MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall captured the Battle for the Rupp Cup for the third straight year with a 25-12 triumph over Millersville on Friday night. The Diplomats even their record at 7-7 with the win, while the Marauders drop to 3-10.
Trailing 6-0 after the opening bout, F&M reeled off 25 consecutive points with seven straight wins that included one pin, one major decision, and five decisions, before being edged by decision in the final two matchups for the 25-12 margin of victory.
At 133 pounds, Robert Ruiz turned the momentum in the Diplomats favor with a win by fall over Kyle Loeb in 4:15, before Richard Durso, ranked 18th in country, gave F&M the lead for good with a 12-1 major decision over David Charles at 141. The victory was Durso's 10th straight and 32nd on the year, moving him into sole possession of third place on the single-season wins list.
Andrew Murano kept F&M rolling with an 8-6 decision over Brock Thompson at 149 for his 24th win of the season, while Eric Norgard edged Zac Wawryzniak-Bush 3-2 at 157 to push the Diplomats out to a 16-6 advantage.
Rob King (165), Colin Gironda (174), and Paul Alessandrini (184) each followed with wins by decision to give F&M a comfortable lead down the stretch. King defeated Zach Pincius 7-3, Gironda downed Tyler Hoover 8-7, and Alessandrini topped Danile Cox 10-7.
At 285, Alex Henry and Bradley Ladd battled into overtime, before Ladd outlasted the F&M sophomore 2-1 in the first tiebreaking period.
The Diplomats return to the mat next Saturday as they host the NWCA Dual Festival. F&M will take on Duke and Purdue in the five-team tournament.
Franklin & Marshall (F&M) 25.0 Millersville (MILL) 12.0
125: Samuel Oberlander, MILL, pinned Aaron Moldoff, F&M, 0:49.
133: Robert Ruiz, F&M, pinned Kyle Loeb, MILL, 4:15.
141: Richard Durso, F&M, maj. dec. David Charles, MILL, 12-2.
149: Andrew Murano, F&M, dec. Brock Thompson, MILL, 8-6.
157: Eric Norgard, F&M, dec. Zac Wawrzyniak-Bush, MILL, 3-2.
165: Rob King, F&M, dec. Zach Pincus, MILL, 7-3.
174: Colin Gironda, F&M, dec. Tyler Hoover, MILL, 8-7.
184: Paul Alessandrini, F&M, dec. Daniel Cox, MILL, 10-7.
197: Joel Suter, MILL, dec. Isaiah Cromwell, F&M, 4-0.
285: Bradley Ladd (MILL) tb-1 Alex Henry (F&M) 2-1.
