GRANTHAM, Pa. – Senior Ray Martin (Downingtown, Pa./West Chester Henderson) posted his eighth pin of the season as Gettysburg College dropped a 33-13 non-conference decision at Messiah University on Friday night.
 
Messiah 33, Gettysburg 13

• 125: Hunter Rinehart (M) pinned Bobby Crofford (G), 2:47 (6-0)
• 133: Luke Kowalski (G) maj. dec. Jordan Howard (M), 9-1 (6-4)
• 141: Asa Brunk (M) pinned Jake Stein (G), 5:30 (12-4)
• 149: #8 Josiah Gehr (M) maj. dec. Eric Mougalian (G), 13-1 (16-4)
• 157: #4 Nick Barnhart (M) tech fall David Bancroft Jr. (G), 18-3 (21-4)
• 165: Ray Martin (G) pinned Hunter Zacerous (M), 2:52 (21-10)
• 174: John Sumner (M) dec. Russell Canova (G), 5-1 (24-10)
• 184: Ryder Slayton (M) dec. Kelvin Angelo Cupay (G), 4-1 (27-10)
• 197: Brendan Loder (G) dec. Joe Embleton (M), 7-3 (27-13)
• 285: Carter Urich (M) pinned Antoni Esquivias (G), 2:03 (33-13)

 
Exhibitions

• 141: Asa Brunk (M) dec. Julian Amadio (G), 5-2
• 141: Payton Jackson (M) tech. fall Anthony Cascio (G), 16-0 (3:23)
• 149: Jake Dressler (G) dec. Ike Bryner (M), 13-11

 
Match Highlights

• Sophomore Luke Kowalski (Derwood, Md./Saint John's College) turned in Gettysburg's first win with a 9-1 major decision over Jordan Howard at 133. Kowalski did most of his damage in the first period, notching a takedown 13 seconds into the match and tacking on four more points with a near-fall. After an escape by Howard, Kowalski took down the Messiah grappler again for an 8-0 lead. The Gettysburg sophomore added an escape point in the third period to earn his team-best sixth major decision of the season.
• Martin ran through Hunter Zacerous at 165 pounds. The Gettysburg senior earned a takedown in the first minute and worked his way for back points with a minute to go. Martin turned his opponent's shoulders to the mat and scored the pin with only eight seconds left in the first period.
• Gettysburg dropped a pair of close decisions at 174 and 184 before junior Brendan Loder (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) scored a 7-3 win at 197. After a scoreless opening frame, Loder produced a reversal out of the bottom position for the first points of the match against Joe Embleton. The Messiah grappler managed an escape, but Loder ended the second period with a takedown to jump ahead 4-1. The two wrestlers each scored two points in the final period and Loder secured the riding time point to close the scoring.

 
By the Numbers

• Gettysburg dropped to 0-3 this season, while Messiah moved to 6-6.
• Martin improved to 18-5 with his eight pins putting him three ahead of anyone else on the roster. The fall also pushed Martin into fifth on Gettysburg's career list with 32, sliding ahead of 1998 grad Jamie Binnall.
• Kowalski upped his season record to 17-4 and improved to 4-0 against wrestlers from Messiah.
• Loder has won six of his last seven matches at 197 pounds. The junior improved to 11-8 on the season.

 
The Series
Messiah improved to 26-14 all-time against Gettysburg. The Falcons have won the last 13 meetings with the Bullets.

Next Up
Gettysburg will make its home debut against Ursinus College and Washington & Lee University this Saturday at noon. McDaniel will also be on hand to wrestle the Bears and Generals. Spectators are not permitted inside Bream Gym at this time. All the matches will be streamed live at https://www.centennialconference.tv/gettysburgbullets/.