GRANTHAM, PA – Several members of the Wilkes University wrestling team competed at the Messiah Open on Saturday afternoon.
 
Justin Morel (Corona, NY/Mt. St. Michael Academy) and Dylan O'Connor (Somerset, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) were among two of the Colonel place winners at the event.
 
Morel finished in sixth place in the 174-pound bracket at the invitational. He began the day with a pin of Andrew Fernandez of Rutgers following an opening round bye. Morel fell in the quarterfinals to Columbia's Donald Donnelly by major decision 13-2. From there he earned a 7-4 decision over Ryan Farber of Penn before another 9-6 decision over Ryan Doyle of York (Pa.) to reach the consolation semifinals. There Morel fell 17-0 to Maryland's Kyle Jasenski. He finished the event with a medical forfeit in the fifth place bout.
 
O'Connor took home eighth place at 133-pounds. After a bye to start the day, O'Connor won 8-6 over Alex Hin of York (Pa.) before falling in a thrilling 3-1 tie-breaker decision against Anthony Rua of TCNJ in the quarterfinals. He finished the day with an 18-8 major decision in the consolations before settling for eighth place