Season Links
LANCASTER, Pa. – A trio of Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) foes make their way to Lancaster this weekend as the Diplomats are set to host their opening duals of the season.
The Week Ahead
Friday, Jan. 17 – vs. Harvard – 8:00 PM
Video | Live Stats | History
Sunday, Jan. 19 – vs. Sacred Heart – 2:00 PM
Video | Live Stats | History
Sunday, Jan. 19 – vs. Brown – 5:00 PM
Video | Live Stats | History
A Look at Harvard
Harvard heads into Friday with an 0-3 dual meet record after competing against some of the top teams in the country to open the 2019-20 season. The Crimson fell to No. 4 Arizona St, (43-3), No. 11 Iowa State (34-6) and Campell (27-9) on Jan. 11.
Three Harvard grapplers are nationally ranked. Nolan Hellickson (125 pounds) comes in as high as No. 17, Philip Conigliaro (165 pounds) has been placed as high at No. 12 and 285-pounder Yaraslau Slavikouski is ranked as high as No. 10.
Harvard-F&M Connection
Harvard head coach Jay Weiss '90 is no stranger to the Diplomats. The 26-year Crimson leader graduated from Franklin & Marshall in 1990 as one of the program's most-successful competitors, having totaled a 62-36-2 career record.
A Look at Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart is 2-2 in dual competition this season and are fresh off a 30-9 bashing of VMI at home last Sunday. Three Pioneers placed at the David H. Lehman F&M Open on Jan. 4 with 165-pounder Brandon Levesque leading the way in second place and junior Joe Accousti claiming third in the 174-pound bracket.
A Look at Brown
Brown (0-2) has fallen in a pair of narrow duals this season. The Bears fell just short against American on Jan. 10th by an 18-16 tally before being dealt a similar fate in a narrow 19-15 loss to George Mason the following day.
Six grapplers placed at the Lehman Open in early January with freshman Ricky Cabanillas winning the 149-pound bracket.
Last Week
Four F&M wrestlers placed in the top-six at Saturday's Shorty Hitchcock Open, hosted by Millersville. Cenzo Pelusi garnered a second-place showing (285 pounds), while Wil Gil came in third (141 pounds). Emmett LiCastri (165 pounds) and Jose Diaz (125 pounds) followed by registering sixth place in their respective brackets.
A total of 15 Diplomats competed in the Open. Team scoring was not recorded. To view the final brackets, click here. To read the complete recap, click here.
Moving up the Wins Chart
Emmett LiCastri (165 pounds) and Wil Gil (141 pounds) both surpassed the 50-win plateau this season. LiCastri enters the week with 20 victories during his senior campaign and holds a 64-57 career record.
He is now in sole possession of 20th place on the Diplomats' all-time list.
Gil has tallied a team-best 22-7 mark during his junior year and currently holds a 69-36 overall record, which places him tied for 15th on the all-time wins list.
Put a Pin in it
With four pins on the year, senior captain Emmett LiCastri is up to 20 in his career. He became one of only 15 F&M wrestlers to record 20 falls in his career and is just three shy of reaching the top-10.
Home Mat Advantage
Five Diplomats placed in the top-eight at the 2020 David H. Lehman F&M Open on Jan. 4th – good for the most-ever for the program at their home tournament.
Wil Gil, Noah Chan, and Emmett LiCastri led the way with third-place showings. Mike Waszen followed in sixth and Cenzo Pelusi tied for eighth.
Top-Five in Wins
Wil Gil | 141 lbs. | 22-7 Record
Emmett LiCastri | 165 lbs. | 20-8 Record
Noah Chan | 157 lbs. | 16-8 Record
Cenzo Pelusi | 285 lbs. | 15-11 Record
Cole Aaron | 157 lbs. | 13-8 Record
Top-Five in Pins
Wil Gil | 141 lbs. | 6 Pins
Cole Aaron | 157 lbs. | 4 Pins
Noah Chan | 157 lbs. | 4 Pins
Cristiaan Dailey | 149 lbs. | 4 Pins
Emmett LiCastri | 165 lbs. | 4 Pins
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.
