KING'S WRESTLERS FALL TO 26TH RANKED MESSIAH, 18-17

WILKES-BARRE -- Visiting 26th ranked Messiah College built a 15-6 lead and held off a late King's College charge as the Falcons held on for an 18-17 victory Saturday in Scandlon Gymnasium

In the first match at 125-pounds, King's Ricky Dorsey score a first period takedown but Bryce Steve countered with a quick reversal and two near fall points to take a 4-2 lead into the second period. After a scoreless second period, Stever would escape in the final period, then added a late takedown to post a 7-2 victory.

In the 133-pound bout, King's defending Division III national champion David Morgan scored a quick takedown, but Josh Cragg answered with a reversal. Morgan countered with a reversal of his own and turned Cragg free for a 4-3. Morgan would then score a late takedown to build a 6-3 lead entering the second period. Morgan would post another takedown and set Cragg free again to build an 8-4 lead. Cragg would then register a takedown to cut the lead to 8-6 after two periods. After Morgan turned Cragg free for the third time in the match to whittle the lead to 8-7, neither wrestler would score again as Morgan picked up the victory to tie the team score at 3-3.

At 141, Messiah's Barry Thrush took a 2-1 first period lead with a takedown of Tony Miele. Miele would respond with a second period takedown to capture a 4-2 advantage heading into the third period. Neither wrestler would score again but Miele earned a riding time point to secure a 5-2 decision while giving the Monarchs a 6-3 lead.

In the 149-pound match King's Frankie Davis posted an early takedown but Craig Gin countered with an escape to cut the lead to 2-1. Gin then scored a takedown for a 3-2 lead after one period. After a scoreless second period, Gin escaped in the final frame to stretch the lead to 4-2. A late takedown would give Gin a 6-2 decision while tying the team score at 6-6.

At 157, Messiah's Mike Bressler scored an early takedown of Taylor Green to post a 2-0 lead after the first period, then followed up with another takedown midway through the second period, en route to a 5-0 decision and a 9-6 Messiah lead.

In next match at 165, John Milner used a takedown a three near fall points to jump out to a 5-0 lead. Milner would follow up with two more back points before surrendering a penalty point to carry a 7-1 lead into the third period. Trees would gain a takedown but Milner score a reversal and pin at 5:12 to give the Falcons a 15-6 lead.

At 174, Messiah's David Jones would take down King's Mike Reilly for a 2-0 lead, but Reilly answered with a reversal and two near fall points to gain a 4-2 advantage after one period. Reilly would add an escape but Jones countered with a takedown to close to within 5-4. Reilly would score a reversal with 0:27 on the clock to up the lead to 7-4 entering the third period. Reilly would tack on a quick third period takedown to stretch the lead to 9-4, then added two near fall points and a riding time point for a 13-4 major decision, cutting the Messiah lead to 15-10.

In the 184-pound matchup, King's Zach Martinez took a 2-1 lead over Matt McHugh with a first period takedown. McHugh would answer with a second period reversal to take a 3-2 lead entering the final period. Martinez, though, picked up a reversal to take a 4-3 lead with 1:12 left in the match. But McHugh scored a reversal of his own, then added three near fall points to post an 8-4 decision and give the Falcons a 18-10 lead with two matches left.

At 197, King's Zach Wilkinson took down Dando Speers for a 2-1 lead after a first period lead, then added a second period reversal for a 4-1 advantage. Speers would counter with a reversal to cut the lead to 4-3 heading into the final period. After Speers escaped to tie the score at 4-4, Wilkinson countered with two takedowns to post an 8-5 decision while cutting the Messiah lead to 18-13 with one match left.

In the final bout at 285, King's Justin Bender scored a first period takedown of Tim Hopkins to take a 2-0 lead. Bender added a second period reversal for a 4-0 lead. Hopkins, though, would do his best to stall over the final two periods in an attempt to avoid being pinned and the tactic worked. Bender would settle for two more takedowns in the third period to post a 9-1 major decision as Messiah held on for the 18-17 victory


Messiah 18 - King's 17
125 - Bryce Stever (M) dec. Ricky Doresy (K), 7-2 MC 3-0
133 - David Morgan (K) dec. Josh Cragg (M), 8-7 Tie 3-3
141 - Tony Miele (K) dec. Barry Thrush (M), 5-2 KC 6-3
149 - Craig Gin (M) dec. Frankie Davis (K), 6-2 Tie 6-6
157 - Mike Bressler (M) dec. Taylor Green (K), 5-0 MC 9-6
165 - John Milner (M) pinned Ryan Trees (K), 5:12 MC 15-6
174 - Mike Reilly (K) major dec. David Jones (M), 13-4 MC 15-10
184 - Matt McHugh (M) dec. Zach Martinez (K), 8-4 MC 18-10
197 - Zack Wilkinson (K) dec. Dando Speers (M), 8-5 MC 18-13
285 - Justin Bender (K) major dec. Tim Hopkins (M), 9-1 MC 18-17

Referee: Brooke Yeager