GRANTHAM, Pa. – Elizabethtown College wrestling finished the regular season portion of its schedule, falling to No. 17 Messiah, 35-12, on the road Friday night.
 
With the loss, the Blue Jays finish the season 3-3 overall, while the Falcons improve to 16-5 on the season.
 
Sophomore Austin Jones jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first round, including a big takedown for two points, and battled his way to the 11-8 decision at 125 pounds against national qualifier Sean Redington, giving the early 3-0 advantage to Elizabethtown.
 
Messiah racked up bonus points at the next three weight classes however, scoring a tech. fall at 133 and then pins at 141 and 149 to take a 17-3 lead.
 
Freshman Brian Schneider was not able to find a win at 157, but fought hard against two-time national qualifier, senior Stephen Maloney, falling by a final score of 5-0.
 
Messiah increased its advantage to 32 (35-3) over the next three weight classes, before freshman Tyler Phenegar secured the first bonus points of the day for the Blue Jays, securing the fall over Joseph Embleton.
 
To end the night, freshman Keegan McCord shutout Carter Urich (6-0) for his 20^th win of the season, but the Falcons completed its 16^th win of the season, 35-12.
 
Elizabethtown returns to action at the end of the month as they compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional hosted by Ithaca. The two-day event will begin on Saturday, Feb. 29.
 
No. 17 Messiah defeats Elizabethtown - 35-12
125 - Austin Jones (Elizabethtown) decision (11-9) over Sean Redington (Messiah)
133 - Josiah Gehr (Messiah) technical fall (17-2) over Josh McLaughlin (Elizabethtown)
141 - Garret Cornell (Messiah) fall (3:39) over Colton Rex (Elizabethtown)
149 - Nick Barnhart (Messiah) fall (5:27) over Josh Paisley (Elizabethtown)
157 - Stephen Maloney (Messiah) decision (5-0) over Brian Schneider (Elizabethtown)
165 - Matt Pangle (Messiah) decision (9-2) over Kyle Bythell (Elizabethtown)
174 - Brian Shermeyer (Messiah) fall (3:26) over Hunter Beaudet (Elizabethtown)
184 - David Stevens (Messiah) wins by forfeit
197 - Tyler Phenegar (Elizabethtown) fall (1:34) over Joeseph Embleton (Messiah)
285 - Keegan McCord (Elizabethtown) decision (6-0) over Carter Urich (Messiah)