GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Wrestling team returned to the mats on Saturday, Dec. 6, for Day Two of the Petrofes Invitational. Messiah earned the team win with 172 points, finishing ahead of New York University (158 points, second), and Gettysburg (142 points, third). Leading the team effort were first place finishes for
Keegan Demarest (165 lbs.) and
Tucker Seidel (197 lbs.) The Falcons finished with seven podium finishes and 13 scorers.
Dalton Monger earned the Most Falls in the Shortest Time award with five falls in just over nine minutes.
The Falcons return to action on Friday, Dec. 12 when they travel to Doylestown, Pa. at 7:00 p.m. for a dual against Delaware Valley College.
First Place Finishes
Keegan Demarest continued his dominant efforts at 165 lbs. with his fourth first-period technical fall of the weekend. Demarest earned the 17-2 technical fall over Alvernia's Ian Vitalo in 1:37 to advance to the championship bout. After a 7-5 lead over Gettysburg's Ethan Composto following the second period, Demarest used an escape and pair of takedowns to take a 14-6 lead, and his riding time point gave him the 15-6 major decision to claim first.
Tucker Seidel earned a spot in the championship bout of the 197 lbs. weight class following a 4-2 decision against Averett's Jacob Jimenez. Seidel claimed the top spot on the podium following a 19-0 technical fall over Springfield's Oliver Parker in the championship bout.
Podium Finishes
Caiden Heller earned a spot in the championship bout following a win via 2-0 decision over Springfield's Esuar Ordonez. Heller lost a close battle with NYU's Jacob Venezia via 3-2 decision to finish second.
At 141 lbs.,
Jacob Cunningham earned a spot in the third-place bout following a win via medical forfeit and a 6-1 decision over Bridgewater's Malcolm Chrispin. Cunningham used a pair of takedowns in each of the first two periods and an escape and takedown in the third to earn the 16-2 major decision over Gettysburg's Brendan Callahan to claim third.
Dalton Monger advanced to the third-place bout after a pair of first period falls in the consolations. He first earned the fall in 2:34 over Springfield's Ty Stewart before leading Caden Frost of Arcadia 9-4 before securing the fall in 2:23. Monger finished third following a medical forfeit by teammate Snyder.
Levi Snyder opened his day at 149 lbs. against Muhlenberg's Eoghan Ohara 8-1 before earning the first period fall in 1:48. Snyder then trailed NYU's John Mairano 7-3 before earning an escape and takedown in the third period to tie it 7-7. He then capitalized on his position and earned the fall in 6:04 to advance to the third-place bout. Snyder finished fourth after a medical forfeit to teammate Monger.
Drew Kozubal dropped his opening bout at 174 lbs. via technical fall to NYU's Cristian Gioia to drop to the consolation bracket. Kozubal advanced to the third-place bout following a 4-0 decision over Muhlenberg's Luca Velando. After being tied 6-6 through the first period with Luke Thomas of Alvernia, Thomas capitalized on position to earn the fall, landing Kozubal in fourth.
Remaining Action on the Mats
At 157 lbs.,
Clay Gainer advanced through his first bout following a medical forfeit. Gainer then dropped to the fifth-place bout following a loss via 8-1 decision against NYU's Robert Leeds. Gainer finished fifth after an 8-4 sudden victory over Averett's Carter Shupert.
Austin Brass finished the weekend at 184 lbs. with a medical forfeit, finishing in sixth place.
At 285 lbs.,
Kaleb Britting advanced following a fall in 3:55 over Adrian's Scott Smith. He dropped to the fifth-place bout following a loss via fall to Gettysburg's Simon Taylor. Britting finished sixth after a lost via 11-2 major decision against Alvernia's Tristan Cooper. At 133 lbs.,
Tyler Ratledge advanced to the seventh-place bout after falling to Cole Anderson of King's via 4-2 decision. Ratledge used a pair of takedowns and an escape to claim the 7-1 decision over Averett's AJ Orlando to finish seventh.
Noah Rice advanced to Day Two in the 157 lbs. weight class but medically forfeit his opening bout to teammate Gainer to drop to the seventh-place bout. Rice earned an early takedown against Shenandoah's Hunter Ballantine before earning the fall in 1:05 to claim seventh. Nathaniel Kovalcik earned a spot in the 184 lbs. seventh-place bout following a loss via 10-3 decision against NYU's Dmitry Derbedyenyev. Kovalcik claimed seventh with an 8-6 decision over Alvernia's Ryad Belguet.
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Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Friday, Dec. 12 when they travel to Doylestown, Pa. at 7:00 p.m. for a dual against Delaware Valley College.
Podium Finishes
165 -
Keegan Demarest 1st
197 -
Tucker Seidel 1st
133 -
Caiden Heller 2nd
141 -
Jacob Cunningham 3rd
149 -
Dalton Monger 3rd
149 -
Levi Snyder 4th
174 -
Drew Kozubal 4th
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