ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Navy improved to 11-4 on the year as the Midshipmen dropped Franklin & Marshall 35-6.
The Mids claimed nine of the 10 weight classes to secure the victory, and capped the night as sophomore Andrew Adams fought back from an 8-0 deficit and to pin F&M's Shawn Coughlin (Fr., Berkley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) at heavyweight.
The night started at 125 pounds with freshman Alex Usztics scoring a 6-2 decision over Trent Dixon (So., Baltimore, MD/Eastern Tech) and fellow plebe Brad Canterbury notching a 5-2 decision over Rich Gebauer (So., South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) at 133 pounds to put Navy up 6-0.
Nate Gulosh took the mat at 141 pounds and recorded a technical fall over Joe Perretta (So., Havertown, PA/Haverford) at 3:40. Gulosh scored three takedowns and a pair of near falls in the first period. He earned an escape to start the second period and then recorded his fourth takedown and a third near fall to push the score to 18-2 and give Navy the five-point win.
At 149 pounds, John Cox posted a 5-0 victory over the Diplomats' Matt McConnell (Sr., Kennett Square, PA/St. Marks), as he picked up a two-point near fall to close the second period, a reversal 35 seconds into the third and the point for riding time.
With the Mids leading 14-0, Franklin & Marshall picked up six points as Mike Parziale (So., Woburn, MA/Woburn) pinned Chris Rossi (at the 2:29 mark.
Navy countered with Michael Barikian holding Ted Seemuller (Sr., Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) scoreless for 3:10 as he scored 15 points to put Navy up 19-6. Andrew Hemminger battled Nate Schy (Sr., Willow Grove, PA/Hatboro Horsham) at 174 pounds before eventually securing the 3-2 win. Hemminger took the first lead with an escape point in the second period, but Schy tied the bout at 1-1 to start the third period. With 1:42 left, Hemminger took a 3-1 lead on a takedown, and another Schy escape brought him within one, but Hemminger closed out the match to take the 3-2 decision.
At 184 pounds, Chris Pogue scored a 16-4 major decision over Ben Evans (So., Yardley, PA/Peddie School) with a quartet of takedowns, two near falls, a reversal and a point for riding time. At 197 pounds, Thayer Paxton survived a scare in the second period, when RP Norley (Jr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) took advantage of his top starting position and scored a three-point near fall to cut Paxton's lead to 4-3, to win an 8-5 decision.
The match of the night was at heavyweight as Adams fought back to score a pin and give the Mids a 35-6 victory. Coughlin took an 8-0 lead with a takedown and two near falls in the first period, but Adams tallied a reversal with 16 seconds remaining. With an 8-2 lead, Coughlin chose to start the second period on the bottom but Adams picked up a quick escape point and then scored a take down and a two-point near fall to cut Coughlin's margin to 9-6 with over one minute to go. Adams added a three-point near fall as time expired in the second to tie the bout at 9-9. In the third, he picked the bottom starting position and within 17 seconds scored a reversal before pinning Coughlin at 5:17.
Overall, the loss drops F&M's record to 12-8 as the team's mark is the most victories by a Franklin & Marshall wrestling team since the 1990 team finished 12-11. Further, with three matches remaining, Franklin & Marshall has clinched the first winning season since the 1992 team finished 9-6.
The Diplomats have a chance to tie the program's all-time single season wins mark of 15 wins established by the 1980 team (15-3) if F&M can knock off Gardner Webb, Kutztown and Millersville in the coming weeks.
Franklin & Marshall College will return to the mat on February 21 at home in the Mayser Center versus Gardner Webb and Kutztown University. Match time is set for 1:00 p.m.
Box Score
Navy 35, Franklin & Marshall 6
125 - Alex Usztics (N) dec. Trent Dixon (F&M), 6-2 (3-0)
133 - Brad Canterbury (N) dec. Rich Gebauer (F&M), 5-2 (6-0)
141 - Nate Gulosh (N) TECH FALL Joe Perretta (F&M), 19-2, fall at 3:40 (11-0)
149 - John Cox (N) dec. Matt McConnell (F&M), 5-0 (14-0)
157 - Mike Parziale (F&M) FALL Chris Rossi (N), 2:29 (14-6)
165 - Michael Barikian (N) TECH FALL Ted Seemuller (F&M), 15-0, fall at 3:10 (19-6)
174 - Andrew Hemminger (N) dec. Nate Schy (F&M), 3-2 (22-6)
184 - Chris Pogue (N) MAJOR. dec. Ben Evans (F&M), 16-4 (26-6)
197 - Thayer Paxton (N) dec. RP Norley (F&M), 8-5 (29-6)
HWT - Andrew Adams (N) FALL Shawn Coughlin (F&M), 5:17 (35-6)
