BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Franklin & Marshall went 1-1 in a pair of Division I non-conference dual-meet contests in North Carolina on Wednesday, recording a pair of pins in a lopsided 38-9 victory over Presbyterian before falling just short to host Gardner-Webb by a22-18 tally in the nightcap.
The Diplomats moved to 3-1 overall on the year.
Jose Diaz helped F&M get off to a fast start against Presbyterian, securing a 12-3 major decision at 125 pounds. The sophomore grappler earned a first-period takedown and a pair of nearfall points in the opening stanza to cruise to the win.
With the Diplomats leading the team score at 4-3 heading into 141, Wil Gil padded the F&M advantage with six points thanks to a late first-period pin. Gil was dominant, recording three takedowns before finishing off his opponent at 2:54.
Ahead 10-3, F&M began to pull away when Cristiaan Dailey's 13-1 major decision win at 149 pounds, and a Presbyterian forfeit at 157 gave the Diplomats a 20-3 advantage. Dailey earned bonus points for the Diplomats in his match due to a takedown and four nearfall points in the third stanza.
Emmett LiCastri registered F&M second pin of the afternoon and the 18th of his career, needing just 2:06 in his 165-pound match to add six points to the Diplomats' total.
The Diplomats fell behind early against Gardner-Webb after dropping the 125-pound match by a tight 6-5 decision before F&M rattled off three consecutive wins to take a commanding 12-3 lead. Gil and Dailey claimed decisions in that run, improving each to 2-0 on the day.
However, the Bulldogs responded with wins in five straight matches jump in front for good. Steven Mercadante wrapped up the competition with a first-period pin (2:23) at 285 pounds, but the deficit was insurmountable for the Diplomats.
F&M heads on winter break and is set to return to the mats on Dec. 29-30 when the Diplomats send wrestlers out to Chicago for the annual Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern.
F&M 38, Presbyterian 9
125: Jose Diaz (F&M) over Jacob Brasseur (PC) (MD 12-3)
133: Parker Corwin (PC) over Mike Simonetti (F&M) (Dec 4-1)
141: Wil Gil (F&M) over Reid Stewart (PC) (Fall 2:54)
149: Cristiaan Dailey (F&M) over Bryton Goering (PC) (MD 13-1)
157: Noah Chan (F&M) over (PC) (For.)
165: Emmett LiCastri (F&M) over Noah Hall (PC) (Fall 2:06)
174: John Crawford (F&M) over (PC) (For.)
184: Austin Stith (PC) over Jimmy Stillerman (F&M) (Dec 12-6)
197: Ethan Seeley (F&M) over (PC) (For.)
285: Imani Heslop (PC) over Mike Waszen (F&M) (Dec 7-4)
Gardner-Webb 22, F&M 18
125: Will Edmiston (GAWE) over Jose Diaz (F&M) (Dec 6-5)
133: Mike Simonetti (F&M) over (GAWE) (For.)
141: Wil Gil (F&M) over Brandon Bright (GAWE) (Dec 9-2)
149: Cristiaan Dailey (F&M) over Anthony Schiess (GAWE) (Dec 4-1)
157: Taylor Parks (GAWE) over Noah Chan (F&M) (Fall 3:00)
165: Rodrick Mosley (GAWE) over Emmett LiCastri (F&M) (MD 11-3)
174: Sam Mora (GAWE) over John Crawford (F&M) (Dec 12-7)
184: Christian Salter (GAWE) over Jimmy Stillerman (F&M) (Dec 3-2)
197: Roderick Davis (GAWE) over Ethan Seeley (F&M) (Dec 10-4)
'285: Steven Mercadante (F&M) over Gabriel Picket (GAWE) (Fall 2:23)
