PRINCETON, NJ - The Franklin & Marshall College wrestling team moved to 2-0 on the season as the Diplomats routed Princeton University 32-6 to defeat the Tigers for the first time since 1995.
The victory, which ends a three-match losing streak to the Tigers, marks the Diplomats second of the week to snap a losing streak as Franklin & Marshall handled East Stroudsburg University on December 3 by a 26-15 final.
Further, the win is the most lop-sided win by the Diplomats in the series history bettering the previous record of a 20-9 win set during the 1959-60 under head coach W. Roy Phillips.
The Diplomats jumped on the board at 125 as Trevor Beard (Fr., Norristown, PA/Germantown Academy) defeated Kenny Chu 4-1 to give F&M a 3-0 lead. At 133, Rich Gebauer (So., South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) pinned Stephen Savin in 4:50 to expand the lead to 9-0 before Matt McConnell (Sr., Kennett Square, PA/St. Mark's) defeated Matthew Piselli in 2:59 and Mike Parziale (Woburn, MA/Woburn) defeated Charlie Wiggins in 6:34 at 157 courtesy technical falls.
Franklin & Marshall closed out the meet by winning four out of the last five matches as Nate Schy (Sr., Willow Grove, PA/Hatboro-Horsham), Ted Seemuller (Sr., Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson), R.P. Norley (Jr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) and Joe McGuigan (Fr., Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) recorded victories.
The loss marked the second of the day for Princeton, which dropped a 32-9 decision to the University of Wisconsin prior to the start of the Tigers-Diplomats match.
Historically, the Diplomats 2-0 start marks the first since the 1991-92 season as F&M began the year 4-0 with wins over Princeton (19-17 W), McDaniel (43-2 W), William & Mary (32-6 W) and Harvard (22-15 W), before falling to Rutgers (19-23 L) as the team concluded the season 9-6.
Franklin & Marshall will return to action on December 14th at Mercyhurst College to face Slippery Rock, Cleveland State and the host Lakers. Match time is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
Box Score
F&M 32, Princeton 6
125 - Trevor Beard (F&M) dec. Kenny Chu (P) 4-1
133 - Rich Gebauer (F&M) WBF Steve Savin (P) 4:50
141 - Mark Lobo (P) dec. Joe Perretta (F&M) 15-8
149 - Matt McConnell (F&M) TF Matt Piselli (P) 2:59
157 - Mike Parziale (F&M) TF Charlie Wiggins (P) 6:34
165 - Ted Seemuller (F&M) dec. matt DeNichilo (P) 7-6
174 - Nate Schy (F&M) dec. Jack Fleming (P) 8-4
184 - Allen Sista (P) dec. Ben Evans 7-1
197 - R.P. Norley (F&M) MD Matt Hawrilenko (P) 14-4
HWT - Joe McGuigan (F&M) dec. Nate Rawlings (P) 10-5
