ERIE, Pa. – The Millersville wrestling team remained within reach for nearly all of Friday's dual meet at Mercyhurst University, with four Marauders winning matches, but the Lakers held on for the 27-18 victory. It was Mercyhurst's first dual meet of the season.

The night's action began with back-to-back technical falls, first by Millersville's Brandon Connor 18-2 at 157 pounds and followed by Mercyhurst's Logan Grass 16-0 at 165.

Malik Jackson battled Trevor Johnson tough at 174, with the riding time point being the difference in a 3-2 decision for Johnson. Millersville 184-pounder Michael Wright then defeated Trever Begin 11-5 thanks to a huge 6-point takedown and subsequent near fall in the first period. Wright's decision tied the team score 8-8.

The Lakers then won the next four matches before Ryan McGuire defeated Jeff Sisk at 141 and Jackson Erb earned four takedowns and a major decision 11-3 over Alex Samson to close the dual meet.

DUAL MEET HIGHLIGHTS
• Freshman Brandon Connor opened the night strong for Millersville at 157 pounds. An early double leg shot against Mercyhurst's Mike Clark led to the first takedown of the match. Connor picked up four near fall points on two occasions in the first period and took a 12-1 advantage into the second. Sticking with what was working, two more double leg takedowns and a reversal was enough to earn the technical fall and Connor's second win of the season.

• At 184 pounds, Millersville's Michael Wright was taken down early by Mercyhurst's Trever Begin. Wright battled back, earning an escape and then using Begin's aggressiveness against him by absorbing a shot and flipping Begin to his back for the takedown and four near-fall points. The huge six point swing let Wright control the rest of the match, and he added two third-period takedowns to claim the 11-5 victory.

• Travis Kotelnicki was in great position to pick up a victory in the 125-pound bout after a first period that was very similar to Wright's. Kotelnicki gave up the first takedown but then pulled off an incredible move at the end of the first period, using his opponent Jacob Ruggeri's momentum, Kotelnicki grasped him and muscled Ruggeri right to his back. Kotelnicki led 7-2 after the first period and 8-6 in the third before he had to injury default, giving Ruggeri the victory and Mercyhurst what was essentially a nine point swing in the team score.

• Ryan McGuire came out on a mission at 141 pounds, earning an early takedown after grabbing Jeff Sisk's left leg and tripping the other. A wild scramble led to Sisk taking a hard fall and he injury defaulted after just 49 seconds to give McGuire the win.

• In the final match of the evening, freshman Jackson Erb took on Alex Samson at 149. Erb scored the first takedown early in the first period and never looked back. He led 5-0 after two periods and went for bonus points in the third, upping the tempo and achieving that goal with two more takedowns and the 11-3 major decision.

RESULTS:
157: Brandon Connor (MU) def. Mike Clark (MER) TF 18-2 (5:24)
165: Logan Grass (MER) def. Jarrett Feeney (MU) TF 16-0 (4:53)
174: Trevor Johnson (MER) def. Malik Jackson (MU) D 3-2
184: Michael Wright (MU) def. Trever Begin (MER) D 11-5
197: Luke McGonigal (MER) def. Jack Files (MU) FALL 3:23
285: Jacob Robb (MER) def. Josh Walls (MU) D 7-5 17-8
125: Jacob Ruggeri (MER) def. Travis Kotelnicki INJ DEF (5:44)
133: Eric Bartos (MER) def. Seth Harbaugh (MU) MD 16-3
141: Ryan McGuire (MU) def. Jeff Sisk (MER) INJ DEF (0:49)
149: Jackson Erb (MU) def. Alex Samson (MER) MD 11-3

HEAD COACH KERRY REGNER QUOTES
• On tonight's performance: "The guys did exactly what we asked. They know how to wrestle hard, to go forward, get to your stuff, and look to score. That's what they did. Ultimately we compete to win, but at the end of the day we want to look at the attitude and effort of our team. And tonight we had that."

• On Michael Wright battling back for his first win: "Perfect example of what we're talking about. His guy shot underneath him and Mike kept wrestling, moving forward, hand-fighting hard and kept looking to score points. Just because a kid scores the first takedown doesn't mean it's over. Mike scored the last two and won."

•On the quick turnaround for Saturday's dual against Gannon: "These guys have aspirations of wrestling in the postseason, NCAA or regional tournaments, and those are Friday-Saturday tournaments. Gannon had practice today so there's no difference. Just have to put your foot on the line and go."

NOTES
• Michael Wright's win was his first collegiate victory.
• Brandon Connor has won back-to-back matches and is now 2-2 on the season.
• Ryan McGuire now leads the team with six victories.
• Malik Jackson and Josh Walls are tied for the team lead in most matches wrestled with nine apiece.
• Jackson Erb's 2019 record now moves to 4-4, including two falls and two major decisions.
• The Marauders have never defeated Mercyhurst in a dual meet and are 0-9 all-time against the Lakers.

UP NEXT
• The Marauders remain in Erie, Pa. for a dual meet on Saturday, December 7 at 12 p.m. against Gannon University.