LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall recorded six pin falls on the day to defeat Division I James Madison University 21-16 and Division III Gettysburg College 48-4 in intercollegiate wrestling action at the Mayser Center.
Versus James Madison (3-10), the Diplomats and Dukes traded decisions as Doug Ritchey (Fr., Curryville, PA/Central) downed Thang Ho 7-2 at 125 lbs. before Rich Gebauer edged Trent Dixon (Sr., Baltimore, MD/Eastern Technical) 6-5 at 133 lbs.
A 2005 graduate of Franklin & Marshall who is competing in his final season of eligibility as a graduate student at JMU, Gebauer built a 6-2 lead through two periods and held off Dixon to tie the match.
F&M went ahead again as Chris Kelly (Fr., Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) downed Brian Kibler 2-1 at 141 lbs., but the Dukes' Greg Soufleris recorded a 13-0 major decision over Al Gianforti (Fr., Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) at 149 lbs. to put James Madison ahead 7-6 with six matches to wrestle.
The Diplomats began to take control of the match, however, as Andrew Smith (So., Annapolis, MD/Annapolis) pinned Scott Yorko in 1:46 at 157 lbs. and James Schulz (Fr., Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) pinned Brian Anderson in 5:56 at 174 lbs. to give Franklin & Marshall an 18-10 lead.
JMU's Brian Lambert edged RP Norley (Sr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) 8-7 at 184 lbs. to pull the Dukes to within 18-13 with two matches remaining, but Nico Somers (Fr., Green Village, NJ/Madison) sealed the victory with a 10-4 decision at 197 lbs. over John Bauman to put Franklin & Marshall ahead by an insurmountable 21-13 margin.
Chris Cvitan closed out the match as he held off Shawn Coughlin (Sr., Berkley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) 6-5 at heavyweight for the 21-16 final score.
The win improves F&M to 3-3 all-time against James Madison in wrestling since the series began in 1982.
Versus the Division III Bullets, F&M dominated the match from opening whistle to closing horn as the Diplomats recorded four pins, two forfeits and three major decisions in the victory.
Franklin & Marshall jumped out to a 22-0 lead in the match as Ritchey earned a forfeit at 125 lbs., Dixon pinned Rich Masella in 2:18, Kelly recorded a 13-5 major decision versus Alex Emmer and Gianforti received a forfeit at 149 lbs.
Gettysburg scored their only points of the match at 157 lbs. as Caleb Seufert notched an 8-0 major decision.
The Diplomats answered the major with back-to-back-to-back pins as Justin Herbert (Fr., New Milford, PA/Blue Ridge), Schulz and Norley pinned their opponents at 165, 174 and 184 lbs., respectively. Somers and Coughlin closed out the win with major decisions at 197 lbs. and heavyweight as the win marks the largest margin of victory by Franklin & Marshall over Gettysburg in the 66 year history of the series.
Further, the win improves the Diplomats to 56-6-2 all-time against Gettysburg in wrestling and raises Franklin & Marshall's record to 9-3 on the season.
Franklin & Marshall (9-3) will continue the season on February 4 at home versus Davidson College and George Mason University. Match time is set for noon.
Franklin & Marshall 21, James Madison 16
125 - Doug Ritchey (F&M) DEC Thang Ho (JMU), 7-2
133 - Rich Gebauer (JMU) DEC. Trent Dixon (F&M), 6-5
141 - Chris Kelly (F&M) DEC Brian Kibler (JMU), 2-1
149 - Greg Soufleris (JMU) MAJOR Al Gianforti (F&M), 13-0
157 - Andrew Smith (F&M) FALL Scott Yorko (JMU), 1:46
165 - Jon Divello (JMU) DEC Justin Herbert (F&M), 9-5
174 - James Schulz (F&M) FALL Brian Anderson (JMU), 5:56
184 - Brian Lambert (JMU) DEC RP Norley (F&M), 8-7
197 - Nico Somers (F&M) DEC John Bauman (JMU), 10-4
HWT - Chris Cvitan (JMU) DEC Shawn Coughlin (F&M), 6-5
Franklin & Marshall 48, Gettysburg 4
125 - Doug Ritchey (F&M) FORFEIT
133 - Trent Dixon (F&M) FALL Rich Masella (G), 2:18
141 - Chris Kelly (F&M) MAJOR Alex Emmer (G), 13-5
149 - Al Gianforti (F&M) FORFEIT
157 - Caleb Seufert (G) MAJOR Steve Gregory (F&M), 8-0
165 - Justin Herbert (F&M) FALL Josh Kaplan (G), 6:42
174 - James Schulz (F&M) FALL James Stevenson (G), 2:31
184 - RP Norley (F&M) FALL Dean Staley (G), 2:43
197 - Nico Somers (F&M) MAJOR Jeff Morgan (G), 8-0
HWT - Shawn Coughlin (F&M) MAJOR Mike Pattanite (G), 11-0
James Madison 38, Gettysburg 10
125 - Thang Ho (JMU) FORFEIT
133 - Rich Gebauer (JMU) FALL Rich Masella (G), 1:22
141 - Brian Kibler (JMU) MAJOR Alex Emmer (G), 19-6
149 - Greg Soufleris (JMU) FORFEIT
157 - Caleb Seufert (G) MAJOR Mitch Davey (JMU), 13-5
165 - Jon Divello (JMU) DEC Josh Kaplan (G), 5-1
174 - Q Duduffour-Donkor (JMU) MAJOR Aaron Fuchs (G), 20-6
184 - James Stevenson (G) FORFEIT
197 - John Bauman (JMU) FALL Jeff Morgan (G), 5:19
HWT - Chris Cvitan (JMU) DEC Mike Pattanite (G), 4-0
