LANCASTER, Pa. - Wins in each of the first six bouts carried Franklin & Marshall's wrestling team to a 33-8 thrashing of VMI on Friday evening in the Mayser Center.
The Diplomats improved to 3-6 with the win while the Keydets fell to 2-11.
Before the start of the match, F&M honored its seven-member senior class of Jacob Conners, Corey Kerkesner, Anthony Mancini, Chris Martorello, Antonio Pelusi, Paddy Quinlan, and Philip Robilotto.
Jose Diaz kick-started F&M's early run at 125 pounds with a pair of takedowns and four near-fall points en route to a 12-0 major decision. Mike Simonetti (133 pounds) followed with an 11-2 victory in the next match, using a third-period takedown and four back points to secure the Diplomats' second straight major.
Ahead by an 8-0 score, F&M continued to seize the momentum with Wil Gil's 14-9 decision at 141 pounds. Gil collected five takedowns in the bout, including three in the opening stanza. Senior Chris Martorello made the most of his opportunity at 149 pounds with a first-period pin (1:30) that put the Diplomats firmly in front at 17-0.
A third-period takedown from classmate Paddy Quinlan at 157 pounds put the finishing touches on a 9-7 decision before Crew Fullerton (165 pounds) made it six wins in a row with his 9-5 decision.
VMI responded with a tech. fall at 174 pounds and a decision at 184 pounds to close the gap to 23-8, but it was too little too late as the match was firmly in the Diplomats' control.
Senior Philip Robilotto jumped in front by a 4-0 score in his opening period at 197 pounds and never looked back as he rolled to the 9-1 major. Heavyweight Antonio Pelusi (ranked No. 32 in the nation) concluded the match in style with an opening-minute pin (:55) over the Keydet's Trey Momon to deliver F&M the 25-point win.
The Diplomats wrap up the weekend at home tomorrow with contests against Bloomsburg (6:00 p.m.) and George Mason (8:00 p.m.) in Mayser.
F&M 33, VMI 8
125: Jose Diaz (F&M) over Derek Shockey (VMI) (MD 12-0)
133: Mike Simonetti (F&M) over Cliff Conway (VMI) (MD 11-2)
141: Wil Gil (F&M) over Dom Gallo (VMI) (Dec 14-9)
149: Chris Martorello (F&M) over Zach Schmitt (VMI) (Fall 1:30)
157: Paddy Quinlan (F&M) over Darren Ostrander (VMI) (Dec 9-7)
165: Crew Fullerton (F&M) over Luke Niksic (VMI) (Dec 9-5)
174: Neal Richards (VMI) over Jacob Conners (F&M) (TF 22-5 5:38)
184: Max Gallahan (VMI) over Reid Robilotto (F&M) (Dec 10-6)
197: Philip Robilotto (F&M) over Chris Beck (VMI) (MD 9-1)
285: Antonio Pelusi (F&M) over Trey Momon (VMI) (Fall 0:55)
