GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah wrestling team hosted a new event on Saturday, bringing the Chocolate Duals to Hithcock Arena for the first time. Last year, Messiah hosted the event in Hershey, Pa., but this season the Falcons hosted a busy day of duals on campus. On the day, Messiah went 1-2, but that record does not indicate the quality of wrestling the Falcons produced on Saturday. Messiah started their day with an exciting, 19-18 victory over McDaniel with Hayden Benner earning an overtime victory to clinch the match at heavyweight. After that, the Falcons went toe-to-toe with Ithaca and Millikin, dropping duals by scores of 30-15 and 26-17, respectively.
 
It was a quality showing for the Falcons, who will now head into the Christmas Break before picking things back up on Jan. 6 against the Gettysburg Bullets on the road for a dual at 7:30 p.m.
 
Messiah defeats McDaniel – 19-18
The Falcons opened their day with the most exciting dual of the whole event, taking on the McDaniel Green Terror. It was a back-and-forth battle throughout. The Green Terror struck the first blow with a pin at 125 lbs., but Messiah responded with a Bryce Arnold decision at 133 lbs. and an Asa Brunk major decision (15-3) at 141 lbs. Those two victories, gave Messiah a 7-6 lead after three matches.
 
After McDaniel took the lead back with a decision at 149 lbs., Messiah's Garret Cornell picked up a third-period fall over Xavier Howard to pull the Falcons back in front at 13-9.
 
A pair of decisions at 165 and 174 lbs. both went in favor of the Green Terror, but Ryder Slayton earned a 9-2 decision at 184 lbs. to give Messiah the lead at 16-15. After McDaniel's Jaedyn Harris earned a decision at 197 lbs., Messiah needed a victory in the final bout at heavyweight to earn the dual victory. They did just that, but extra time was needed as Hayden Benner battled Austin Stewart. Benner picked up a second-period takedown and was relentless on the attack late in the match. The result was a stalling call in extra time that gave Benner the 3-2 decision and the Falcons a 19-18 win in the dual.
 
Ithaca defeats Messiah – 30-15
In their second match of the day, Messiah fell 30-15 against the Ithaca Bombers. Messiah earned six points with a forfeit at 125 lbs. The rest of the match was highlighted with decisions from Asa Brunk (141 lbs.), John Sumner (174 lbs.), and Ryder Slayton (184 lbs.).
 
Ithaca earned three falls, a tech fall, and a major decision en route to the victory.
 
Millikin defeats Messiah – 26-17
The Falcons fell into an early 19-0 hole with Millikin starting the match with a pair of tech falls, a pin, and a decision. The Falcons rallied back, winning four-straight matches to pull within two at 19-17.
 
Garret Cornell sparked the charge with a first-period fall of Nate Dampier in 2:32 at 157 lbs. Zach Needles continued the positive momentum with a 9-5 decision at 165 lbs. John Sumner and Ryder Slayton both picked up major decision with Sumner earning a 14-6 victory at 174 lbs. and Slayton a 9-1 victory at 184 lbs.
 
The momentum came to a halt with Millikin picking up a major decision at 197 lbs. before capping off the match with a fall at 285 lbs. The result was a 26-17 victory for Millikin in the dual.
 
On the day, Ryder Slayton went 3-0 for the Falcons while Garret Cornell earned a pair of falls.

Messiah defeats McDaniel – 19-18
    125 - Alex DuFour (McD) pins (1:22) Caiden Heller (Mess)
    133 – Bryce Arnold (Mess) dec. (7-6) over Romeo Tsai (McD)
    141 – Asa Brunk (Mess) maj. dec. (15-3) over Joe McKneely (McD)
    149 – Thomas Monn (McD) dec. (5-0) over Noah Rice (Mess)
    157 – Garret Cornell (Mess) pins (6:01) Xavier Howard (McD)
    165 – Alex LaVeck (McD) dec. (3-0) over Zach Needles (Mess)
    174 – Michael Bromley (McD) dec. (8-3) over John Sumner (Mess)
    184 – Ryder Slayton (Mess) dec. (9-2) over Yoann Olympio (McD)
    197 – Jaedyn Harris (McD) dec. (3-1) over Joe Embleton (Mess)
    285 – Hayden Benner (Mess) dec. (3-2 SV) over Austin Stewart (McD)

Ithaca defeats Messiah – 30-15
    125 – Caiden Heller (Mess) wins by for.
    133 – Isaias Torres (I) tech fall (19-2) over Bryce Arnold (Mess)
    141 – Asa Brunk (Mess) dec. (5-4) over Luis Hernandez (I)
    149 – Matthew Beyer (I) dec. (5-2) over Noah Rice (Mess)
    157 – Travis Jones (I) pins (6:07) Garret Cornell (Mess)
    165 – Jackson Gray (I) maj. dec. (17-5) over Zach Needles (Mess)
    174 – John Sumner (Mess) dec. (7-5) over Konrad Parker (I)
    184 – Ryder Slayton (Mess) dec. (7-1) over Ryan Galka (I)
    197 - Eze Chukwuezi (I) pins (6:07) Joe Embleton (Mess)
    285 - Nicolas Galka (I) pins (3:46) Christian Conner (Mess)

Millikin defeats Messiah – 26-17
    125 – Zac Blasioli (Mill) tech fall (16-0) over Caiden Heller (Mess)
    133 – Coby Haney (Mill) tech fall (18-1 over Bryce Arnold (Mess)
    141 – Jordan Carson (Mill) pins (2:15) Asa Brunk (Mess)
    149 – Peter McCusker (Mill) dec. (5-2) over Noah Rice (Mess)
    157 – Garret Cornell (Mess) pins (2:32) Nate Dampier (Mill)
    165 – Zach Needles (Mess) dec. (9-5) over Dejon Glaster (Mill)
    174 – John Sumner (Mess) maj. dec. (14-6) over Nick White (Mill)
    184 – Ryder Slayton (Mess) maj. dec. (9-1) over Caden Owens (Mill)
    197 – Cade Scott (Mill) maj. dec. (14-4) over Joe Embleton (Mess)
    285 – Leno Campbell (Mill) dec. (5-3) over Hayden Benner (Mess)

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