GRANTHAM, PA – The Johns Hopkins wrestling team opened the 2018-19 season at the Messiah Invitational on Saturday.  The Blue Jays totaled 41 points to place eighth in the final team standings.  Gettysburg (110.5 points) claimed the team title with Messiah (97), Wheaton (83), Ursinus (59.5) and McDaniel (59) rounding out the top five.
 
Cavallo Second at 133:  Senior Ricky Cavallo was the top finisher for the Blue Jays as he placed second at 133 pounds.  Cavallo opened with a 17-1 technical fall victory over Messiah Brooks Robinson, needed just 90 seconds to pin Kyle Seibert of Ursinus in the quarterfinals and edged Wheaton's Ethan Hartead, 5-4, in the semifinals.  Cavallo fell to McDaniel's Ryker Eckenbarger in the final by injury default midway through the first period.
 
Morales Third at 197:  Senior Isaac Morales was up a weight at 197 for the day, but still posted a 4-1 record to place third.  He opened with a 5-4 win over Liberty's J osiah Murphy and topped Nick Savin of Elizabethtown, 5-1, in the quarterfinals.  After being bumped to the consolation bracket with a loss to eventual runnerup Max Gierke of Wheaton, he edged Charlie Wildermuth of Ursinus, 1-0, in the consolation semifinals and beat Gettysburg's Mike Iodice, 5-1, to grab his third-place finish.
 
Points From Everyone:  The Blue Jays had multiple entries in several weight classes, although only the top scorer in each weight class counted.  Still, the Blue Jays got at least one win from all 13 of their entries today.  Other notables included:
 
Dane Morgan (165) – Morgan had a bye into the quarterfinals and pinned Gettysburg's Efrain De Leon in 93 seonds to advance to the quarterfinals.  He finished 2-2 n the day with his other win coming by major decision.
 
Henri Behaeghel (285) – Sophomore Henri Behaeghel went 2-2 on the day with one of his two wins coming by fall and one of his two losses to the eventual runner-up.
 
Freshmen Paul, Lamontagne Win Twice – Freshmen Joe Paul (149) and Bradlee Lamontagne (157) also went 2-2 on the day.  Both picked up one bonus-point win on the day with Paul scoring a major decision and Lamontagne grabbing the first pin of his career.
 
Johns Hopkins will return to the mat on Saturday, November 10 when the Blue Jays participate in the Ursinus Fall Brawl.