GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Wrestling team was in action on Friday, Feb. 28, as they hosted Day One of the NCAA Division III Region III Regional Tournament. The Falcons had 10 wrestlers in action on Friday across each of the weight classes. Messiah advances six wrestlers to day two in the championship bracket with three advancing in the consolation bracket. Action will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Hitchcock Arena for Day Two of the NCAA Division III Region III Regional Tournament.
Friday Action
Opening action for the Falcons was
Bryce Arnold in the 125 lbs. weight class. Arnold was defeated via 19-3 technical fall in 4:00 by Elizabethtown's Braden Schuyler to move to the consolation bracket. Arnold saw his weekend end with a loss via 10-3 decision against Jacob Delvecchio of York.
In action at 133 lbs. for the Falcons was
Caiden Heller. Heller opened his day against Hayden Best of Misericordia. A first period takedown gave Heller an early 3-0 lead that he held into the second period where he earned a second takedown and four nearfall points. Best was able to escape after the nearfall but Heller secured another takedown with 10 seconds remaining to lead 13-1 with one period remaining. Heller secured a takedown with 1:33 remaining to earn the 16-1 technical fall in 5:27. Heller moved to the consolation bracket after being defeated by TCNJ's Garrett Totten via 12-1 major decision. Heller won his first round of the consolation bracket with a 9-4 decision over Cole Anderson of King's. Heller led 3-2 after two periods but secured a takedown and two escapes and added a riding time point to advance to day two.
At 141 lbs.,
Shaun Quirk opened his day against Jacob Torres of King's. Quirk held a 3-1 lead after the first period. Torres chose to start down and quickly earned the escape point to start the second period. Torres took a 5-3 lead after a takedown, but Quirk was able to quickly earn the reversal and add three nearfall points to regain the lead 8-5 with one period remaining. Quirk also opted to start down, earning the escape in just two seconds. Despite Torres outscoring Quirk 9-7 in the third period, Quirk was able to secure the 15-14 decision with a riding time point. Quirk advanced after a 10-5 decision over Andrew Loniewski over Muhlenberg. Loniewski held a 5-3 advantage after two periods, but a last-minute takedown and four nearfall points gave Quirk the win, advancing to day two.
Dalton Monger earned the first period fall over Freddy Pimental of Johns Hopkins in 2:47 after leading 3-0. Monger was then defeated by TCNJ's Michael Conklin via fall in 4:20 to move to the consolation bracket. Monger then earned a fall over Marymount's Pahris Petalas in 1:17 to advance to day two.
At 157 lbs.,
Clay Gainer had a dominant first period against Scranton's Aidan Veirun, leading 10-2 after two first period takedowns and four nearfall points. Gainer chose to start period two down and quickly earned an escape followed by a takedown and four count nearfall to secure the 18-2 technical fall in 3:53. Gainer advanced to the semifinals with a 6-3 decision over Merchant Marine's Edward Pinc. Pinc led 3-1 after the first period but a reversal for Gainer in period two notched the score at 3-3. Gainer secured a takedown in the final period to earn the 6-3 decision.
Keegan Demarest is looking to make an impact at 165 lbs. this weekend and began strongly with a technical fall over Scranton's Donell Young. Demarest held an 11-1 advantage after two first period takedowns, four nearfall points and a penalty point. He then used a pair of takedowns in the second period to secure the 17-2 technical fall in 3:49. Demarest advanced to the semifinals with a 19-3 technical fall over Braden Kmak of Ursinus. A pair of first period takedowns gave Demarest a 6-0 lead that was supported by a 13-3 run in the second period that included three takedowns. Demarest secured his spot in the semifinals with the 19-3 technical fall in 4:10.
Austin Brass also made quick work of his first-round opponent, securing a first period technical fall over Connor Powell of Johns Hopkins in the 174 lbs. weight class. Brass secured a takedown just six seconds into the bout before adding four nearfall points. Powell escaped but was quickly taken down again before Brass secured another four nearfall points. Powell earned a second escape before a takedown and riding time point secured the 18-2 technical fall in 2:42. Brass then advanced to the semifinals following a 15-3 major decision over Muhlenberg's Anson Dewar. Brass held a 10-2 lead after two periods with three takedowns and an escape. He added a takedown, penalty point, and riding time point in the third period to secure the 15-3 win.
At 184 lbs.,
Ryder Slayton secured the win over Carson Pascoe via 8-0 major decision. Slayton led 4-0 after a first period takedown and second period escape before adding a takedown and riding time point in the final period. Slayton had a more tightly contested bout to advance to the semifinals as he earned the 2-1 decision over Nils Updale of Ursinus. Slayton led 1-0 after a second period escape. Updale tied the score with 13 seconds remaining in the final period, but a riding time point gave Slayton the 2-1 win.
At 197 lbs.,
Sawyer Dereszynski trailed 3-1 early in the first period before earning a takedown that he was able to capitalize on and secure the fall in 2:50. Dereszynski's next bout was just as tightly contested against McDaniel's Valentino Pryor. A first period penalty point and second period escape were the only points Dereszynski needed to claim the 2-0 decision and advance to the semifinals.
The final Falcon in action was
Micah Martinez in the 285 lbs. weight class. Martinez held the early lead with a takedown before Matthew Coon of TCNJ got the reversal and secured the fall in 2:08 to move Martinez to the consolation bracket. Martinez kept his weekend alive with a fall over Nick Valenzano of King's in 4:27 after holding a 9-0 lead. In the final bout of day one, Martinez earned the first period fall over Gettysburg's Simon Taylor to advance to day two. Martinez secured a takedown at 1:38 before capitalizing on his position to earn the fall in 1:35.
Up Next
Messiah advances six wrestlers to day two in the championship bracket with three advancing in the consolation bracket. Action will begin at 9:00 a.m. in Hitchcock Arena for Day Two of the NCAA Division III Region III Regional Tournament.
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