BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Franklin & Marshall's wrestling team competed at the sixth annual Jonathon Kaloust Bearcat Open, hosted by Binghamton on Sunday afternoon. The tournament marked the first non-dual competition of the Diplomats' 2015-16 season.
Rick Durso started out on a tear at 141, opening with a 17-0 tech. fall victory over Cornell's Eli Bienstock in his first bout and following with another 15-0 tech. fall in his second matchup. However, Durso fell by a 19-9 major in the round of 16, before seeing his day come to an end in the wrestlebacks.
At 165, Robbie King registered a pair of decisions to reach the quarterfinals, taking down Lehigh's Charles Sell (8-4 decision) in his first matchup and Maryland's Josh Ugalde (3-2) in his second contest. Following a 6-3 loss, King battled back in consolations for a 4-1 win in sudden victory, before bowing out in his next matchup.
Scott Stevens was impressive at 133, beginning action with a 6-1 decision. In the round of 16, Stevens nearly pulled off the upset of 2015 NCAA Qualifier and the nation's No. 17 grappler in Caleb Richardson of Penn, but fell just short by a 5-2 score.
Following a 3-0 loss in his opening bout at 184, Anthony Mancini answered with a pair of victories in consolations, securing a 5-3 sudden victory decision, before securing a 2-1 win. Mancini's day came to an end off a pin in the middle of the third period to conclude his tournament with a 2-2 mark.
Tom Quinlan (fall at 3:52) and Jason Bing (3-1 decision) each picked up a win in the 149 consolation bracket. Andrew Francos earned a hard-fought 6-4 decision over Bloomsburg's Ryan Dougherty in the wrestlebacks at 157, while Colin Gironda (174) edged out a 4-3 decision in consolations.
At 285, Antonio Pelusi bounced back from a narrow 5-2 loss in his opening bout with a 6-2 decision in the consolation bracket, before dropping a tough 5-3 tiebreaker decision.
F&M continues action on Friday with its first home dual of the season, welcoming Bucknell to the Mayser Center for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
