FAIRFAX, Va. – Holding on to a slim two-point advantage in the team lead, Philip Robilotto's first-period pin at 197 pounds sealed Franklin & Marshall's 22-17 win in non-conference wrestling competition against George Mason on Sunday afternoon in Virginia.
The Diplomats improved to 2-11 with the dual victory while the Patriots' slide was extended to seven straight losses and now stand at 3-12 on the year.
Following a major decision set back at 125 pounds, F&M seized the momentum with two consecutive wins to take a 9-4 edge heading into 149 pounds. Dan Martoccio got the action started at 133 with a pin at 2:04 while Brett Kulp (141 pounds) tallied three points in the second period, before clinching his match with a takedown in the third, for a 5-0 shutout.
Each team traded major decisions at 149 and 157 with Emmett LiCastri delivering four points to the Diplomats with a 13-5 victory at 157 pounds. LiCastri notched three takedowns in the bout while recording four nearfall points in the second frame.
George Mason held on for a narrow 4-2 decision at 165 to cut the Diplomats' lead down to 13-11. Josh Young kept the Patriots at bay with an 8-3 decision at 174. Storming out of the gate with two takedowns in the first period, Young kept the pressure on Mason's Levko Higgins and added a third-period takedown to roll to his decision win.
A Patriot decision at 184 pounds once again brought George Mason within two, but Robilotto was dominant at 197 pounds. Leading at 4-2 after a takedown and reversal, Robilotto pinned Eli Spencer at 1:48 to dispatch the Patriots with six key team points.
Antonio Pelusi (No. 31), who entered his 285-pound match with wins in 12 of his previous 13 contests, faced off against No. 30 ranked Matt Voss in the day's final match. Tied at 1-1 at the end of the third period, Voss avenged a 4-2 (SV-1) loss to Pelusi earlier in the season with a 4-2 (TB-1) victory after earning a takedown and an escape.
The Diplomats will look to keep rolling on Thursday when F&M welcomes Millersville to the Mayser Center in the annual Battle for the Rupp Cup at 7:30 p.m.
F&M 22, George Mason 17
125: Ibrahim Bunduka (GEMA) over Edgar Garcia (F&M) (MD 13-4)
133: Dan Martoccio (F&M) over Trevor Mello (GEMA) (Fall 2:04)
141: Brett Kulp (F&M) over Jose Tapia (GEMA) (Dec 5-0)
149: Tejon Anthony (GEMA) over Wil Gil (F&M) (MD 11-3)
157: Emmett LiCastri (F&M) over Ryan Yorkdale (GEMA) (MD 13-5)
165: Garrett Griffith (GEMA) over Jacob Conners (F&M) (Dec 4-2)
174: Josh Young (F&M) over Levko Higgins (GEMA) (Dec 8-3)
184: Austin Wilkerson (GEMA) over Steven Mercadante (F&M) (Dec 9-4)
197: Philip Robilotto (F&M) over Eli Spencer (GEMA) (Fall 1:48)
285: Matt Voss (GEMA) over Antonio Pelusi (F&M) (TB-1 4-2)
