Daniel D'Agostini	Keegan Connelly

GRANTHAM, Pa. – Junior Daniel D'Agostini (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) and sophomore Keegan Connelly (Schnecksville, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) both finished fourth at the Messiah Open on Saturday at Messiah College.

D'Agostini earned his fourth-place finish at 197 pounds while Connelly was fourth at 285. They were the lone Scranton wrestlers to compete in the event.

D'Agostini's day started with a quick pin in just 45 seconds in the first round, followed by a 12-1 major decision in the second. He then suffered a 7-2 loss in the quarterfinals to fall into the consolation bracket. There, he picked up a technical fall (17-2) and a medical forfeit to reach the consolation semifinal. He then posted a pin in 1:00 to reach the third-place match, but suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to Antavian Leary of Ferrum, the same wrestler who knocked him off in the quarterfinals.

Connelly was given a first-round bye, then suffered a narrow 11-10 defeat in the second round. In the consolation bracket, he rallied with four straight wins. The first came by way of a 2-1 decision in two tiebreak periods. He then posted a 4-3 decision, again in two tiebreak periods, to reach the consolation semifinals.

In the consolation semifinal, Connelly put the clamps on his opponent, pinning him in 4:12 to reach the third-place match. But there, he suffered a narrow 2-1 loss to finish fourth.

The University of Scranton wrestling team will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 16, when the Royals travel to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. to take on Wilkes University at 7 p.m.

--ROYALS--