Results
GRANTHAM, Pa. – Senior
Colin Devlin (Dresher, Pa./Upper Dublin) and junior
Sean Thompson (Plainsboro, N.J./West Windsor-South Plainsboro) each won three bouts to reach the semifinals on the opening day of the Petrofes Invitational hosted by Messiah College.
Team Standings (19 Total Teams)
1. #6 Mount Union, 124.5
2. #17 Messiah, 112.5
3. Muhlenberg, 87.0
4. Springfield, 72.0
5. McDaniel, 70.0
6. Waynesburg, 68.5
7. Gettysburg, 58.5
Top Performers
- Colin Devlin '20 – 3-0, 2 Falls, Decision
- Sean Thompson '21 – 3-0, 2 Falls, Major Decision
- Ray Martin '22 (Downingtown, Pa./Henderson) – 3-1, Pin, Major Decision
- Marc Larson '21 (Warren, N.J./Watchung Hills) – 4-1, 2 Falls, Major Decision
- Brendan Loder '23 (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) – 3-2, Fall, Technical Fall, Decision
Match Highlights
- Thompson posted a third-period pin (6:07) and a major decision (11-0) in his first two bouts at 141. In the quarterfinals, he took Isaiah Fosque from McDaniel to the mat for a fall at 4:13. The Gettysburg junior will square off with Muhlenberg's Gregory Baum, who upset top-ranked Jordin James from Mount Union in the quarterfinals, in Saturday's semifinals.
- Devlin improved to 17-1 this season with three victories at 149. He tacked on a pair of pins in his opening two matches to raise his team-leading total to eight this season. He pulled out a 12-8 decision over Jake Visintine form Mount Union to reach the semifinals, where he'll meet Michael Heinl from Washington and Jefferson. The two grapplers last met in the third-place match at the 2019 NCAA Division III Southeast Regional with Heinl coming from behind for an 11-9 win.
- Martin earned a spot among the placewinners with three wins at 157 on Friday. The sophomore won each of his first two matches by fall, including a pin of Deontae Frederick from McDaniel with 10 seconds left in the second round. Martin suffered a loss in the quarterfinals, but he bounced back for a 12-7 win over George Glaropoulos from Springfield to reach the consolation quarterfinals.
- Larson did most of his heavy lifting in the consolation bracket at 165. He won his opening bout by major decision (16-5) before getting pinned in match number two. He recovered to lay down two pins of his own and secured a berth in the placement matches with a medical forfeit.
- Freshman Eric Mougalian (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) won his first two matches to earn a trip to the quarterfinals at 149. He held on for a 2-1 win over Justin Rayner from Mount Union before a second-period fall in his second match. After getting knocked out of the championship bracket with an 8-3 loss to Messiah's Nick Nunez, Mougalian's day ended with a major decision loss.
- Loder fell one win shy of a spot in the placement matches after going 3-2 at 184 pounds. He won his opening match 13-6 and lost his second by fall. The Gettysburg first-year recovered with a 27-10 technical fall before notching a pin with eight seconds left against Edgardo Caraballo from Thaddeus Stevens. Loder dropped his final bout to Ryan Errico by major decision.
By the Numbers
- Gettysburg is in the running for a Petrofes individual champion for the fourth time in five seasons. Prior to 2015, the Bullets hadn't won an individual Petrofes title since 1997 when the event was hosted by Lebanon Valley.
- Devlin sits just three wins shy of becoming the seventh Bullet with 100 career wins. His two pins on Saturday also pushed him past Matt Shank '08 for third on Gettysburg's career list with 36. Devlin is one fall shy of former teammate Lenny Ogozalek '18 for second.
- Loder finished third with 43 total match points on the opening day. The first-year grappler has posted a team-high five technical falls this campaign.
- Fourteen Bullets scored at least one victory on Friday.
Next Up
The final day of the Petrofes Invitational kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
