Season Links
LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's wrestling program aims to continue its undefeated start to dual meet action when the Diplomats travel to North Carolina on Wednesday to battle a pair of Division I opponents in the host Presbyterian at noon and Gardner-Webb at 2:00 p.m.
The Diplomats close out the 2019 calendar year at the 57th annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, held at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on Dec. 29-30.
Looking Ahead
F&M at Presbyterian
Wednesday, Dec. 18 | 12:00 PM
Boiling Springs, N.C.
Live Results
Series Record: First Meeting
Streak: N/A
First Meeting: N/A
Last F&M Win: N/A
Last PC Win: N/A
F&M at Gardner-Webb
Wednesday, Dec. 18 | 2:00 PM
Boiling Springs, N.C.
Video (ESPN+) | Live Results
Series Record: F&M leads 2-1-1
Streak: F&M +1
First Meeting: Feb. 21, 2004
Last F&M Win: 21-19, Jan. 12, 2019
Last GW Win: 49-3, Jan. 29, 2005
Dec. 29-30 - Midlands Championships (Northwestern) - All Day
Tickets | Video | Tournament Homepage
Series History
F&M faces off with Gardner-Webb for just the fifth time in program history, but the second straight season. Last year on Jan. 12th in Richmond, Va., the Diplomats snuck past the Bulldogs with a 21-19 win. Philip Robilotto (197) and Anotnio Pelusi (285) wrapped up the match with back-to-back decisions that erased a four-point deficit.
The Diplomats have never taken on Presbyterian, a member of the Southern Conference from Clinton, S.C.
A Look at the Midlands Championships
The historic Midlands Championships embarks on its 57th annual year and is set to take place at the Sears Centre Arena in Illinois on Dec. 29-30. Northwestern's event is broken down into four sessions, with the opening stanza set for Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Ticket information can be found here.
Historically, the Diplomats have faired well at one of Division I's marquee tournaments. Last year, Emmett LiCastri rolled to a 5-2 record in the 157-pound bracket and fell just one match short of placing, while Philip Robilotto racked up a 3-2 record at 197 pounds. Recap.
Keystone Classic Recap
F&M last competed on Nov. 24th at the Keystone Classic, hosted by Penn. Eight Diplomat grapplers placed at the tournament as F&M finished with 67.5 team points to take sixth out of 10 competing teams.
Wil Gil led the way with third place in the 141-pound bracket. Recap.
Scouting Presbyterian
The Blue Hose have yet to compete in a dual this season but have performed well in a trio of early-season tournaments. At the Cornell Open on Nov. 24th, Jacob Brasseur picked up a third-place finish in the 125-pound weight class. Parker Corwin finished third in the 133-pound bracket, while Austin Stith finished fourth in the 197-pound weight class.
Scouting Gardner-Webb
The Bulldogs hail from Boiling Springs, N.C. and are a member of the Division I Southern Conference. Still searching for its first dual win of the season, Gardner-Webb heads into Wednesday with an 0-3 record. The Bulldogs were tabbed to finish fifth in their Conference's preseason poll.
LiCastri and Gil Eclipse 50 Wins
Emmett LiCastri reached the 50-win milestone in his career with a 5-1 record at the 2019 Bearcat Open, hosted by Binghamton on Nov. 10. The senior 165-pounder currently holds a 56-52 career record.
Wil Gil exceeded 50 wins with a 2-0 day against VMI and Davidson on Nov. 16th and currently holds a 55-32 career mark.
Record Book Watch
LiCastri has totaled 18 career pins. Only 15 F&M wrestlers have ever reached 20 during their time in Lancaster.
EIWA Tickets
Tickets are now on sale for the 2020 EIWA Championships, which are hosted by Lehigh and are set to run from March 6-7.
An all-session pass costs $75.00 and can be purchased here. Tickets for college students, as well as children 12 and under, will cost $36 and are available by clicking here.
