LEXINGTON, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team fell behind early and could not recover, dropping a 27-11 match to the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on Saturday evening in Lexington, Va.  The Diplomats dropped to 0-2 with the loss while the Keydets picked up their first win of the season, improving to 1-3. 

Richard Durso improved to 5-0 in the season with a 12-3 major decision at 141. Sharron Townsend followed at 149 with a 4-3 decision over Shabaka Johns to pull F&M within two at 9-7. 

Andrew Murano gave the Diplomats an 11-9 advantage when he earned a 13-5 major decision over Ted Gottwald at 157, before Rob King battled at 165, but dropped a 10-5 decision to Mark Darr as VMI retook the lead at 12-11. 

From there the Keydets pickup up wins in the final four bouts to close out the duel. Gordon Bolig and Paul Alessandrini both hung tough in their matchups but fell by decision at 6-5 and 3-2 respectively. 

F&M returns to action tomorrow when the Diplomats send wrestlers to compete in the Stroudsburg Open.

VMI 27, Franklin & Marshall 11

Wt. Winner Type Loser Score (Running Score VMI-F&M)

125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) WBF Jason Bing (F&M) 1:37 (6-0)

133: Mike Flora (VMI) DEC Robert Ruiz (F&M) 3-1 (9-0)

141: Rick Durso (F&M) MAJ DEC Emmitt Kelly (VMI) 12-3 (9-4)

149: Sharron Townsend (F&M) DEC Shabaka Johns (VMI) 4-3 (9-7)

157: Andrew Murano (F&M) MAJ DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI) 13-5 (9-11)

165: Mark Darr (VMI) DEC Rob King (F&M) 10-5 (12-11)

174: Timmy Davison (VMI) DEC Gordon Bolig (F&M) 6-5 (15-11)

184: Hardy Hendren (VMI) DEC Paul Alessandrini (F&M) 3-2 (18-11)

197: Andrew Embree (VMI) WBF Isaiah Cromwell (F&M) 2:37 (24-11)

285: Juan Adams (VMI) DEC Alex Henry (F&M) 4-0 (27-11)