Complete Results (PDF)
LANCASTER, Pa. - Richard Durso and Robert Ruiz each claimed second place to headline Franklin & Marshall's performance at the inaugural F&M Open on Saturday. There was no team scoring in the event.
Durso and Ruiz both posted a trio of victories to earn their spots in the championship match. At 141, Durso cruised in his opening bout, delivering a pin over Life University's Dillan Schouw in 6:32. The sophomore then secured a pair of wins by decision, 8-1 over Lock Haven's Jonathan Childress in the quarterfinals and 3-0 over Maryland's Shyheim Brown in the semifinals, to advance to the final round. In the championship, Durso and Jamel Hudson of Hofstra went back and forth, with Hudson narrowly earning a 7-6 triumph. Durso was the aggressor throughout and nearly secured a takedown in the waning seconds, but fell just short to settle for second.
At 133, Ruiz registered three victories by decision to reach the championship. Ruiz downed Mark Edmonds of Bucknell 9-2 in the first round, before edging Davie Pearce of Drexel 7-4 in the quarterfinals. The sophomore then topped VMI's Brandon Goodwyn by a 5-2 count to move on to the gold-medal bout, but was outlasted in the finals 8-5 by Maryland's Jenkins Monzey.
In addition to Ruiz and Durso's placings, Andrew Murano (149), Aaron Moldoff (125), and Paul Alessandrini (184) secured top-eight finishes. Murano opened with a convincing 16-4 major decision against Princeton's Robert Shepherd, before falling to Zach Bintliff of Princeton in the next round. The junior then bounced back with three straight triumphs by decision in the consolation bracket.
Moldoff was edged by Navy's Sam Warne 6-5 in the first round, but responded with two victories in the consolations, including a pin. Alessandrini also shook off an opening-round loss with back-to-back wins in the wrestlebacks, also recording a pin.
Other Diplomats who nabbed at least two victories on the day included Eric Norgard (157), Colin Lahiff (165), and Isaiah Cromwell (197).
F&M returns to dual meet action on Wednesday at home against Gettysburg. The match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.
