WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Junior 133-pounder Bobby Gardner, a South Williamsport graduate, and senior heavyweight Michael Sipps led the Lycoming College wrestling team on the first day of the Whitehill Duals, as both went 3-0 on Friday at Lamade Gym. The Warriors fell to 22nd-ranked Messiah, 24-16, 23rd-ranked Williams, 27-15, and Cortland, 26-23.

The Warriors will finish the Whitehill Duals on Saturday, Jan. 10, in the 13-16 bracket, facing Wilkes at 9 a.m., on Mat 3, and either Oswego or York at 12 p.m.

Against 22nd-ranked Messiah (9-2 overall), the Warriors won four of the 10 matches in a 24-16 setback. Gardner got the Warriors on the board at 133 pounds with a 17-2 technical fall over regionally-ranked Caiden Heller. Messiah won the next four bouts to lead, 21-5, before junior 174-pounder Nolen Zeigler posted an 11-2 major decision over Andrew Kozubel and senior 184-pounder Eli Crum followed with a 9-0 major of Nathan Kovalick to close within 21-13. Messiah clinched the match with a decision at 197 before senior heavyweight Michael Sipps, a Cowanesque Valley graduate, posted a 5-4 win over Micah Martinez.

The Warriors also posted four match wins against 23rd-ranked Williams (4-4 overall), falling 27-15. Gardner got the Warriors on the board again with a win over regionally-ranked Jake Strianese, 9-5, before senior 149-pounder Kobin Karper notched a 6-4 win over Hayden Haber. Junior Ivan Neal added an 11-4 win over regionally-ranked David LaPrade before Sipps picked up a win by forfeit.

Lycoming split its 10 matches with Cortland, while the Red Dragons were able to use three falls and a technical fall to earn the win. Gardner posted a 15-3 major decision over Rocco Futia, junior 141-pounder Major Lewis posted a 4-1 sudden-vcitory win over Culley Bellino, Ziegler added a 13-3 major decision of regionally-ranked Robby Cunningham, Crum pinned Luke Chernaski in 1:08 and Sipps capped the match with a third-period pin of Chase Frole.