DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team stood as one of the final eight undefeated teams in Division I heading into Friday's road trip to Davidson. The Diplomats put up bonus points during three of their four victories, but it wasn't enough against the host Wildcats. Davidson secured the dual win by taking five of the final six matches by decision in a 20-18 final team score.

The dual got off to a great start for F&M as Gio Diaz racked up 12 back points in just 4:38 of wrestling on his way to a tech fall with the dual starting at 125 lbs. That result was quickly matched by Davidson as Kyle Gorant used a third period tech fall at 133 lbs. to even the team score.

Wil Gil put the Diplomats in front with a lead that held most of the afternoon as he racked up 4:09 of riding time during a 11-2 major decision. The senior captain secured four takedowns throughout the match while his opponent was called for stalling twice with Gil looking for more points during a punishing ride on top. Gil moved to a perfect 5-0 on the year in duals (16-4 overall) with his 96th career victory. Cristiaan Dailey kept that momentum going with a 9-7 win at 149 lbs. The senior used two takedowns in the first period and had a reversal in both the second and third periods before adding on his riding time point.

With F&M leading 12-5, the Wildcats swung the momentum back in their favor with three consecutive victories by decision. At 157 lbs., Chase McCollum dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision. Crew Fullerton led for the majority of his match behind three first period takedowns, but a six-point move in the final seconds gave that match to the hosts. The six-point moves continued to haunt F&M as John Crawford found himself in that early deficit. He battled all the way back to 8-6 but could not secure the match-tying takedown during the final seconds of his bout at 174 lbs.

Needing a spark, the Diplomats got just that from first-year James Conway as he secured a fall in 4:17 to put his side back in front. Tied 3-3 heading to the second period, Conway escaped and took his opponent to his back before securing the fall with 43 seconds remaining in the period. That result seemed to have the momentum back in F&M's favor, but it was short lived as the Wildcats took a 4-0 decision at 197 lbs. before Cenzo Pelusi also tried unsuccessfully to chase down a match-tying takedown during the third period.

With its season dual record currently sitting at 4-1, the Diplomats will have just under two weeks of preparation before they look to return to their winning ways during a road trip to Gettysburg. That match is slated for Wednesday, January 26 at 7 p.m. The Diplomats will also be on the road a couple days later with the dual against Sacred Heart now set for Sunday, January 30 at 12 p.m. noon.

Davidson 20, Franklin & Marshall 18
125: Gio Diaz (F&M) tech. Hale Robinson (DAV); 4:38 (16-0) (0-5)
133: Kyle Gorant (DAV) tech. Jack Bruce (F&M); 6:50 (23-7) (5-5)
141: Wil Gil (F&M) maj. Nick Cambria (DAV); 11-2 (5-9)
149: Cristiaan Dailey (F&M) dec. David Loniewski (DAV); 9-7 (5-12)
157: Bryce Sanderlin (DAV) dec. Chase McCollum (F&M); 3-2 (8-12)
165: Jaden Hardrick (DAV) dec. Crew Fullerton (F&M); 12-8 (11-12)
174: Anthony Spera (DAV) dec. John Crawford (F&M); 8-6 (14-12)
184: James Conway (F&M) WBF Gavin Henry (DAV); 4:17 (14-18)
197: Finlay Holston (DAV) dec. Michael Waszen (F&M); 4-0 (17-18)
285: Mitchell Trigg (DAV) dec. Cenzo Pelusi (F&M); 5-2 (20-18)