CLARION, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team was back on the mats for the first time in 611 days on Sunday at the Clarion Open. The day was highlighted by Noah Fox's fifth-place finish at 174 lbs. Fox won four straight matches on the backside before reaching his match limit for the day. His run was just one of several for F&M as all 14 Diplomats who competed for the team won at least one match.

Making his collegiate debut, Fox started his day against the challenging field with a win against West Virginia. His only setback came against top-seeded John Worthing from host Clarion. An overtime victory against Bloomsburg sparked his run to the fifth-place match as he defeated foes from Navy, Buffalo, and Lock Haven and finished the day with a 5-1 record. The 174 lb. weight class was an overall strength for the Diplomats as John Crawford defeated a pair of EIWA foes from Navy and Bucknell before he was forced to medically forfeit out of the tournament after a 2-0 day.

Jose Diaz (125 lbs.) and James Conway (184 lbs.) were both one match away from placing. Diaz drew the No. 2 seed in the opening round, but rebounded with back-to-back wins against host Clarion before his run came to an end against the third-seeded wrestler from Navy. Also making his F&M debut, Conway took a lead with a late touchdown during his opening Round of 32 match before being reversed. Nevertheless, he quickly shook off that result with three straight victories against West Virginia, Bloomsburg, and EIWA foe Lehigh.

Seniors Cristiaan Dailey (149 lbs.) and Chase McCollum (157 lbs.) also made deep runs in the tournament. Dailey started his run through the backside with a pin against Big 10 foe Jack Prendergast of Maryland. He also defeated Kent State's Tyler Johnson to finish his day at 2-2. McCollum notched a pair of bonus point victories during the consolation rounds as he picked up major decisions against Conan Becker (Kent State) and Kaeden Berger (Clarion) by respective 11-0 and 9-0 scores. Anthony Micci recorded two more wins in his collegiate debut at 149 lbs. Micci took down his opponent from Kent State in overtime before picking up a second period fall versus Slippery Rock's Caden Raemer.

With a number of additional Diplomats making their debuts, Elijah Wallace (125 lbs.), Gio Diaz (133 lbs.), Pat Phillips (133 lbs.), Avery Clarke (141 lbs.), and Harrison Shapiro (184 lbs.) all recorded victories in their initial appearances for Franklin & Marshall. Shapiro had the most dominant showing of that group with a first period technical fall. Returning veterans Crew Fullerton (165 lbs.) and Mike Waszen (197 lbs.) showed bonus point potential with major decisions during their victories.

After the season-opening tournament, wrestling will begin its dual season this Wednesday with a 7 p.m. match at Elizabethtown. The Diplomats will return to tournament action this coming Sunday when they travel to Binghamton for the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open.

Jose Diaz (125 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. #2 Luke Werner (LHU); TF: 6:27 (17-1)
Consolation 1: bye
Consolation 2: Won vs. Logan Mazzeo (Clarion); MFF
Consolation 3: Won vs. Constantinos Gourgoulianias (Clarion); 11-1
Consolation 4: Lost vs. #3 Jacob Allen (Navy); 6-1

Elijah Wallace (125 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Aiden Lewis (Bucknell); TF: 4:30 (19-1)
Consolation 1: Bye
Consolation 2: Won vs. Jace Schaefer (West Virginia); 9-7 (SV)
Consolation 3: Lost vs. #4 Colton Camacho (Pittsburgh); TF: 3:48 (16-0)

Gio Diaz (133 lbs.)
Round of 32: bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Lucas Seiberg (West Virginia); 9-2
Consolation 2: Won vs. Michael Cassidy (Bloomsburg); MFF
Consolation 3: Lost vs. Mason Prinkey (Clarion); 16-9

Pat Phillips (133 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. #2 Jackson Cockrell (Maryland); 5-4
Consolation 1: bye
Consolation 2: Won vs. Tommy Capul (Maryland); 6-0
Consolation 3: Lost vs. Michael Dolan (West Virginia); 4-0

Jack Bruce (133 lbs.) – Unattached
Round of 32: Lost vs. #3 Jordan Titus (West Virginia); TF: 4:28 (15-0)
Consolation 1: Bye
Consolation 2: Lost vs. Mason Prinkey (Clarion); 9-0

Avery Clarke (141 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Seth Koleno (Clarion); Fall: 1:28
Consolation 1: Won Conner Quinn (Maryland); 4-1
Consolation 2: Lost vs. #2 Kyle Schickel (Clarion); F: 1:44

Cristiaan Dailey (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. PJ Crane (Navy); 6-2
Consolation 2: Bye
Consolation 3: Won vs. Jack Prendergast (Maryland); F: 2:29
Consolation 4: Won vs. Tyler Johnson (Kent State); 7-4
Consolation 5: Lost vs. Jeff Boyd (West Virginia); TF: 7:00 (16-1)

Anthony Micci (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Dan Mancini (Pittsburgh); 8-0
Consolation 2: Won vs. Mason Wersinger (Kent State); 8-6 (SV)
Consolation 3: Won vs. Caden Reamer (Slippery Rock – unrostered); F:4:14
Consolation 4: Lost vs. Michael Leandrou (Hofstra); 8-0

Chase McCollum (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. #1 Michael Petite (Buffalo); TF: 4:38 (21-4)
Consolation 1: bye
Consolation 2: Won vs. Conan Becker (Kent State); 11-0
Consolation 3: Won vs. Kaeden Berger (Clarion); 9-0
Consolation 4: Lost vs. #7 Trevor Elfvin (Clarion); 4-2

Crew Fullerton (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Caleb Hetrick (Clarion); 8-3
Consolation 2: bye
Consolation 3: Won vs. Casper Hinkle (Clarion); 15-5
Consolation 4: Lost vs. Ashton Eyler (Lock Haven); 10-5

Noah Fox (174 lbs.) – 5th Place
Round of 32: Won vs. Tucker Nadeau (West Virginia); 4-2
Round of 16: Lost vs. #1 John Worthing (Clarion); Fall: 1:34
Consolation 2: Won vs. Tanner Culver (Bloomsburg); 3-1 (SV)
Consolation 3: Won vs. Shane Sosinsky (Navy); 7-3
Consolation 4: Won vs. Bryson Alsteen (Buffalo); 6-5
Consolation 5: Won vs. #5 Tyler Stoltfus (Lock Haven); 4-3
5th Place: Not contested vs. Jaden Fisher (Bucknell)

John Crawford (174 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Shane Sosinsky (Navy); 5-2
Round of 16: Won vs. Sam Barnes (Bucknell); 8-6
Quarterfinals: MFF vs. #2 Reece Heller (Hofstra)
Consolation 4: MFF vs. Tyler Stoltzfus (Lock Haven)

James Conway (184 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. #4 Anthony Carmen (West Virginia); Fall: 6:59
Consolation 1: bye
Consolation 2: Won vs. Kyle Myers (West Virginia); 11-1
Consolation 3: Won vs. Bruno Stolfi (Bloomsburg); 5-2
Consolation 4: Won vs. Jack Wilt (Lehigh); 6-1
Consolation 5: Lost vs. Chase Mielnik (Maryland); 12-4

Harrison Shapiro (184 lbs.)
Round of 32: bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. #2 David Key (Navy); Fall: 4:58
Consolation 2: Won vs. Joseph Beck (Slippery Rock-unrostered); TF: 2:00 (16-0)
Consolation 3: Lost vs. Chase Mielnick (Maryland); 7-3

Mike Waszen (197 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Parker McClellan (Lock Haven); 4-0
Consolation 1: Won vs. Christian Sequete (Unrostered); 15-2
Consolation 2: Lost vs. Lucas Cochran (Penn State); 6-2