DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team fell to The Citadel (5-3) by a 31-3 score before responding with a commanding 27-7 victory over Davidson (4-9) on Sunday afternoon at a trimatch hosted by the Wildcats. The Diplomats' record on the season moved to 5-4 with the split. 

The Citadel took the opening bouts at 125 and 133 with a pair of decisions to go ahead early by a 6-0 score. Richard Durso got F&M on the board with a decision of his own at 141 over No. 17 Khishignyam Undrakhbayar to pull the Diplomats within three at 6-3. 

A pin by the Bulldogs at 149 kicked off a run of seven-straight wins that included four narrow decisions to close out the 28-point victory. Colin Gironda battled at 174, falling by a hard-fought 2-0 decision, while Alex Henry took his opponent to the wire at 285 but was outdueled in sudden victory by a 3-1 tally. 

Later in the day against Davidson, Jason Bing got F&M off on the right foot with an 8-0 major decision right out of the gate at 125. The Diplomats followed with four-straight decisions from Scott Stevens (4-1), Robert Ruiz (4-2), Durso (8-7) and Andrew Murano (11-4) to pull ahead at 16-0.

Rob King dominated at 165 by taking a 10-2 major decision to put the match out of reach for the Diplomats. Chuckie Kerkesner put the exclamation point on the victory with an 11-2 major decision at 197, while Henry closed out competition by coming away with a 5-1 decision. 

The Diplomats return to action on Saturday when F&M travels to take on Princeton at 12:00 p.m. 

The Citadel 31 - Franklin & Marshall 3

Bout-by-Bout Winner def. Loser Type Score

125: Joaquin Marquez, THCI, dec. Jason Bing, F&M, 4-1.

133: Aaron Hansen, THCI, dec. Robert Ruiz, F&M, 3-1.

141: Richard Durso, F&M, dec. Undrakhbayar Khishignyam, THCI, 4-3.

149: Matthew Frisch, THCI, pinned Sharron Townsend, F&M, 6:09.

157: Aaron Walker, THCI, dec. Andrew Murano, F&M, 2-1.

165: Turtogtokh Luvsandorj, THCI, dec. Theodore King, F&M, 11-6.

174: Terrell Forbes, THCI, dec. Colin Gironda, F&M, 2-0.

184: Kenneth Radford, THCI, dec. Paul III Alessandrini, F&M, 3-2.

197: Marshall Haas, THCI, maj. dec. Charles Kerkesner, F&M, 15-7.

285: Joseph Bexley (THCI) sv-1 Alexander Henry (F&M) 3-1. 

Franklin & Marshall 27 - Davidson 7

Bout-by-Bout Winner def. Loser Type Score

125 Jason Bing, F&M, maj. dec. Philip Elias, DAVI, 8-0

133 Scott Stevens, F&M, dec. Anthony Elias, DAVI, 4-1

141 Robert Ruiz, F&M, dec. Alexander Palinski, DAVI, 4-2

149 Richard Durso, F&M, dec. Kevin Birmingham, DAVI, 8-7

157 Andrew Murano, F&M, dec. Nick Pappayliou, DAVI, 11-4

165 Theodore King, F&M, maj. dec. Patrick Devlin, DAVI, 10-2

174 Nathaniel Powers, DAVI, dec. Colin Gironda, F&M, 7-2

184 Donald Patrick, DAVI, maj. dec. Adam Schroeder, F&M, 14-6

197 Charles Kerkesner, F&M, maj. dec. Michael Moore, DAVI, 11-2

285 Alexander Henry, F&M, dec. Eddie Isola, DAVI, 5-1