CLARION, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall's Jake Bucha and Colin Ely were both placewinners as the Diplomats kicked off wrestling season at the Clarion Open. Bucha, a senior 133-pounder placed third, while Ely, a 197-pound sophomore grappled his way to sixth place.

Bucha went 6-1 on the season's first day with five decisions, including one major, and a pin. His run on the 133-pound bracket began with a 10-5 win over Buffalo's Chris Conti, followed by a second period pin of Bucknell's Jack Ingram at 3:34. Bucha was ousted from the championship draw by Army's Jordan Thome. Thome posted a 12-4 victory en route to the 133-pound championship. Bucha wrestled his way back, beginning with an 8-2 win over Clarion's Devin Cook. He crossed paths with Conti once again, securing a 14-3 win. A 9-4 decision of Washington & Jefferson's Brandon Samson set up a consolation final with Clarion's Jay Ivanco. Bucha took down the Golden Eagle with an 8-3 decision.

"Jake wrestled with great intensity and his effort will go a long way to jumpstart our young team," said head coach, Pete Schuyler. "The guys wrestled hard up and down the lineup."

Ely went 2-3 on his way to sixth place. He knocked off Bloomsburg's Richard Perry 6-2 and Rutgers' Sam Kuntz 6-0 before being bumped from the main draw by Army's Richard Starks. Starks recorded a first period pin at 2:38. A 13-3 loss to Clarion's Alex Thomas sent Ely to the fifth place match, where Penn State's Luke Macchiaroli handed him an 8-2 setback.

Working primarily in the consolation bracket, Matt Fullowan went 3-2 in the 174-pound draw. Brian Sheehan of Buffalo pushed him out of the championship bracket in his first match of the season, but Fullowan responded with a three-bout tear. The sophomore pasted a major on Maryland's Owen Smith 3-2 before edging Buffalo's Pat Brady, 6-2. A medical forfeit led him to Bucknell's Shane Riccio. Riccio, who has been a constant thorn in the side of F&M 174-pounders, set Fullowan back, 7-0.

Matt Murray went 2-2 in the 133-pound bracket, while Dan Canfield posted the same mark at heavyweight. Murray defeated Ingram 9-4 and pinned American's Anthony Cartwright at 3:52. Canfield earned a 6-2 decision over Bucknell's Darrin Rockwell. His second win of the day came via injury default.

Anthony Bongarzone and Eric Norgard each picked up their first wins of the season. Bongarzone recorded a 7-5 decision over American International's Angel Mazer in the 165-pound draw. Norgard's first collegiate win came at the expense of teammate, Dave Pucci, in a third period pin.

The Diplomats return to action in two weeks at the Navy Classic.