Grantham, Pa. (Dec. 7, 2024) - Alvernia University Men's Wrestling took third place overall and three wrestlers earned first place in their respective weight classes on Saturday on the final day of the Messiah University Petrofes Invitational. 

Matthew Lackman (165 lbs), Nathan Lackman (174 lbs), and Isaac Kassis (197 lbs) each took first place for Alvernia. Nathan Lackman was also named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Keito Shaw (125 lbs) and Jason Rezac (157 lbs) took second place, and Ryan LePore (165 lbs) took third.

Matthew Lackman, who is the top-ranked 165 lb wrestler in the country, started his day with an 18-0 tech fall over Saint Vincent's Chase Brandebura to secure a spot in the first place match. Lackman then won his weight class with a 2-1 decision over Messiah's Keegan Demarest, who is ranked 14th in the nation. 

Nathan Lackman, who is ranked second in the nation at 174 lbs, began his day with a 19-4 technical fall over Lycoming's Nolen Zeigler. Lackman then took the title with an 11-2 major decision over Messiah's Austin Brass.

Isaac Kassis  took the semifinal 13-6 over Muhlenberg's Paul Parise to secure a trip in the title bout. Kassis then won by an 8-2 decision in the first place bout over Messiah's Sawyer Deresynski.

Keito Shaw, who is ranked 13th in the nation, started Saturday with a 7-5 decision over Lycoming's Kaden Majcher, the 14th ranked 125 lb wrestler in the country. Shaw then lost in the title bout in an 11-1 major decision to Mason Barret - the 3rd ranked 125 lb wrestler.

Jason Rezac, who is ranked ninth at 157 lbs, secured a trip to the title bout with a 17-0 technical fall over Messiah's Clay Gainer. But, Rezac was tech falled, 21-6, by #12 Aiden Smith out of Adrian.

Ryan Lepore was Alvernia's final top-three finisher on Saturday. LePore lost in the quarterfinal to close out Friday action and had to work his way out of the consolation bracket on Saturday. Lepore won via a technical fall in his first match of the day and pinned Alex Ballantyne out of King's to move into the consi semis. He then secured a place in the third place bout with a 14-7 decision over Saint Vincent's Brandebura. Lepore then took third place with a 7-3 decision over Gettysburg's Justin Richey.

Chance Babb (4th place, 157 lbs), Hayden McLellan (5th place, 184 lbs), Jimmy King (7th place, 133 lbs), Garrett Gehr (8th place, 141 lbs), and Brian Czaus (8th place, 285 lbs) also placed for Alvernia.

Springfield College took the team title with 180 points. Messiah took second with 176 points, and Alvernia was third with 173.5 points. 

Alvernia has off this coming week for finals and will be back in action next Saturday at the King's College Quad Match. 

Full results from the  Petrofes Invitational can be found here.