LANCASTER, Pa. – A trio of Franklin & Marshall wrestlers earned top-four finishes, led by a third-place showing from 285-pounder Antonio Pelusi, to pace the Diplomats at the fourth annual David H. Lehman F&M Open on Wednesday in Lancaster.
Competing unattached, Pelusi fell to eventual champion Nicolas Gajdzik of Harvard in his opening match, before battling back in the consolations with four consecutive wins, including a pair of pins, on his way to third place.
Paddy Quinlan captured fourth at 141, beginning his day with two falls, before coming up short in the championship semifinals to runner-up Lyle Plummer of Air Force. Quinlan answered with an 18-11 decision in the consolation semifinals but had to settle for fourth after being pinned by Maryland's Adam Whitesell in the battle for third.
Representing F&M at 184, Anthony Mancini secured a 4-2 decision in his opening bout but was pinned in his next matchup. In the wrestlebacks, Mancini put together a pair of dominating performances, a 13-4 major and an 18-3 tech. fall, to reach the third-place match. Mancini's run came to an end after Harvard's Logan Kirby edged out a narrow 4-3 win.
At 133, Dan Martoccio picked up a pair of pins in the consolation bracket but came up just short in reaching the semifinals, falling by a close 7-3 decision, while Tom Quinlan went 2-2 at 149, including a pin (6:07) against Millersville's David Charles in the wrestlebacks. Brandon Giovanetti also competed at 149, securing a 7-3 decision in the consolations.
The tournament proved to be a memorable one for Josh Young (174), who earned his first collegiate victory with a 10-3 decision against Millersville's Nick Mancini in his opening match of the day. After falling in the next round, Young earned a 2-0 decision over teammate Colin Gironda in the consolations. Young finished his competition with a 2-2 mark following a narrow 7-6 loss to Lehigh's Andrew Price.
Jack Argast also enjoyed his first collegiate win at 197, taking a 3-1 sudden victory decision over teammate Charles Kerkesner in the consolation bracket.
The Diplomats return to the mat on Saturday, Jan. 9 when F&M travels to the Pitt. Duals to square off against Davidson, Columbia and Pitt.
