GRANTHAM, PA (DECEMBER 1, 2023) -- The King's College wrestling team traveled to Hitchcock Arena for the Messiah Petrofes Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Monarchs witnessed five members within the top eight in their respective weight classes.

Nick Germano – 141
Germano won his first match of the afternoon with an 8-0 major decision over Jackson Higgins of Averett. The sophomore then took a 19-4 technical fall to Greensboro's Josh Wilson. Germano came back with vengeance as he gained a 12-7 decision against Justin Musmanno of Gettysburg. The Monarch lost his last match by a 12-1 major decision to Shenandoah's Hunter Ballantine.

Hugh Bittenbender – 141
Bittenbender came out strong in his first performance on the mat with an 18-1 technical fall over Benjamin Hankinson of Bridgewater State. In the second matchup of the afternoon, Springfield's Luke Temple pinned him. Bittenbender had two technical falls against two members of Southern Virgina, Sawyer Ferry (17-2) and Weston Hirschi (17-1). The sophomore ended day one on a high note with a 12-7 decision over Averett's Mauricio Reyes. Bittenbender is currently in eighth place.
 
Shane Kibler – 149
Kibler won his first bout against Springfield's Mason Preble in a 17-2 technical fall. He fell in the second round to Dalton Monger of Messiah. Kibler bounced back with a huge 20-4 technical fall against Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opponent Jared Mangiafico of Alvernia. The regionally ranked sophomore took an 18-5 major decision over Jacob Cunningham of Messiah. In Kibler's last match of the day he won in a 14-6 major decision against Alvernia's Aiden Swann. He is currently sitting in eighth place.
 
MJ Turi – 149
Turi is in eighth place on day one of the Messiah Petrofes Invitational. He swept his first matchup with a 15-0 technical fall over Averett's Alex Driggs. The first year won in sudden victory over Southern Virgina's Elijah Blackwell. In the quarterfinal, the Monarch lost in a nail biting 4-3 decision to Noah Rice of Messiah. Turi took a tiebreaker win over Camerin Deville of Messiah.
 
Bret Murphy – 157
Murphy pinned Jariel Inoa of Bridgewater State in 1:25. He would then fall to Messiah's Garret Cornell, but the junior came roaring back with a 11-0 major decision over Mikey Hollar of Messiah. Murphy lost his last bout in a 21-7 major decision against Greensboro's Ethan Kring.

Xavian Ramos – 165
Ramos lost in a 5-2 decision against Mount Union's Evan Brickman. The sophomore made Levi Dehart of Averett fall in 2:11. Shenandoah's Jalen Cornelius pinned Ramos.

Alex Ballantyne – 165
Ballentyne received a first-round bye for King's. The sophomore fell in both of his matches to Mount Union's Blake Kaminski and Nicholas Menjivar of Greensboro.

Alex Martinez – 174
Martinez fell to Austin Brass of Messiah. The sophomore was defeated by Greensboro of Deven Ashley in a pinfall.

Nick Costello – 174
Costello received a first-round bye and lost his first match by a 5-2 decision against Muhlenberg's Aiden Weingrad. The first year earned his first pin as a Monarch in 0:33 over Shemar Armor of Bridgewater State. In his last battle, Costello fell to Southern Virginia's Tyson Hoopes.

Connor Wrobleski – 184
Wrobleski won by a 17-2 technical over Bridgewater State's James Grover. The regionally ranked sophomore had another technical fall win against Landon Gingo of Mount Union 17-1. In the quarterfinal, Wrobleski dropped to Messiah's Ryder Slayton. He is representing King's at eighth place.

Jacob Hachtmann – 197
Hatchmann pinned Robert Keener of Shenandoah in 1:26. The first year fell to Gettysburg's Phil Nav. It was a battle of the Monarchs as Hatchmann defeated his teammate Josh Brown in a 21-5 technical fall. He won by a 14-5 major decision against Nick Blitz of Springfield.

Josh Brown – 197
Brown fell to Messiah's Sawyer Dereszynski. The first year dropped his bout to teammate Jacob Hachtmann in a 21-5 decision.

Richard Fronheiser – 197
Fronheiser received a first-round bye and lost in his first contest in a 10-8 decision to Deon Savage of Muhlenberg. The regionally ranked junior pinned Thaddeus Steven's Davian Waite in 4:30. Fronheiser outlasted Jaleel Jones of Averett in a 13-7 decision. He is sitting in eighth place on day one of the invitational.

Elijah Rivera – 197
Southern Virginia's Loyal Holm defeated Rivera. The first year fell to Jaleel Jones of Averett.

Nick Valenzano - 285/HWT
Valenzano stood victorious in his first contest with a 3:25 pin to Christian Conner of Messiah. He dropped his next match against Alvernia's Aiden Homan in a 6-1 decision. Valenzano won by a 3-0 decision to Thaddeus Steven's Chad Honeywell. The sophomore closed out the day with a win by pinfall over Bruce Clark of Bridgewater in 3:40.

The Monarchs will have a quick turnaround as they will battle with Bittenbender, Kibler, Turi, Wrobleski, and Fronheiser on day two of the Messiah Petrofes Invitational on Saturday, December 2^nd at 10:30 a.m. After finals week, the squad will have their first tri-meet of the season on Saturday, December 16^th starting at 10 a.m. to take on the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City and the Giants of Keystone.