GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Wrestling team was in action at the Messiah Open hosted in Hitchcock Arena on Saturday, Feb. 14 for the final regular season action of the 2025-26 season. Highlighting action for the Falcons was a win at 157 lbs. for
Noah Rice.
Tim Eddinger finished as the 184 lbs. runner-up while eight other Falcons earned a spot on the podium.
The Falcons will return to the mats on Friday, Feb. 27 when they travel to The College of New Jersey for Day One of the NCAA Regional Championships.
First Place Finishes
Noah Rice earned a 19-3 technical fall in 5:38 at 157 lbs. over Gettysburg's Justin Musmanno with six takedowns and an escape. Following an 11-3 major decision over Carter Weaver of Pitt-Johnstown, Rice advanced to the championship bout following a medical forfeit. Rice faced top-seeded Jackson Albert of Patriot Elite Wrestling Club. Rice held a slim 1-0 advantage after two periods before a takedown in the third gave him the 4-2 victory to finish at the top of the bracket.
Podium Finishes
Tim Eddinger was in action at 184 lbs., earning a fall in 1:59 over Patrick Gordon of Wilkes before earning a 16-13 decision over top-seeded Dylan Shelton of Franklin & Marshall to advance to the championship bout. Eddinger trailed Avery Aurand of Millersville 6-2 after the first period. A pair of escapes was not enough as Aurand earned the 8-4 decision, with Eddinger finishing as runner-up.
Dalton Monger held a 9-0 lead in the first period of his 149 lbs. bout against Ursinus' Dylan Vallone before Vallone brought the score to 12-6 in favor of Monger. A takedown in the third allowed Vallone to capitalize and earn the fall to send Monger to the consolation bracket. Monger earned a pair of quick falls in the consolation bracket, defeating Millersville's Brayden Pequignot in 0:28 before securing the fall over Gettysburg's Kyle Collins in 0:22. He then secured an 11-4 decision over Elijah Brosius of Pitt-Johnstown before securing a fall over Daniel Sinclair of Millersville in 6:10. Monger advanced to the third-place bout via medical forfeit and was awarded third after a non-contested bout.
Nate Kovalcik opened his day at 184 lbs. with a pair of technical falls, first earning a 16-1 technical fall in 3:39 over Jared Bilinski of Wilkes with three takedowns and seven nearfall points before securing a 17-1 technical fall over William Chrysler of New Jersey City in 3:14 with three takedowns and eight nearfall points. Kovalcik dropped to the consolation bracket after a loss via 7-0 decision to eventual champion Avery Aurand of Millersville. Kovalcik finished third after a 10-2 major decision over Ursinus' Ben Sanders and a medical forfeit by teammate Garcia.
Drew Kozubal advanced in the 174 lbs. weight class after his opponent medically forfeited 0:14 into his first bout. Kozubal advanced to the quarterfinals following an 18-3 technical fall over Owen Delgado competing unattached in 4:57 where he lost via technical fall against Charlie Foster of Onondaga to drop to the consolation bracket. He advanced to the third-place bout following an 11-6 decision over Souleymane Diarra of Wilkes. Kozubal finished fourth after losing via technical fall in 7:00 to Franklin & Marshall's Michael Fuccilli.
At 184 lbs.,
Sergio Garcia opened his day with a loss via fall to eventual champion Avery Aurand of Millersville to drop to the consolation bracket. Garcia battled back to earn a spot in the third-place bout following a 21-6 technical fall over William Chrysler of New Jersey City in 4:43 before securing a 7-4 sudden victory over top-seeded Dylan Shelton of Franklin & Marshall. Garcia finished fourth after medically forfeiting his final bout.
Nathaniel Manarin was in action at 197 lbs., dropping his first bout via technical fall to George Rhodes of Drexel. Manarin earned a spot in the third-place bout following a fall over Cody Freer of Marymount in 2:34 and a medical forfeit in the following bout. Manarin finished fourth after a loss via technical fall against Justin Grittith of Drexel.
Elijah Farr held a 3-0 lead over Trevor Gitski of Wilkes before capitalizing and securing the fall in 1:35 to advance in the 285 lbs. weight class. He was then defeated by top-seeded Layton Schmick competing unattached via technical fall to drop to the consolation bracket. Farr secured a 7-3 decision over Andrew Perez of Wilkes before a 10-4 decision over Onondaga's Mykola Fabian. He was then defeated by Marymount's Basheet Hadi via technical fall in 7:00 to move to the fifth-place bout where he finished sixth following a loss via 5-0 decision against Christopher Dellabella of Wilkes.
Joel Swanson earned a 16-0 technical fall in his first bout at 165 lbs. against Marymount's Jackson Fulcher. Swanson earned a takedown early in the first period and tacked on 10 nearfall points. A takedown in the second solidified the technical fall in 3:13. Swanson then dropped to the consolation bracket following a loss via technical fall to Seth Weaver of Franklin & Marshall. Swanson opened his time in the consolation bracket with a fall over Brayden Shannon of Wilkes in 1:31 and a 17-2 technical fall over Gettysburg's Connor Hoefling in 7:00. He found himself in the fifth-place bout following a loss via major decision against unattached Tyler Fromm. Swanson finished sixth after being defeated via 6-0 decision by Franklin & Marshall's Seth Weaver.
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At 133 lbs.,
Tyler Ratledge trailed unattached Aaron Menickella 5-0 after two periods. Ratledge secured a pair of takedowns in the third but Menickella's pair of escapes gave him the 7-6 decision, sending Ratledge to the consolation bracket. Ratledge opened his time in the consolations with a 21-6 technical fall over Onondaga's Marek Sokolowski in 6:29 before earning a 3-1 decision over Gabe Giampietro of Drexel. Ratledge found himself in the seventh-place bout after falling via sudden victory to Charlie Colantonio of Franklin & Marshall. Ratledge led 4-0 in the seventh-place bout before his opponent could not finish and Ratledge claimed seventh.
Action on the Mats
Corbin Hutchison opened his day at 133 lbs. with a battler against Noah Rosa of Wilkes. The pair remained scoreless through the first before Rosa earned a penalty point and reversal to take the 3-0 decision and send Hutchison to the consolation bracket. Hutchison's day came to a close following a loss via 14-6 major decision agasint Peyton Spencer of Onondaga.
Matthew Casey dropped his opening bout at 133 lbs. against Charlie Colantonio of Franklin & Marshall via technical fall to drop to the consolation bracket. Casey's day came to a close after a loss via fall to Joseph Custodio of Marymount.
Chris Brooks was also in action at 133 lbs., dropping his first bout against Peyton Spencer Onondaga via a tight 5-4 decision. In the consolation bracket, Brooks earned a pair of decisions, first defeating Gabe Tulone of Ursinus 8-1 before earning the 7-3 decision over Wilkes' Noah Rosa. Brooks' day ended with a loss via 13-0 major decision against Andrew Perez of Ursinus.
Daniel Pierce opened his day at 149 lbs. with a loss via technical fall to Anthony Basile of Patriot Elite Wrestling Club. Pierce ended the day with a loss via technical fall against Brandon Sholders of Franklin & Marshall. At 149 lbs.,
Dylan Hart earned a 15-0 technical fall over Wilkes' Jackson Brady with a takedown and 12 nearfall points in 1:25. Hart dropped to the consolation bracket after a loss via major decision against Elijah Brosius of Pitt-Johnstown where he ended his day with a loss via major decision against Millersville's Daniel Sinclair.
At 157 lbs.,
Garrett Fowler dropped to the consolation bracket after losing his first bout via 11-3 major decision to Conlan Boyer of Gettysburg. Fowler's day came to a close in the consolations with a loss via technical fall against Millersville's Riley Oakes.
Justin Craig used four takedowns, six nearfall points, and an escape at 157 lbs. to secure the 16-1 technical fall over Marymount's Adam Razzaq in 3:48. Craig advanced to the quarterfinals following a medical forfeit by his opponent. He then dropped to the consolation bracket following a loss via technical fall against Jaryn Hartranft of Wilkes. Craig's day came to a close in the consolations with a loss via technical fall against Drexel's Jonathan Fuller.
Mikey Hollar was in action at 157 lbs, opening his day with a 6-3 decision over Andy Beras of New Jersey City University. Hollar trailed 3-0 before securing a reversal and adding an escape and takedown to secure the 6-3 decision. Hollar's second bout brought some excitement as he trailed Conner Sklavounos of Wilkes 10-9 with one period remaining. Hollar earned an escape quickly in the third and was able to secure a takedown and stay on top to earn the 13-10 decision. Hollar dropped to the consolation bracket after dropping his quarterfinal bout to Tyson Rakers of Patriot Elite Wrestling Club via 6-4 decision. Hollar's day ended with a loss via technical fall against Millersville's Nicholas Bennet in 7:00.
At 174 lbs.,
Nick Montanye opened his day with a 15-0 technical fall over Marymount's Ian Harris in 3:00. Montanye secured a takedown before adding 12 nearfall points in the first period. Montanye dropped to the consolation brackets after falling to top-seeded Gavin Cole competing unattached via technical fall. His day came to a close with a loss via technical fall to Souleymane Diarra of Wilkes.
Up Next
The Falcons will return to the mats on Friday, Feb. 27 when they travel to The College of New Jersey for Day One of the NCAA Regional Championships.
