HAMPTON, VA - The Franklin & Marshall College wrestling team knocked off nationally ranked Division III Montclair State and SUNY-Brockport to advance to a showdown with cross-county rival Millersville University of Pennsylvania in the championship match of the American College Division at the 24th Annual Virginia Duals at the Hampton Coliseum.
Franklin & Marshall College (4-3), which competes in the Division I Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA), dominated #13 Montclair (5-1) and edged out #3 SUNY-Brockport (1-1) as the Diplomats used strong performances in the top of their lineups to build early team leads.
Against #4 seeded Montclair State in their first match of the day, the #5 seeded Diplomats decimated the Red Hawks with victories at 125, 133, 141, 149 and 157 before the Red Hawks cracked the scoreboard.
Following a forfeit victory by Trevor Beard (Fr., Norristown, NJ/Germantown Academy) at 125, Rich Gebauer (Jr., South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) earned a 15-9 decision over Jon Suero at 133 before Joe Perretta (So., Havertown, PA/Haverford) knocked off Alan Aponte 6-4 at 141 lbs. The Diplomats expanded the lead as Matt McConnell (Sr., Kennett Square, PA/St. Marks) edged Dave Cordoba 11-10 at 149 and Mike Parziale (So., Woburn, MA/Woburn) pinned Steve Roy at the 1:02 mark in the 157 lbs. match before Montclair's Dom Dallagatta pinned Ted Seemuller (Sr., Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) at 165.
Ranked #3 in Division III, Dellagatta's victory ignited a three-match win streak by the Hawks as #1 nationally ranked Eduard Aliakseyenka recorded a 12-3 major decision against Nate Schy (Sr., Horsham, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) at 174. The run was capped by #1 nationally ranked Dennis Gaul who notched a 20-3 technical fall over Ben Evans (Jr., Yardley, PA/Peddie School) at 184.
The Diplomats closed out the rout with a 7-4 win by RP Norley (Jr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) at 197 before Shawn Coughlin (Fr., Berkeley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) picked up a forfeit at heavyweight for the 15 point victory as the Diplomats advanced to face #1 seed SUNY-Brockport in the semifinals.
With the victory, Franklin & Marshall snaps a five match winning streak by Montclair State as the Hawks had defeated Kings Point (27-22 W), Hunter (33-7), New York University (38-7 W), Ithaca (21-20 W) and Oneonta State (28-13) this season.
Overall, the victory marks the first for F&M against Montclair State as the Diplomats and Hawks failed to clash in the previous 1,053 matches in Franklin & Marshall College wrestling history.
In the nightcap, the Diplomats survived a late scare by SUNY-Brockport courtesy a match saving pin by Coughlin at heavyweight to record a 24-15 victory.
Leading the team score 18-15 with time running down and Coughlin trailing 4-0 in the match, the freshman needed a takedown to avoid Brockport's Frost from earning the decision to tie the match and force sudden victory. Optimizing his opportunity, Coughlin cradled and pinned Frost with the match-saving move for six points and the nine-point victory.
Facing each Franklin & Marshall for the first time in program history, the Golden Eagles, who were idle since competing at the Messiah College Petrofes Invitational on December 6, could not overcome Coughlin or the Diplomats middleweights as Franklin & Marshall received victories at 125, 133, 149, 157, 174 and heavyweight for the victory.
Similar to the Montclair State match, Beard jumpstarted the team with a forfeit win at 125 before Gebauer notched an 11-5 victory over Tony D'Ambra for an early lead.
The Eagles responded as Dan Song blanked Perretta 7-0 at 141 before McConnell used a late surge to handle #5 nationally ranked 141-pounder JR Roberts 5-4 in sudden victory at 149. Following a 14-8 victory by Parziale over #7 nationally ranked Andy Boice at 157, Brockport fired back as Romaine Malcolm picked up a 7-4 win over Seemuller at 165.
Leading 15-6, Franklin & Marshall extended the lead to 12 points as Schy battled for a 5-3 win over Mario Schiano at 174 to put the match apparently out of reach.
However, Brockport fought back as Rich D'Amico pulled away from Ben Evans 20-8 at 184 and Robert Cuffie registered a 15-7 win over Norley at 197 to close the F&M lead to three and set up Coughlin's last second heroics and the championship showdown with fellow Division I institution and #2 seeded Millersville University.
The Marauders advanced to the title tilt by defeating Case Western Reserve and Grand Valley, while James Madison and the Newport Apprentice School rounded out the division.
The championship match will start at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 10. Ticket prices are $7 for students and $10 for adults.
Franklin & Marshall 30, #13 Montclair State 15
125 Trevor Beard (F&M) FORFEIT
133 Rich Gebauer (F&M) dec. Jon Suero (MS) 15-9
141 Joe Perretta (F&M) dec. Alan Aponte (MS) 6-4
149 Matt McConnell (F&M) dec. Dave Cordoba (MS) 11-10
157 Mike Parziale (F&M) FALL Steve Roy (MS) 1:02
165 Dominic Dallagatta (MS) FALL Ted Seemuller (F&M) 1:15
174 Ed Aliakseyenka (MS) MAJOR Nate Schy (F&M) 12-3
184 Dennis Gaul (MS) TECH FALL Ben Evans (F&M) 20-3
197 RP Norley (F&M) dec. John Vogel (MS) 7-4
HWT Shawn Coughlin (F&M) FORFEIT
Franklin & Marshall 24, #3 SUNY-Brockport 15
125 Trevor Beard (F&M) FORFEIT
133 Rich Gebauer (F&M) dec. Tony D'Ambra (B) 11-5
141 Dan Song (B) dec. Joe Perretta (F&M) 7-0
149 Matt McConnell (F&M) dec. JR Roberts (B) 5-4 (sudden victory)
157 Mike Parziale (F&M) dec. Andy Boice (B) 14-8
165 Romaine Malcolm (B) dec. Ted Seemuller (F&M) 7-4
174 Nate Schy (F&M) dec. Mario Schiano (B) 5-3
184 Ben Evans (F&M) MAJOR Rich D'Amico (B) 20-8
197 Robert Cuffie (B) MAJOR RP Norley (F&M) 15-7
HWT Shawn Coughlin (F&M) FALL Frost (B) 1:59
