GRANTHAM, PA (December 6, 2024) -- The King's College wrestling team competed in day one of the annual Messiah Petrofes Invitational on Friday afternoon in the Hitchcock Arena. The Monarchs brought some new faces to the tournament and witnessed Alex Ballantyne move on to day two as he is currently at eighth place in the 165 bracket. 
 
Angel Avalos – 141
Avalos wrestled in the prelims in his first time at the Messiah Petrofes Invitational. The California native was defeated by Owen Menendez of Bridgewater State in a 0:51 pinfall. Avalos lost his second bout in a 14-1 major decision against Averett's Wyatt Parker.
 
Brian Hopkins – 149
Hopkins was defeated in his first bout of the afternoon to Luke Temple of Springfield College in 1:44. The sophomore fell to Averett's Carter Shupert in 0:42 to end the day on the mats.
 
Isaiah Camacho – 157
Camacho battled Saint Vincent's Connor Bauerline through three periods but was downed in a 12-8 decision. The first year came roaring back in his second matchup with a win over Olen Moshier of Adrian in a 14-7 decision. Camacho lost his last bout of the afternoon against Shenandoah's Bryan Mpengo by an 8-0 major decision.
 
MJ Turi – 157
Turi returns to the invitational after having a podium finish in the previous year. The sophomore dropped Daiveon Barlow of Shenandoah in 3:25. Turi maintained his momentum in the second round with a 17-0 technical fall victory over Adrian's Olen Moshier. The Scranton native had a hard-fought battle in the quarterfinals but lost to Messiah's Clay Gainer in overtime 4-1. Turi was defeated in the fourth round of the consolation bracket to Lucien Perla of Springfield in a 0:53 pinfall.
 
Jordan Bentley – 165
Bentley came in hot with a 17-2 technical fall win in his first bout against Hunter Logan of Bridgewater State. The first year lost was pinned in the second round of the championship bracket by Springfield's Matthew Duquette in 4:39. Bentley fell to Muhlenberg's Logan Hurwitt in 1:33.
 
Alex Ballantyne – 165
Ballantyne was defeated in his first matchup of the afternoon by Gettysburg's Justin Richey in a 19-3 technical. The junior won his next battle in a 14-1 major decision over Hunter Logan of Bridgewater State. Ballantyne began to stampede through the consolation bracket as he gained a decision win over Lycoming's Wyatt Frawley and a medical forfeit against Zachary Platte of Adrian in the fourth round.
 
Nick Costello – 174
Costello was defeated by Messiah's Austin Brass in a 17-2 technical fall. The sophomore came right back and pinned Shane Trattner of Muhlenberg in 2:44. Costello dropped Averett's Tyler-Nicholas Ritz in 1:41 and pinned Kobe Moore of Gettysburg in 1:01. He lost his last bout to Springfield's Nick Rogers in 2:05.
 
Nick Valenzano – 285
Valenzano was pinned by Misericordia's Aiden Hidlay in 4:57. The junior returned the favor to Tyler Carter of Alvernia with a 1:24 pin in the first round of the consolation bracket. Valenzano celebrated a 2-1 decision victory against Greensboro's Amarion Wilson. He fell in round three to Lycoming's Michael Sipps in 4:08.
 
Preston Spontarelli – 285
Spontarelli pinned Tayemar Gravely-Hodge of Greensboro in 2:20. The first year lost in a 18-3 decision to Springfield's Benjamin Katz. Spontarelli fell to Peyton Wentzel of Thaddeus Stevens in a 5-4 decision.
 
Ryan Tran – 285
Tran won his first match of the afternoon by pinfall against Chad Honeywell of Thaddeus Stevens in 2:29. The Whitehall native was defeated by Lycoming's Robbie West in 1:26. Tran was pinned by Michael Sipps of Lycoming in 1:52.
 
King's will return to Grantham, PA at 9 a.m. for day two of the Messiah Petrofes Invitational as Ballantyne will battle for a podium finish in the Hitchcock Arena.