Jan. 4, 2007

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Franklin & Marshall won three of the five bouts actually contested, but the injury-depleted Diplomat grapplers fell 37 to Army in EIWA wrestling action at West Point on Thursday. Al Gianforti, Justin Herbert, and Nico Somers, each of whom placed at last week's Wilkes Open, continued their winning ways, registering decisions for the Diplomats.

Gianforti's 11-6 decision at 141 made it 12-3 following a pair of F&M forfeits. He is now 11-3 on the season.

It didn't take long for Army to regain its 12-point cushion as Brock Epps earned a 4-1 decision over Steven Gregory in the 149-pound bout to up the Black Knights' advantage to 15-3.

Christian Snook kept Army's momentum going as the junior jumped all over Andrew Smith in the 157-pound bout. Snook scored the first seven points of the match and never looked back en route to 10-1 major decision. The triumph, the first dual win of Snook's career, put the Black Knights in front, 19-3.

Franklin & Marshall came right back as Justin Herbert used a 12-6 decision versus John Drew at 165 pounds to pull the Diplomats within 13, 19-6. Herbert improved to 9-5 on the season with his win.

That was as close as Franklin & Marshall would get, though, as Army's Ryan Mergen (174), Scott Ferguson (184) and Connor Sanders (197) were all awarded wins by forfeit to extend the Black Knights' lead to 37-6 going into the final bout of the night.

Franklin & Marshall's Nico Somers defeated Michael Sprigg, 5-4, in the heavyweight bout to up his record to 12-2. He has now reeled off wins in his last eight bouts.

The Diplomats fall to 2-2 overall, and 0-2 in the EIWA with the loss. Army, winners of three consecutive dual meets, improved to 3-1, and remained unblemished in EIWA competition at 3-0. The Diplomats return to the Mayser Center mat on Saturday when Franklin & Marshall hosts Rutgers. Wrestling gets underway at 2:00 p.m.

Army 37, Franklin & Marshall 9
125: Fernando Martinez (A) win by forfeit
133: William Simpson (A) win by forfeit
141: Al Gianforti (FM) dec. Austin Milster, 11-6
149: Brock Epps (A) dec. Steven Gregory, 4-1
157: Christian Snook (A) maj. dec. Andrew Smith, 10-1
165: Justin Herbert (FM) dec. John Drew, 12-6
174: Ryan Mergen (A) win by forfeit
184: Scott Ferguson (A) win by forfeit
197: Connor Sanders (A) win by forfeit
285: Nico Somers (FM) dec. Michael Sprigg, 5-4