LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's wrestling team fell to Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) opponent Bucknell by a 33-3 score in its home dual opener on Friday evening at the Mayser Center. The loss dropped the Diplomats to 1-3, 0-2 EIWA on the year, while the Bison improved to 1-1, 1-1 EIWA.
Edgar Garcia battled in the opener at 125 and trailed the nation's No. 14 ranked grappler Paul Petrov by just a 2-0 score following the first. However, the Bucknell standout proved to be too much for Garcia, taking the match by a 16-3 major decision.
Following an 8-2 decision loss at 133, No. 13 Rick Durso took the mat for F&M, looking to help the Diplomats climb out of an early 7-0 hole. Durso appeared to have the match in hand late in the third, however a late Tyler Smith takedown handed him a narrow 11-10 loss.
Victor Lopez, ranked at No. 19 in the country, survived Jason Bing by a 6-5 score at 149. Knotted at 4-4 late in the third, Bing nearly pulled off the upset until a clutch reversal from Lopez ended the threat and put the Bisons ahead 13-0.
Major decision losses at 157 and 165 made the score 21-0 heading into 184. Anthony Mancini finally got the Diplomats on the board, breaking a 2-2 tie in the third off an escape to earn a 3-2 decision for F&M.
Charles Kerkesner fought hard at 197, but could not overcome a trio of takedowns in a 15-8 loss, while the Bisons' Chuck Boddy held off Antonio Pelusi at 285 by a 4-1 score in the final contest of the evening.
The Diplomats return to the mat tomorrow, sending a handful of their wrestlers to compete at the Fall Brawl, hosted by Ursinus.
Bucknell 33, F&M 3
125: Paul Petrov (BUCK) over Edgar Garcia (F&M) (MD 16-3)
133: Grimaldi Gonzalez (BUCK) over Scott Stevens (F&M) (Dec 8-2)
141: Tyler Smith (BUCK) over Rick Durso (F&M) (Dec 11-10)
149: Victor Lopez (BUCK) over Jason Bing (F&M) (Dec 6-5)
157: Logan Kerin (BUCK) over Andy Francos (F&M) (MD 17-8)
165: Robert Schlitt (BUCK) over Gordon Bolig (F&M) (MD 11-3)
174: Rustin Barrick (BUCK) over Colin Gironda (F&M) (Fall 6:59)
184: Anthony Mancini (F&M) over Nick Stephani (BUCK) (Dec 3-2)
197: Tyler Greene (BUCK) over Charles Kerkesner (F&M) (Dec 15-8)
285: Chuck Boddy (BUCK) over Antonio Pelusi (F&M) (Dec 4-1)
