LANCASTER, PA - James Schulz (Fr., Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) and RP Norley (Sr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) recorded major decisions at 174 lbs. and 184 lbs., respectively, as Franklin & Marshall overcame a 14-12 deficit with two matches remaining to knock off Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) rival Princeton University 20-14 in Division I wrestling action at the Mayser Center for the 600th win in program history.
The match marked the 42nd meeting between the two programs as the Diplomats (1-1) improve to 16-25-1 all-time the Tigers and improve to 2-0 in the last two meetings between the programs in Lancaster as the F&M handled Princeton 32-6 on December 6, 2003. Last season, the Tigers recorded a 40-8 win in Princeton on February 12 as the programs had split the previous four meetings entering this year's matchup.
Beginning at 197 lbs., the Tigers (4-1) opened with a technical fall as Jake Butler rolled to a 15-0 lead over Nico Somers (Fr., Green Village, NJ/Madison) through the first 4:52 of the match. The Diplomats sliced into the margin at heavyweight as Shawn Coughlin (Sr., Berkley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) notched a two-point reversal in the closing minutes of the third period for a 4-3 win over Ian Roncoroni to pull F&M to within 5-3.
F&M took the lead at 125 lbs. as Doug Ritchey (Fr., Curryville, PA/Central) used three takedowns and a 1:51 of riding time to hold off Robert Benitez 7-5 to put the Diplomats in front 6-5. The lead ballooned to 9-5 as Trent Dixon (Sr., Baltimore, MD/Eastern Technical) notched a two point reversal in the final minute of the match to hold off Danny Scotton 9-8 as Scotton held a 3:39 advantage in riding time in the match.
The Tigers regained the lead with back-to-back decisions at 141 and 149. At 141, Eric Marcotulli knocked off Joe Perretta (Sr., Havertown, PA/The Haverford School) 11-4 before Andrew Iannuzzi edged Al Gianforti (Fr., Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) 14-13 at 149 lbs. to give Princeton an 11-9 lead.
The Diplomats regained the lead at 157 lbs. as Steve Gregory (Jr., Winchester, MA/Winchester) built a 5-1 lead in the first period with a takedown and three point near fall, tacked on an escape in the second period and added an escape and takedown in the third period to defeat Matt Piselli 9-5 for a 12-11 lead.
Princeton responded as Marty Everin held off Justin Herbert (Fr., New Milford, PA/Blue Ridge) 11-6 at 165 lbs. to give the Tigers a 14-12 lead with two matches to wrestle.
However, Schulz put F&M in front to stay as he used a takedown and two point near fall in the first period to go ahead of Oliver Noteware 4-0 before adding a pair of takedowns in the second period and another in the third with 2:27 of riding time as the horn sounded for an 11-3 major decision and a 14-12 Franklin & Marshall lead.
Norley clinched the win for the Diplomats as he steamrolled Logan Lowe 11-1 courtesy an illegal hold call and two takedowns in the first period, a two point reversal in the second period and a three point near fall in the third period.
The victory improves Franklin & Marshall to 600-470-21 in 80 seasons of wrestling at the College since the Diplomats (then known as Nevonians) handled Western Maryland College (now known as McDaniel College) 24-5 on January 26, 1924 in Lancaster under head coach Charlie Mayser.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on December 28-29 at the Midlands Tournament and the Wilkes Invitational.
Franklin & Marshall 20, Princeton 14
125 - Doug Ritchey (F&M) DEC. Robert Benitez (P), 7-5
133 - Trent Dixon (F&M) DEC. Danny Scotton (P), 9-8
141 - Eric Marcotulli (P) DEC. Joe Perretta (F&M), 11-4
149 - Andrew Iannuzzi (P) DEC. Al Gianforti (F&M), 14-13
157 - Steve Gregory (F&M) DEC. Matt Piselli (P), 9-5
165 - Marty Everin (P) DEC. Justin Herbert (F&M), 11-6
174 - James Schulz (F&M) MAJOR Oliver Noteware (P), 11-3
184 - RP Norley (F&M) MAJOR Logan Lowe (P), 11-1
*197 - Jake Butler (P) TECH FALL Nico Somers (F&M), 15-0 (4:52)
HWT - Shawn Coughlin (F&M) DEC. Ian Roncoroni (P), 4-3
*Match started at 197
