LANCASTER, PA -- The Franklin & Marshall College wrestling team improved to 10-6 on the year by defeating James Madison (31-15 W), Delaware State (44-9 W) and Binghamton (19-18 W) in a quad-meet at the Mayser Center to secure the second straight 10-victory season.
Following a 10-12 record in 2003, the Diplomats have now recorded 10+ wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1989-90 (12-11) and 1990-91 (11-6).
Against Binghamton, the Diplomats jumped out to an early lead as Trent Dixon (So., Baltimore, MD/Eastern Tech) earned a forfeit at 125 and Rich Gebauer (Jr., South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) tallied a 12-4 major decision at 133 over Mike Shannon for a quick 10-0 lead.
However, the Bearcats fired back as Josh Ruff and Beau Bruno registered major decisions at 141 and 149, respectively, before Justin Hoch fell one point short of another major in recording a 12-5 decision over Mike Parziale (Fr., Norristown, PA/Germantown Academy) at 157 for an 11-10 Binghamton lead.
Franklin & Marshall retook the lead in the next match at Ted Seemuller (Sr., Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) edged past Joe Gartiser 11-9 to put the Diplomats back in front to stay at 13-11.
Nate Schy (Sr., Willow Grove, PA/Hatboro Horsham) added to the lead downing Ryan Jantzen 9-5 at 174 before Ben Evans (So., Yardley, PA/Peddie School) rallied from a 3-2 deficit to tack on a pair of points for a 4-3 decision at 184 and a 19-11 F&M lead.
The Bearcats attempted to make a comeback at Declan Josephson earned a 13-2 major decision over RP Norley (Jr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) to slice the lead to 19-15 with the heavyweight match left on the docket. The performance of the meet belonged to Norley as the grappler fought off Josephson from his back for 70 seconds in the second period to prevent the Binghamton wrestler from recording a pin.
At heavyweight, Shawn Coughlin (Fr., Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) kept Binghamton's Jeff Parker in check for the final 30 seconds of the match in a 7-0 loss to prevent the Bearcat grappler from recording a major decision to tie the meet at 19-19 as F&M escaped with its eighth win of the season.
The Diplomats raised their win total to nine in the next match as Franklin & Marshall downed James Madison 31-15. The win evens F&M's record against the Dukes at 2-2, as James Madison recorded victories in 1982 and 2002 before Franklin & Marshall recorded victories the last two years.
F&M jumped out to another early lead as Dixon won by forfeit at 125, Gebauer recorded a 7-2 decision at 133 and Perretta notched a 13-2 major decision at 141 as the Diplomats built a 13-0 lead.
James Madison closed the gap to seven as Chris Wilson pinned Greg Soufleris (So., Parkland, FL/Cardinal Gibbons) in the 149 match at the 4:47 mark before Parziale recorded a 23-8 technical fall over PJ Worosz to move the lead out to 18-6.
Franklin & Marshall continued their dominance over the next three matches as Seemuller earned a 13-4 major at 165, Schy pinned Zach Winfrey at 174 and Evans tallied an 8-7 decision at 184 for a 31-6 lead. The Dukes closed the gap in the final two matches with a forfeit and a decision for the 31-15 final score.
F&M concluded the day by routing Delaware State courtesy six forfeits as part of a 44-9 victory.
The Diplomats kept their streak alive by dominating the opening matches as Dixon recorded a 15-0 technical fall over Jerry Davis before Gebauer, Perretta and Soufleris registered forfeits for a quick 23-0 lead.
The Hornets' Rashad Vance pinned Jesse Richmand (Sr., Scotch Plains, NJ/Blair Academy) in 4:27 at 157 to close the gap to 23-6, but Seemuller earned a forfeit at 165 and Schy notched a 9-5 decision at 174 to build the lead to 32-6.
Delaware State concluded their day as David Mears earned a 7-0 decision over Evans before Norley and Coughlin picked up forfeit victories for the 44-9 final.
The win marks the second in a week for the Diplomats over the Hornets as F&M upended the Hornets 45-0 last week.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on February 7 at home versus Davidson and Drexel in the Mayser Center. Start time is set for noon.
Franklin & Marshall 19, Binghamton 18
125 - Trent Dixon (F&M) FORFEIT
133 - Rich Gebauer (F&M) MAJOR Mike Shannon (B), 11-1
141 - Josh Ruff (B) MAJOR Joe Perretta (F&M), 12-4
149 - Beau Bruno (B) MAJOR Greg Soufleris (F&M), 16-6
157 - Justin Hoch (B) dec. Mike Parziale (F&M), 12-5
165 - Ted Seemuller (F&M) dec. Joe Gartiser (B), 11-9
174 - Nate Schy (F&M) dec. Ryan Jantzen (B), 9-5
184 - Ben Evans (F&M) dec. Mark Tse (B), 4-3
197 - Declan Josephson (B) MAJOR RP Norley (F&M), 13-2
HWT - Jeff Parker (B) dec. Shawn Coughlin (F&M), 7-0
Franklin & Marshall 31, James Madison 15
125 - Trent Dixon (F&M) FORFEIT
133 - Rich Gebauer (F&M) def. Todd Schroeder (JM), 7-2
141 - Joe Perretta (F&M) MAJOR Brian Kibler (JM), 13-2
149 - Chris Wilson (JM) FALL Greg Soufleris (F&M), 4:47
157 - Mike Parziale (F&M) TECH. FALL PJ Worosz (JM), 23-8 (6:36)
165 - Ted Seemuller (F&M) MAJOR Andrew Robarge (JM), 13-4
174 - Nate Schy (F&M) FALL Zach Winfrey (JM), 4:29
184 - Ben Evans (F&M) dec. Lamont Logan (JM), 8-7
197 - Justin Gronlie (JM) FORFEIT
HWT - Matt Coffey (JM) dec. Shawn Coughlin (F&M), 9-3
Franklin & Marshall 44, Delaware State 9
125 - Trent Dixon (F&M) TECH FALL Jerry Davis (DS), 15-0
133 - Rich Gebauer (F&M) FORFEIT
141 - Joe Perretta (F&M) FORFEIT
149 - Greg Soufleris (F&M) FORFEIT
157 - Rashad Vance (DS) FALL Jesse Richmand (F&M), 4:27
165 - Ted Seemuller (F&M) FORFEIT
174 - Nate Schy (F&M) dec. Marco Hall (DS), 9-5
184 - David Mears (DS) dec. Ben Evans (F&M), 7-0
197 - RP Norley (F&M) FORFEIT
HWT - Shawn Coughlin (F&M) FORFEIT
James Madison 30, Delaware State 3
125 - Not contested
133 - Todd Schroeder (JM) FALL Jerry Davis (DS), 1:32
141 - Not contested
149 - Not contested
157 - Derick Schoenly (JM) FALL Rashad Vance (DS), 2:33
165 - Not contested
174 - Marco Hall (DS) dec. Zach Winfrey (JM), 5-3
184 - Lamont Logan (JM) FALL David Mears (DS), 4:00
197 - Justin Gronline (JM) FORFEIT
HWT - Matt Coffey (JM) FORFEIT
Binghamton 47, Delaware State 0
125 - Not contested
133 - Mike Shannon (B) MAJOR Jerry Davis (DS), 17-4
141 - Josh Ruff (B) FORFEIT
149 - Beau Bruno (B) FORFEIT
157 - Justin Hoch (B) FALL Rashad Vance (DS), 5:13
165 - Joe Gartiser (B) FORFEIT
174 - Ryan Jantzen (B) MAJOR Marco Hall (DS), 16-5
184 - Kevin Bush (B) dec. David Mears (DS), 7-4
197 - Declan Josephson (B) FORFEIT
HWT - Jeff Parker (B) FORFEIT
