jefferson's Alexander Tucker 8-3 before the third period. Brooks opted to start down for the third period and earned an escape and takedown before capitalizing on his position and earning the fall in 5:38. Brooks was then sent to the consolation bracket following a loss via 16-8 major decision against Febian Dawit of Elizabethtown. In the consolations, Brooks started with a 13-7 decision over teammate Casey before earning a 20-3 technical fall over Muhlenberg's Jace Yannuciello in 6:27. Following a medical forfeit and a non-contested bout, Brooks secured the third-place finish.
Noah Rice earned a quick fall in his opening bout at 157 lbs. against Noah Diamond of Shenandoah, earning the fall in 1:00. Rice then earned a commanding 19-0 technical fall over Muhlenberg's Charles Levine in 6:21 to advance to the quarterfinals. A 17-2 technical fall in 7:00 over Elizabethtown's Aidan Hines moved Rice to the semifinals where he lost via default to teammate Gainer to move to the consolation bracket. Rice earned a fall in 1:25 over Brennan McGrann of Johns Hopkins before earning the third-place finish over teammate Craig due to medical forfeit.
Joel Swanson dropped his opening bout at 165 lbs. via technical fall to Ethan Bliss of Elizabethtown to move to the consolation bracket. Swanson earned a 15-0 technical fall in 4:25 over Keystone's Codi Bomboy and a 15-1 major decision over Elizabethtown's Johnny Maurer to continue his day. Swanson earned a spot in the third-place bout after earning a fall in 1:32 over Marymount's Joshua Estrada and a 16-1 technical fall over Ethan Bliss of Elizabethtown in 7:00. Swanson secured the third-place finish with an 11-5 decision over Elizabethtown's Paul Sanderson.
At 197 lbs.,
Tim Eddinger dropped his first bout to Elizabethtown's Will Davis via technical fall to move to the consolation bracket. In the consolations, Eddinger picked up a fall in 1:18 over Marymount's Cody Freer before earning a fall over Elizabethtown's Gavin Wagner in 4:26 to advance. A fall in 2:56 over Jayden Johnson of Washington & Jefferson and a 5-3 decision over teammate Garcia earned Eddinger a spot in the third-place bout. Eddinger trailed Nero Bono of Keystone 3-1 following the first period, but the pair found themselves tied 4-4 with one period remaining. Having choice before the final period, Eddinger chose to start down and earned the escape to secure the 5-4 decision and earn the third-place finish.
At 285 lbs., Â
Micah Martinez opened his day with a bye before earning a 10-3 decision over Jacob Pomykata of Johns Hopkins. In the semifinals, Martinez was defeated via fall by Elizabethtown's Ksawery Niewadomy to move ot the consolations. Martinez led Shenandoah's Bryan Guzman 7-0 before securing the fall in 2:46 to advance to the third-place bout. A fall in 2:56 over Pomykata of Johns Hopkins secured the third-place finish for Martinez.
At 125 lbs.,
Austin Jeffrey opened his day with a 19-4 technical fall over Shenandoah's Elliot Rivera in 3:00 before being defeated via fall by Elizabethtown's Roman Polcha to move to the consolations. In a tightly contested battle with Rowan's Haji Saccoh in which Jeffrey led 12-11, Jeffrey was able to capitalize on an opportunity and earn the fall in 3:52. Jeffrey then picked up a pair of first-period falls, first in 1:25 over Caiden Lucente of Marymount then in 1:20 over Vincent Coleman of Washington & Jefferson to advance to the third-place bout. Jeffrey finished fourth after being defeated via fall by Polcha of Elizabethtown.
Jacob Cunningham began his day in the 149 lbs. weight class with a bye round and an 18-2 technical fall over Elizabethtown's Logan Ryan in 5:21. Cunningham then defeated teammate Brunk via 22-6 technical fall in 6:08 to advance to the semifinals. Cunningham fell in the semifinals via 12-5 decision against Freddy Pimental of Johns Hopkins to move to the consolation bracket. In the consolation semifinals, Cunningham took a quick 6-2 lead over Griffin Stewart of Shenandoah before continuing dominance and earning the 20-5 technical fall in 6:21 to advance to the third-place bout. Cunningham finished fourth following a loss via 7-2 decision against Giogio Difalco of Johns Hopkins.
Justin Craig opened his day with a bye round at 157 lbs., before falling to Elizabethtown's Alex Hart via 5-2 decision to move to the consolation bracket. Following a bye in consolations, Craig secured a 13-5 major decision over Eric Gendlin of Johns Hopkins before earning a 5-1 decision over Elizabethtown's Aidan Hines. Craig advanced to the third-place bout after earning a fall in 2:16 over Vontez Tyus of Washington & Jefferson and a medical forfeit against Muhlenberg's Miletics. Craig secured a fourth-place finish following a medical forfeit to teammate Rice.
Nate Kovalcik opened his day at 184 lbs. with a fall in 4:08 over Archie Rubin of Muhlenberg. He was then defeated by eventual champion Ganon Smith of Elizabethtown via fall to move to the consolation bracket. In the consolations, Kovalcik led Shenandoah's Jack Birth 9-0 before securing the fall in 5:45 to advance to the third-place bout. Kovalcik was defeated by Vitali Daniels of Washington & Jefferson via fall to finish fourth.
After dropping his first bout at 125 lbs. via technical fall to Deven Jackson of Elizabethtown,
Micah Lozano began to battle back in the consolations. Lozano earned a 14-2 major decision over Drake Buzzard of Washington & Jefferson before securing a fall in 1:19 over Washington & Jefferson's Holden DuBois. Lozano was then defeated via technical fall by Roman Polcha of Elizabethtown to advance to the fifth-place bout. A 6-1 decision over Vincent Coleman of Washington & Jefferson secured the fifth-place finish for Lozano.
Dalton Monger opened his day at 149 lbs. with a fall over Elizabethtown's Kevin Gierej in 0:57 before earning a 12-2 major decision over Giorgio Difalco of Johns Hopkins. Monger then led Washington & Jefferson's Nathan Thomas 10-0 before earning a fall in 5:39. Monger medically forfeited his remaining bouts and finished sixth.
Sergio Garcia earned a 9-0 major decision over Muhlenberg's Sean Quaye to open his day in the 197 lbs. weight class. He then earned a 2-0 decision over Chuck Dunn of Johns Hopkins before being defeated via technical fall by Elizabethtown's Will Davis to move to the consolations. Garcia was defeated by teammate Eddinger via 5-3 decision to move to the fifth-place bout. Garcia finished sixth after being defeated via 6-0 decision by Washington & Jefferson's Jaden Fields.
Action on the Mats
Matthew Casey opened his day at 133 lbs. with a loss via fall to Washington & Jefferson's Logan Rumberger to move to the consolations. In the consolations, Casey held a 10-4 lead over Keystone's Tanner Pringle before earning the fall in 3:13. Casey's day ended following a loss via 13-7 decision to teammate Brooks.
At 149 lbs.,
Dylan Hart opened his day with a fall over Marymount's Ramon Barboa in 1:33 following an early takedown and four nearfall points. Hart was sent to the consolation bracket by Muhlenberg's Eoghan O'Hara via fall in his second bout. In the consolations, Hart was defeated by Jacob Munoz of Marymount via a 4-1 sudden victory decision.
Following a first round bye at 149 lbs.,
Daniel Pierce earned a 16-4 major decision over Casy Spina of Elizabethtown. He was then defeated by Freddy Pimental of Johns Hopkins via technical fall to move to the consolation bracket. In his consolation match, Pierce was defeated via 13-5 major decision against Difalco of Johns Hopkins.
At 149 lbs.,
Abel Brunk led Jared Galang of Marymount 12-2 before earning the fall in 4:47 in his first contested bout. Brunk then faced teammate, Cunningham who earned the technical fall to send Brunk to the consolation bracket. Brunk's day came to an end via technical fall against Charles Perrin of Rowan.
At 157 lbs.,
Garrett Fowler began his day with a loss via technical fall against Muhlenberg's Trey Miletics. In the consolation bracket, Fowler was defeated via 4-2 decision by Eric Gendlin of Johns Hopkins.
At 174 lbs., Â
Nick Montanye opened his day with a fall over Ian Harris of Marymount in 0:57 before being defeated by Gavin Fehr of Elizabethtown via 11-1 major decision to move to the consolation bracket. Montanye's day ended in the consolations with a loss via 11-7 decision against AJ Gordon of Johns Hopkins.
Isaiah Durham opened his day at 197 lbs. with a loss via technical fall to Keystone's Nero Bono. In the consolations, Durham was defeated by Chuck Dunn of Johns Hopkins via sudden victory.
At 197 lbs., Nathanial Manarin opened his day with a loss via fall to Elizabethtown's Gavin Wagner before medically forfeiting his consolation bout to end his day.
Up Next
Messiah will return to the mats on Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6, when they host the Petrofes Invitational in Hitchcock Arena. Action is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.
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