Posted: Nov 19, 2021

Golden Bears Clipped by Messiah University 25-19 on Alumni Appreciation Night

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 19, 2021) – The Western New England men's wrestling team fought until the end having won two out of the first three matches, though saw Messiah take the all-important 285-pound match, knocking off the Golden Bears 25-19 Friday night from the Alumni Healthful Living Center.

How it Happened:

Both teams opened at the 125-pound weight class as Nick Faraci met Messiah's Hunter Rinehart. Rinehart was able to get a takedown from the start and came away with four quick points. Faraci got back to his feet, though was only able to collect one point in the match, falling to Rinehart, giving Messiah the first five points of the match.

Western New England quickly came back in the 133-pound weight class match when Nick Arborio was able to take down Dalton Daugherty to give WNE their first six points of the match to take a 6-5 lead on the Falcons. For Arbrio, he was able to get points on a takedown early in the match as well as late in the first period before Daugherty was unable to continue to compete, resulting in a victory for the Golden Bears, their first of the night. Western New England would come back in the third match of the night in the 141-pound weight class when Colby Reilly was able to get the 7-4 decision win over Messiah's Asa Brunk. Reilly got a quick two-point takedown early in the first period. To start the second period, Reilly would get another takedown after WNE started on bottom. Period three got closer as Brunk was able to get a takedown, though Reilly got back to his feet adding an additional point before the clock expired, giving Reilly and the Golden Bears the victory, putting them up 9-5 overall.

Cameron Hines competed in the 149-pound weight class match and saw himself down 4-1 early as he was taken down twice but was able to rebound by getting back to his feet. Hines completed a takedown in the second round with the clock winding down, though Messiah's Jake Coniglio was able to get the fall at the buzzer in the second round to give Messiah the victory in the weight class. The Falcons would take a 11-9 lead heading into the 157-pound weight class match.

Lucas Pinzino was able to capture a major decision victory after taking down Joshua Paige 12-2. Pinzino got a quick take down in the first round, followed by two additional points after the takedown to go up 4-0. In period three, Pinzino would get two additional takedowns before the major decision was given, putting Western New England ahead in the match. Sean Monteiro competed in the 165-pound match, falling in a technical fall decision.

The Golden Bears would see Christian Glaropoulos go down quickly 2-0 after a takedown but he would find a way to get back to his feet to receive a point in the first period. Glaropoulos would earn a takedown of his own in the third period, followed by an additional four points on the mat to win by a decision of 8-2, tying the match at 16. Cory Grifka would be counted out in a 4-2 decision to give Ryder Slaton the 184-pound match win for Messiah. The Golden Bears would get a victory in the 197-pound match when Darby McLaughlin was able to get two take downs in the first period, followed by an additional one in the second period. The match would stay close as McLaughlin and his opponent, Chris Cratsley from Messiah would go toe to toe before McLaughlin would seal the match with a late takedown to give the Golden Bears the victory in the 197-pound match, evening the score at 19-19.

In the 285-pound match, Spencer Dickinson would be taken down by Carter Urich of Messiah University, and the fall would be called at 1:26 of the first period to give Messiah the 25-19 team win.

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