GRANTHAM, PA – The No. 22 Wilkes University wrestling team finished in fourth place of 13 teams at the Messiah Petrofes Invitational on Saturday afternoon hosted by Messiah College.
 
The Colonels finished with 111 team points for the fourth spot. Host Messiah claimed the team title with 186.5 team points while Stevens finished second with 133 points and Mount Union third with 116.5 total points.
 
Thomas Stokes (Bensalem, PA/Bensalem) enjoyed the finest outing of his career capturing the 141-pound championship on way to being named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament. Stokes beat two nationally ranked wrestlers on way to the title. He posted a 3-2 decision over No. 4 Joshua Decatur of Baldwin Wallace in the quarterfinals before claiming a 4-1 decision in his semifinal bout. In the finals, Stokes took a 5-3 decision over No. 3 Jeremy Border of Mount Union to capture the crown.
 
At 125, Michael Fleck (Easton, PA/Wilson Area) cruised to the finals after posting a 4-3 win in his semifinal match setting up a bout of nationally ranked wrestlers in the title. Fleck fell 11-4 to No. 1 Lucas Malmberg of Messiah in the finals to settle for second place.
 
At 197, Nicholas Dawson (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville) moved into the finals with a 9-7 overtime win over Tyler Madellan of Baldwin Wallace in the semifinals. In the final bout, Dawson was pinned by No. 9 Kyle Koser of Messiah settling for second place in the bracket.
 
Pankil Chander (Cedarhurst, NY/Lawrence) finished fourth at 141 to claim Wilkes' second top four finisher in the weight class. Chander posted a 7-3 decision to reach the third place bout before falling 8-4 to settle for fourth.
 
Josh Evans (Palmerton, PA/Palmerton) took home third place at 149-pounds using a 4-2 double overtime win over Seth McCurdy of Mount Union in the third place bout. Robert Hawkins (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Coughlin) was the second Colonel to finish in the top seven at 149 claiming seventh place after a 11-7 decision in the seventh place bout.
 
At 157, Nicholas Racanelli (West Creek, NJ/Southern Regional) was the lone place winner for Wilkes taking fourth after falling 11-4 in the third place bout. Racanelli wrestled back through the consolation bracket after losing in the semifinals  to eventual champion No. 4 Derek Arnold of Ursinus.
 
Kyle Diesel (Westtown, NY/Minisink Valley) finished third at 184 cruising to a 17-0 technical fall in the third place bout. Diesel reached the semifinals before wrestling back to settle for third place.
 
Wilkes returns to the mat next Saturday competing at the McDaniel College quad match starting at 11:00 a.m.