GRANTHAM, Pa.- The Wilkes University wrestling team finished day one action at the Messiah Petrofes Invitational hosted by Messiah College on Friday.

At 125-poinds, Michael Fleck (Easton, PA/Wilson Area) advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Trent Gill of Mount Union in the second round on a technical fall 15-0, and another technical fall of Marshall Myers of Messiah in the third round. Fleck will face Lenny Ogozalek of Gettysburg tomorrow.

At 141 Thomas Stokes (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) advanced to the quarterfinals by pinning Kevin Swaney of Mount Union at 6:45 in the second round and getting a decision on Joshua Decatur of Baldwin Wallace 3-2. Stokes will face Christian Hoogheem of Ursinus in the quarterfinals. Pankil Chander (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence) advanced to the third round before he was defeated by decision 4-2 by Ryan Wilson of Stevens Tech. He advanced in the consolation bracket to the fifth round by decision against Zach Taylor of Baldwin Wallace, 8-3. He will face Lee Cassel tomorrow.

At 149 Robert Hawkins (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Coughlin) advanced to the quarterfinals before Zach Wilhelm of Stevens Tech defeated him by technical fall 17-0. Hawkins defeated Evan Francis of Baldwin Wallace in the consolation bracket with a pin at 1:47 and will face Alex Funderburg of Mount Union tomorrow.

At 157 Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Josh Toal of Messiah in the first round by major decision 12-0. In the second round, Racanelli defeated Brandon Gallagher of Gettysburg by technical fall 22-4, and defeated Jesse Gross of Mount Union by decision 7-4 in the third round. Racanelli will face Derek Arnold of Ursinus tomorrow. James Palys (Scotrun, PA/Pocono Mountain East) advanced to the third round before Thomas Poklikua defeated him by a decision 6-1. Palys then defeated Grant Rathburn of Baldwin Wallace by major decision 8-0. Palys will face Graham Montague tomorrow.

At 184 Kyle Diesel (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) advanced to the semifinals by defeating Tyler Siefke of Mount Union in the second round by major decision 10-2 and then defeated Jeremy Bailes of Messiah by technical fall 16-0. Diesel will face Ben Swarr of Messiah in the semifinals tomorrow.

At 197 Nicholas Dawson (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville) advanced to the semifinals by defeating Brandon Williams of Springfield in the second round 2-1 in double overtime, and then defeated Nick Hanever of Messiah 3-1 in double overtime in the third round. Dawson will face Tyler Maclellan of Baldwin Wallace in the semifinal. Zachary Faust (Wilkes-Barre, PA/G.A.R. Memorial) lost his first round match to Jake Pooton of McDaniel by a 5-3 decision, but then won three matches in the consolation bracket where he will face Messiah's Hanever tomorrow.

Day two wrestling begins at 9 a.m. Saturday.