VESTAL, NY - Franklin & Marshall College heavyweight Shawn Coughlin (Jr., Berkley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) recorded an 18-4 major decision to cap off a dramatic comeback as the Diplomats rallied from an early 15-3 deficit to handle Binghamton University 19-18 in Division I intercollegiate wrestling.
The match was a story of big wins as Binghamton took five of the nine contested matches, but the Diplomats recorded a forfeit, a major decision and a pair of decisions against the Bearcats.
Binghamton took control of the match early as Steve Gurien notched a 7-0 decision against Doug Ritchey (Fr., Curryville, PA/Central) at 125 lbs. and Errick Cholewa stopped Trent Dixon (Sr., Baltimore, MD/Eastern Technical) 10-6 at 133 lbs.
Chris Kelly (Fr., Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) put Franklin & Marshall on the board with an 11-5 decision over Patrick Sandberg at 141 lbs., but the Bearcats clawed back as Nate Patterson held off Al Gianforti (Fr., Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) 3-2 at 149 lbs. and Chris Wade pinned Steve Gregory (Jr., Winchester, MA/Winchester) in 2:32 at 157 lbs.
Trailing 15-3 following Wade's pin at 157 lbs., F&M began to climb back into the match as Justin Herbert (Fr., New Milford, PA/Blue Ridge) handled Sam Sirota 8-6 at 165 lbs. and James Schulz (Fr., Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) doubled up Kevin Owen 6-3 at 174 lbs. to pull the Diplomats to within 15-9 with three matches remaining.
Competing without 184 lbs. regular RP Norley (Sr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge), the Diplomats turned to Matt Goggin (So., Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) to face Jim Tretter. Goggin, who weighed in at 157 lbs., stepped up three weight classes in Norley's absence and grappled to a 7-2 decision by Tretter to keep the Diplomats within nine points with two matches remaining.
The Diplomats caught a break at 197 lbs. as Nico Somers (Fr., Green Village, NJ/Madison) picked up a forfeit to close the gap to 18-15 with only the heavyweight match remaining on the docket.
Coughlin closed out the Diplomats comeback win as he dominated Bestle for an 18-4 win by major decision and a 19-18 team victory.
The victory raises F&M's record to 3-0 all-time against the Bearcats as the Diplomats previously defeated Binghamton in 2003 and 2004. In addition, the Diplomats are now 11-4 on the season as Franklin & Marshall tallied the third 10+ victory season in the last four years following a 10-12 mark in 2003 and a 15-8 record in 2004.
Franklin & Marshall (11-4) will continue the season on February 25 at home versus Millersville University in a 7:30 p.m. match.
Franklin & Marshall 19, Binghamton 18
125 - Steve Gurien (BU) dec. Doug Ritchey (F&M), 7-0
133 - Errick Cholewa (BU) dec. Trent Dixon (F&M), 10-6
141 - Chris Kelly (F&M) dec. Patrick Sandberg (BU), 11-5
149 - Nate Patterson (BU) dec. Al Gianforti (F&M), 3-2
157 - Chris Wade (BU) wbf over Steve Gregory (F&M) 2:32
165 - Justin Herbert (F&M) dec. Sam Sirota (BU), 8-6
174 - James Schulz (F&M) dec. Kevin Owen (BU), 6-3
184 - Jim Tretter (BU) dec. Matt Goggin (F&M), 7-2
197 - Nico Somers (F&M) forfeit
HWT - Shawn Coughlin (F&M) major dec. Josh Bestle (BU), 18-4
