LEWISBURG, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's wrestling team gave Bucknell all it could handle in the early going, but a six-bout winning streak from the Bison closed out the contest as the Diplomats fell by a 33-6 score on Tuesday afternoon in Lewisburg.
The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) opener dropped F&M to 1-1, 0-1 EIWA on the year, while Bucknell improved to 1-2, 1-1 EIWA.
The Diplomats found themselves trailing by a narrow 7-6 score following the opening four matches. Action began at 125 with F&M's Edgar Garcia hanging tough throughout, but was ultimately undone by a third-period reversal as he fell by a 4-2 score. Dan Martoccio got the Diplomats on the board at 133, securing a 5-3 decision after recording a pair of takedowns to tie the team score at 3-3.
Reigning NCAA Qualifier Tyler Smith came up huge for the Bison with a 14-2 major over Paddy Quinlan to push the advantage to four. However, the Diplomats' Sam Butler rode a 4-0 lead after the first period at 149 to hang on for a key 6-2 decision that pulled F&M within one.
Bucknell seized the momentum back with a 10-0 major at 157 and continued with bonus points in three of the next four bouts, including an opening-period pin at 197 to extend its advantage for good.
F&M returns to competition on Saturday, sending split squads to compete in both a trio of bouts at the Pittsburgh Duals, as well as having grapplers take part in the Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Open, hosted by Millersville.
Bucknell 33, Franklin & Marshall 6
125: Jordan Gessner (BU) dec. Edgar Garcia (F&M), 4-2.
133: Dan Martoccio (F&M) dec. Joey Gould (BU), 5-3.
141: No. 19/18/17 Tyler Smith (BU) maj. dec. Paddy Quinlan (F&M), 14-2.
149: Sam Butler (F&M) dec. Seth Hogue (BU), 6-2.
157: No. 13/14/18 Victor Lopez (BU) maj. dec. Mike Berkowitz (F&M), 10-0.
165: D.J. Hollingshead (BU) tech fall Michael Marano (F&M), 22-6 (6:59).
174: Chad Reese (BU) dec. Jimmy Stillerman (F&M), 10-4.
184: Garrett Hoffman (BU) tech fall Anthony Mancini (F&M), 16-0 (6:32).
197: No. 16/12/18 Tom Sleigh (BU) pinned Jack Argast (F&M) 0:53.
285: Tyler Greene (BU) dec. Corey Kerkesner (F&M), 10-5.
