Friday, Feb. 8 Elizabethtown College’s wrestling team competed against Messiah College in its last home meet and celebrated senior Dan Smith’s accomplishments. Etown lost 29-13.

Juniors Josh Paisley and Elijah Flasher and first-year Colton Shriner won their matches. Messiah had a large audience that cheered the team on as the players took the lead 11-0 through the beginning weight classes.

Sophomore Josh McLaughlin lost on a 7-1 decision at 125. Sophomore Austin Jones also fell to a 4-1 decision that gave Messiah six points to Etown’s zero. At 141, Nick Gonzalez took a tech fall at seven minutes.

Paisley won the 149 weight class in a decision of 10-1 giving Etown their first points; after the match the score was 11-4. The next two matches were won by Messiah by decisions. At 184, Shriner won with a tech fall against Messiah competitor Spencer Clements.

Flasher won with a major decision of 14-0 over Joe Embleton in the ninth match of the night. Shriner and Flasher came close to pin fall victories over their opponents.

The night ended with a pin on junior Max Rhoden and the final score was 29-13 with Messiah taking the win.

The Blue Jays will be traveling to the Mideast Regional Championships Saturday, Feb. 23- Sunday, Feb. 24.