MECHANICSBURG (Pa.) -- The Delaware Valley University men's wrestling team took the mat for the first time this season and defeated host Messiah College, 31-22, as it took 27 points over the final five matches to earn head coach Andrew Taylor his first collegiate victory. 

The Aggies (1-0) surrendered 12 points in the first two weight classes as the Falcons (0-2) won by forfeit. 

Russell Benson, a 2019 national qualifier, dominated his first match of the year and cruised to a 14-2 major decision over Trevor McGowan. 

Newcomers Zach Zuckerman and Mike Rubino dropped their matches by fall and major decision, respectively, and Messiah held a 22-4 lead. 

Junior Chris Richardson and Sophomore Youssef Ait Boulahri each won by falls in the second period at 165 and 174 pounds as they controlled their matches from the opening whistle and got their team 12 more points. 

Jake Nase took to the mat at 184 pounds and was down 4-2 after the first period after getting taken down twice. No points were scored in the second, and then Nase got a reversal to tie the match at 4-4 with 1:40 remaining. With less than 20 seconds on the clock, Nase got a take down and earned riding time to secure the 7-4 final. That decision drew the Aggies within three, 22-19. 

DelVal earned a win by forefeit at 197 to go ahead, 25-22.

In the final match of the day, first-year Dan Eckley got two quick takedowns before earning the win by fall in the first period to secure the 31-22 victory for the Aggies. 


DelVal 31, Messiah 22
125 - Payton Jackson (Messiah) by forfeit; 0-6
133 - Joshua Flores (Messiah) by forfeit; 0-12
141 - Russell Benson (DelVal) by maj. dec. Trevor McGowan, 14-2; 4-12
149 - Nick Nunez (Messiah) by fall Zach Zuckerman, 4:43; 4-18
157 - Joshua Paige (Messiah) by maj. dec. Mike Rubino, 14-5; 4-22
165 - Chris Richardson (DelVal) by fall Tyler Riley, 4:56; 10-22
174 - Youssef Ait Boulahri (DelVal) by fall Wyatt Bingaman, 3:52; 16-22
184 - Jake Nase (DelVal) by dec. Dante Hibbert, 7-4; 19-22
197 - Isaiah Johnson (DelVal) by forfeit; 25-22
285 - Dan Eckley (DelVal) by fall Hayden Benner, 2:24; 31-22