Messiah College Falcons
Head Coach: Bryan Brunk
Years at School as head coach: 10th
Career Record at school: 94-90
Assistant Coaches: Derek Ricker, Mike Bressler, Dom Commodore, Craig Hogan
Facebook: Messiah College Wrestling
2011-2012 Dual Meet Record: 16-6
2011-2012 National Qualifiers and All-Americans: Matt Cross (5th- 174) and Tim Stewart (6th- 184)
Top returning starters:
Kaleb Loht- 2012 D3 All Freshman team, 3rd Empire Conference, 38-6 record
Ricardo Plummer- 2011 and 2012- 2nd Empire Conference, 2012- 27-11 record
Travis Ebersole- 4th Empire Conference
Russell Jones- 4th Empire conference
Top incoming wrestlers:
Zach Snow- 133- Muhlenberg, PA- 4th SC region-AAA
Heath Strickland- 141/149- Muncy, PA- 4th NE region- AA
Jon Goodwin- 165- Hammond, MD- 2nd MD states
Josh Thomson- 184- Mechanicsburg, PA- 4th PA states-AAA
Jason Wright- 197/285- Mt.Ridge, MD- 2X State Champ, NHSCA Senior Nationals- 8th place
Luke Weaver- 285- Mechanicsburg, PA- 4th SC region- AAA
Season outlook:
Messiah is coming off a season with multiple All-Americans for the first time since 2000, but both Matt Cross and Tim Stewart have moved on from a lineup that graduated six starters from last year. Returning to lead the team are All-Freshman team member Kaleb Loht and 2x Empire Conference runner-up Ricardo Plummer. Each will be favored to make the trip to Cedar Rapids this March. Among the newcomers, the highlights are Josh Thomson, a PA 4th place finisher and Jason Wright, a 2x Maryland champ and NHSCA Senior national placewinner. They will be in contention for spots in the upperweights. Some of the other spots will be filled by first time starters who have had success in past seasons in tournaments and filling in the starting lineup.
Messiah is off to a good start. They have disciplined wrestlers! A staff that brings the best out of them!
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