PHILADELPHIA – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team saw four individuals place at the 25th Annual Keystone Classic on Sunday. The Diplomats showed off their experience with seniors Cenzo Pelusi (fourth) and Wil Gil (fourth), in addition to the bright future ahead with first-years Pat Phillips (fifth) and James Conway (seventh).
Pelusi entered the tournament as the No. 3 and picked up bonus points during each of his three victories on Sunday to become a two-time Keystone Classic place winner. He picked up a 20-7 major decision against Nick Copley of Sacred Heart before pinning sixth-seeded Elijah Anthony of Drexel during the quarterfinals. Only an overtime defeat denied the senior a spot in the championship match. He put up 10 more points in another major decision against Copley before falling 6-3 in his final bout of the day.
Gil became a two-time Keystone Classic place winner after his 4-2 day at 141 lbs. The reigning EIWA Wrestler of the Week started his day by stalling out his opponent from the host Quakers while leading 17-3. His first two defeats of the season came to Appalachian State's Heath Gonyer. However, in between those results he notched a 10-6 victory over Drexel, 3-2 win versus Rider, and a medical forfeit victory against another Quaker. Gil's season record sits at 10-2 after today's tournament. The senior posted his 90th career victory in the consolation semifinals to tie Brendan James '98 for fourth place on the program's all-time wins list.
First-years Phillips and Conway both placed in their Keystone Classic debuts. Phillips racked up four wins on the day, falling only to a pair of the top four seeds. He started his day with a 13-2 win against Lukas Richie of Penn and rallied for a 7-5 sudden victory win against Anthony Glasl of George Mason during the blood round. He also recorded bonus points in his last two victories with a 13-2 win against Drexel before receiving a medical forfeit in his final match against the fifth-seeded Dragon at 133 lbs. Conway nearly knocked off the No. 2 seed from Penn to start his tournament, but was reversed late in the third during a 6-5 setback. The 184 lb. first-year bounced back with 6-1 victories against Penn's Maximus Hale and sixth-seeded Jake Hendricks to place seventh overall.
Three more Diplomats just missed the medal round as they dropped tough matches during the wrestleback Round of 12 after reaching the quarterfinals. At 133 lbs., Gio Diaz started his day with a 7-3 win against Anthony Glasl of George Mason, but suffered back-to-back defeats against the host Quakers after he was one of six Diplomats to reach the quarterfinals. Cristiaan Dailey nearly upset No. 4 seed Lukus Striker of Harvard, but dropped a tough overtime decision to deny him a spot on the 149 lb. podium. Noah Fox was also in the quarterfinals after starting his day with a first period fall against Sacred Heart's Sebastian Ford. However, F&M's sophomore hit the top seed during the quarterfinals before being eliminated during the following round.
Franklin & Marshall will be off during the upcoming week of Thanksgiving. When the Diplomats return to action they will do so on their home mat as they welcome Virginia Military Institute (2 p.m.) and Long Island University (4 p.m.) to the Mayser Center for a tri-meet. Those home-opening matches are set for Sunday, December 5.
Pat Phillips – 133 lbs. – Fifth Place
Round of 16: Won vs. Lukas Richie (Penn); 13-2
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #2 Codi Russell (Appalachian State); 6-3
Consolation R12: Won vs. Anthony Glasl (George Mason); 7-5 (SV)
Consolation QF: Won vs. Deon Pleasant (Drexel); 13-2
Consolation SF: Lost vs. #4 Sean Carter (Appalachian State); 4-2
5th Place: Won vs. #5 Jaxon Maroney (Drexel); MFF
Gio Diaz – 133 lbs.
Round of 16: Won vs. Anthony Glasl (George Mason); 7-3
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #1 Michael Colaiocco (Penn); Fall: 2:04
Consolation R12: Lost vs. Lukas Richie (Penn); 10-3
#2 Wil Gil – 141 lbs. – Fourth Place
Round of 16: Won vs. Chris Naegele (Sacred Heart); TF: 6:30 (19-3)
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Heath Gonyer (Appalachian State); 3-2
Consolation R12: Won vs. Jared Donahue (Drexel); 10-6
Consolation QF: Won vs. Bryan Miraglia (Rider); 3-2
Consolation SF: Won vs. CJ Composto (Penn); MFF
Third place: Lost vs. Heath Gonyer (Appalachian State); 6-3
Cristiaan Dailey – 149 lbs.
Round of 16: Won vs. Cole McGill (Sacred Heart); Fall: 5:51
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #4 Lukus Stricker (Harvard); 5-3 (SV)
Consolation R12: Lost vs. Grant Aronoff (Penn); Fall: 2:01
Chase McCollum – 157 lbs.
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. #5 Jake Silverstein (Rider); 7-2
Consolation 2: Bye
Consolation R16: Lost vs. Avery Bassett (George Mason); 7-0
Crew Fullerton – 165 lbs.
Round of 16: Lost vs. #2 William Formato (Appalachian State); 14-4
Consolation R16: Lost vs. Jacob Stefanowicz (Penn); 3-1
Noah Fox – 174 lbs.
Round of 16: Won vs. Sebastian Ford (Sacred Heart); Fall: 2:54
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #1 Michael O'Malley (Drexel); Fall: 0:34
Consolation R12: Lost vs. Brett Mordeci (Appalachian State); 12-3
James Conway – 184 lbs. – Seventh Place
Round of 16: Lost vs. #2 Neil Antrassian (Penn); 6-5
Consolation R16: Bye
Consolation R12: Won vs. Maximus Hale (Penn); 6-1
Consolation QF: Lost vs. Barrett Blakely (Appalachian State); 6-1
7th Place: Won vs. #6 Jake Hendricks (Penn); 6-1
#3 Cenzo Pelusi – 285 lbs. - Fourth Place
Round of 16: Won vs. Nick Copley (Sacred Heart); 20-7
Quarterfinals: Won vs. #6 Elijah Anthony (Drexel); Fall: 5:42
Semifinals: Lost vs. #2 Mike Burchell (Appalachian State); 3-1 (SV)
Consolation SF: Won vs. Nick Copley (Sacred Heart); 10-1
3rd Place: Lost vs. David Szuba (Rider); 6-3
