Diplomats Pin Elizabethtown 34-9 in Wrestling

by Sports Information
1/24/06

ELIZABETHTOWN, PA - James Schulz (Fr., Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) and RP Norley (Sr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) recorded pin falls at 184 and 197 lbs., respectively, as NCAA Division I Franklin & Marshall College defeated Division III Elizabethtown College 34-9 in wrestling.

Franklin & Marshall, which is Division III in every sport except wrestling, improved to 7-3 on the season, while Elizabethtown falls to 2-9.

The Bluejays opened the meet with a 6-5 win at 125 lbs. as Peter Achilles used a takedown in the third period to edge Doug Ritchey (Fr., Curryville, PA/Central) 6-5.

Franklin & Marshall took the lead for good at 133 lbs. as Trent Dixon (Sr., Baltimore, MD/Eastern Technical) won his match by forfeit to put the Diplomats ahead 6-3. F&M built on the lead as Chris Kelly (Fr., Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) won by major decision over Justin Martin 13-5 at 141 lbs. and Al Gianforti (Fr., Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) used a three point near fall in the second period to defeat Jereme Heisey 5-3 at 149 lbs. for a 13-3 lead.

Rob Bozart pulled Elizabethtown to within four points of the Diplomats with a pin at 157 lbs., but Justin Herbert (Fr., New Milford, PA/Blue Ridge) took the 165 lbs. match 20-3 for a technical fall in 6:40.

Schulz pinned Brian Issac in 3:34 at 174 lbs. and Norley dropped RJ Mount in 3:52 at 184 lbs. to make the score 30-9 before Nico Somers (Fr., Green Village, NJ/Madison) recorded an 11-3 major decision at 197 lbs. in the meet's final match.

No bout was contested at heavyweight.

The match marked the seventh time the Diplomats and Bluejays met in wrestling since 1977. The victory improves Franklin & Marshall to 5-2 in the series and snaps a two-match Bluejays win streak.

Franklin & Marshall (7-3) will continue the season on January 28 at home versus James Madison University and Gettysburg College. Match time is set for 2:00 p.m.

Franklin & Marshall 34, Elizabethtown 9
125 - Peter Achilles (E) DEC Doug Ritchey (F&M), 6-5
133 - Trent Dixon (F&M) FORFEIT
141 - Chris Kelly (F&M) MAJOR Justin Martin (E), 13-5
149 - Al Gianforti (F&M) DEC Jereme Heisey (E), 5-3
157 - Rob Bozart (E) FALL Matt Goggin (F&M), 6:40
165 - Justin Herbert (F&M) TECH FALL Robert Rosario (E), 6:40 (20-3)
174 - James Schulz (F&M) FALL Brian Issac (E), 3:34
184 - RP Norley (F&M) FALL RJ Mount (E), 3:52
197 - Nico Somers (F&M) MAJOR James Campolongo (E), 11-3
HWT - No Contest