PRINCETON, N.J. - Franklin & Marshall fell to Clarion and Princeton in tri-meet wrestling action on Sunday at Princeton. The Diplomats (2-14) began the day with a 42-4 loss to Clarion (5-6), before being edged out by Princeton (7-11), 24-12.
Against Clarion, Matt Fullowan posted the lone win of the match for F&M at 174 pounds. Fullowan scored an 11-1 major decision over Ryan Darch to earn his 15th victory of the season. The Golden Eagles captured the first six bouts to take the early edge and never looked back as they recorded three wins via fall, two major decisions and a technical fall en route to the win. David Hershberger (125), Matt Latessa (184) and Colin Ely (197) each battled their respective opponents to close decisions, but came up short in the loss.
F&M then took on Princeton in a dual that saw eight of the 10 bouts result in a victory by decision. Despite the Diplomats taking the opening two bouts, the Tigers secured six of those decision wins, which proved to be the difference in the match.
Hershberger started things off on the right foot for F&M at 125 with a 7-3 decision over Ryan Cash, before Robert Ruiz gave the Diplomats a 6-0 advantage with a 6-5 decision against Joseph DeQuinzio at 133.
Princeton's Adam Krop, ranked 13th in the nation at 141, defeated Richard Durso by decision, 8-2, to begin a streak of seven-straight bout wins for the Tigers. At 149, Seth Hazelton edged out Andrew Murano, 3-2, while Kyle Roddy posted a 2-0 triumph over Eric Norgard at 157 to push the Princeton lead to 9-6.
The Tigers then benefitted from a forfeit at 165, before Andrew Lowy (174), Daniel Santoro (184), and Kurt Brendel scored narrow victories by decision to ice the win. Lowy outlasted Fullowan, 5-4, in overtime, Santoro downed Latessa, 6-4, and Brendel nipped Ely, 7-4.
Isaiah Cromwell closed out the match on a high note for F&M with a pinning of Robert Grogan at 285 in just 18 seconds.
The Diplomats return home to wrap up their regular season against Millersville on Friday in the annual battle for the Rupp Cupp. Start time is set for 7:30 pm at the Mayser Center.
CLARION (CL) 42 FRANKLIN & MARSHALL (F&M) 4
125: Trey Hicks (CL) dec. David Hershberger (F&M) 5-0 (3-0)
133: Joe Waltko (CL) pinned Robert Ruiz (F&M) 4:04 (9-0)
141: Tyler Bedelyon (CL) maj. dec. Richard Durso (F&M) 11-3 (13-0)
149: Cameron Moran (CL) tech. fall Andrew Murano (F&M) 17-0 (18-0)
157: #4 James Fleming (CL) pinned Eric Norgard (F&M) 3:39 (24-0)
165: #5 Bekzod Abdurakhmonov forfeit (30-0)
174: Matt Fullowan (F&M) maj. dec. Ryan Darch (CL) 11-1 (30-4)
184: Steven Cressley (CL) dec. Matt Latessa (F&M) 8-4 (33-4)
197: Alex Thomas (CL) dec. Colin Ely (F&M) 4-2 (36-4)
285: Quintas McCorkle (CL) pinned Alex Henry (F&M) 2:24 (42-4)
Princeton (PRIN) 24.0 Franklin & Marshall (F&M) 12.0
125: David III Hershberger, F&M, dec. Ryan Cash, PRIN, 7-3. (0-3)
133: Robert Ruiz, F&M, dec. Joseph DeQuinzio, PRIN, 6-5. (0-6)
141: #13 Adam Krop, PRIN, dec. Richard Durso, F&M, 8-2. (3-6)
149: Seth Hazleton, PRIN, dec. Andrew Murano, F&M, 3-2. (6-6)
157: Kyle Roddy, PRIN, dec. Eric Norgard, F&M, 2-0. (9-6)
165: Richard Eva, PRIN, forf. (15-6)
174: Andrew Lowy, PRIN, dec. OT Matt Fullowan, F&M, 5-4. (18-6)
184: Daniel Santoro, PRIN, dec. Matt Latessa, F&M, 6-4. (21-6)
197: Kurt Brendel, PRIN, dec. Colin Ely, F&M, 7-4. (24-6)
285: Isaiah Cromwell, F&M, pinned Robert Grogan, PRIN, 0:18. (24-12)
