ROANOKE, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team opened its 2022-23 season with five place winners at the Southeast Open. Facing a number of SoCon, ACC, and EIWA opponents, the Diplomats made several headlines with their performances early in the Division I season.
Open Division
The most notable win came at 133 lbs. in the Open Division where sophomore Pat Phillips defeated 2021 All-American and 10th-ranked Sam Latona of Virginia Tech by a 5-3 score on the strength of first and second period takedowns. He continued that momentum with a big 2-1 semifinal win against EIWA placer Angelo Rini of Columbia. Phillips and Rini traded escapes in regulation before the F&M sophomore escaped during his overtime period before riding out the Lion. Phillips' strong opening weekend came to a close with a 8-1 finals loss against North Carolina's Joey Melendez.
John Crawford certainly made a statement in his first time wrestling at 197 lbs. as he debuted with a win against 2022 NCAA Qualifier and 32nd-ranked Michael Battista of Virginia. Tied 1-1 in the third, Crawford got a takedown with 24 seconds to go in regulation to secure the win. Crawford went on to place fourth in the tournament with matches against Andy Smith of Virginia Smith and No. 29 Max Shaw (North Carolina) highlighting a challenging run through the bracket for the junior.
James Conway made it three place winners in the Open Division with his sixth place finish at 184 lbs. After a loss to No. 10 Gavin Kane (North Carolina), he racked up a fall and decision victory over a pair of ACC opponents to advance to the medal rounds. Gio Diaz and Jack Bruce also picked up bonus point victories throughout their day, while Hunter Hockensmith earned the first victory of his F&M career with a 9-2 win against Ethan Barrett of Virginia Military Institute. Anthony Micci had another convincing win over the Keydets at 149 lbs., taking a 6-0 decision.
Freshman / Sophomore Division
Mason Leiphart lived up the early hype in his collegiate debut with bonus point victories during each of his three wins on his win to a third place finish at 125 lbs. The first-year capped his first collegiate tournament with a first period tech fall against Noah Luna from Appalachian State after scoring 15 and 11 points on his way to the semifinals. Sam Kotch (141 lbs.) also placed during his first collegiate event, taking fifth. Kotch started his collegiate career with a technical fall against North Carolina, closing his day with an EIWA victory over Columbia's Kai Owen. Bryce Kresho added two more wins for the Diplomats at 141 lbs. before meeting Kotch in the match before the placing rounds.
In addition to Phillips' placement in the Open Division, all four Diplomats at 133 lbs. had strong days before they ran into each other in consolation action. Josh Hillard made it to the quarterfinals and was one win away from placing after starting his F&M career with a tech fall. Aidan O'Shea was also one match from placing as he won three consolation matches – two of which came by bonus points. Brandon Sauter and Drew Currier both had wins at the same weight before friendly fire from their teammates ended their runs through the wrestlebacks.
First-years Nick Alvarez (157 lbs.), RJ Moore (165 lbs.), and Chase Thompson (285 lbs.) each wrestled to the quarterfinals during impressive collegiate debuts. Alvarez started his tournament with a fall and picked up two total victories. Chris Arciuolo won two matches during his first collegiate action, while Nick Velde and Noah Bash also earned wins throughout the tournament.
Wrestling will open its home schedule this coming Wednesday with a 7 p.m. dual against nearby Elizabethtown. That will be fan's lone chance to catch the Diplomats on their home mats during the fall semester as the team will have a heavy focus on tournaments during the opening two months of the season.
F&M Open Division Results
Gio Diaz (125 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Cooper Flynn (Virginia Tech), 9-3
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Fletcher Swindell (Newberry), F: 4:04
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Patrick McCormick (Virginia), F: 2:46
Jack Bruce (125 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Christian Decatur (Newberry), 6-5
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Zachary Shupp (Newberry), 9-7
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Brandon Mendoza (Tiffin), medical forfeit
Consolation of 8 #2: Cooper Hilton (Boom Ranch), 8-2
Pat Phillips (133 lbs.) – Second Place
Round of 16: Won vs. #13 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech), 5-3
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Timothy Decatur (Newberry), 4-1
Semifinals: Won vs. Angelo Rini (Columbia), 2-1 (TB2)
Finals: Lost vs. Joey Melendez (North Carolina), 8-1
Anthony Micci (149 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Sincere Bailey (North Carolina), 12-1
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. David Diaz (VMI), 6-0
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Dylan Mansor (Tiffin), 2-0
Hunter Hockensmith (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Tommy Askey (Appalachian State), TF: 6:16 (19-4)
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Ethan Barrett (VMI), 9-2
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Ryan Foutz (Roanoke), 13-4
Noah Fox (174 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Victor Marcelli (Virginia Tech), 7-3
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Kyle Mosher (Columbia), 16-2
James Conway (184 lbs.) – Sixth Place
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #10 Gavin Kane (North Carolina), 9-3
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Blah Dahnweih (North Carolina), F:4:09
Consolation of 4: Won vs. Robert Patrick (Virginia), 4-2
Fifth Place: Lost vs. Hadyn Daniels (Virginia), 10-6
John Crawford (197 lbs.) – Fourth Place
Quarterfinals: Won vs. #32 Michael Battista (Virginia), 3-2
Semifinals: Lost vs. Andy Smith (Virginia Tech), 10-4
Third Place: Lost vs. #29 Max Shaw (North Carolina), 18-6
Harrison Shapiro (197 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #29 Max Shaw (North Carolina), F: 2:55)
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. #32 Michael Battista (Virginia), 6-1
F&M Freshman/Sophomore Division Results
Mason Leiphart (125 lbs.) – Third Place
Round of 16: Won vs. Jace Schafer (West Virginia), 15-2
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Luke Passarelli (Davidson), 11-1
Semifinals: Lost vs. Kyle Montaperto (Virginia), 15-5
Third Place: Won vs. Noah Luna (Appalachian State), TF: 2:53 (15-0)
Josh Hillard (133 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Corey Messick (Roanoke), TF: 1:58 (16-1)
Round of 16: Won vs. Chris Oleksiak (Tiffin), F: 4:54
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Jackson Sichelstiel (Davidson), 5-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Drew Currier (Franklin & Marshall), 6-4
Consolation of 4: Lost vs. Brayton Killiri (The Citadel), 10-8
Aidan O'Shea (133 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Garrett Grice (Virginia), 16-5
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Max Martin (North Carolina), 14-0
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Mason Amodio (Tiffin), 16-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Brandon Sauter (Franklin & Marshall), 6-5
Consolation of 4: Lost vs. Dyson Dunham (VMI), 8-2
Brandon Sauter (133 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. Caden Hagler (Virginia Tech), 6-1
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Keyveon Roller (Virginia), TF: 7:00 (19-4)
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Aidan O'Shea (Franklin & Marshall), 6-5
Drew Currier (133 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Mark Samuel (Roanoke), F: 4:54
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Ty Daugherty (Roanoke), 14-1
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Josh Hillard (Franklin & Marshall), 6-4
Sam Kotch (141 lbs.) – Fifth Place
Round of 16: Won vs. Luke Maguigad (North Carolina), TF: 6:52 (19-4)
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Dillon Roman (The Citadel), 10-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Logan Maczko (Unattached), 10-4
Consolation of 4: Won vs. Bryce Kresho (Franklin & Marshall), 5-3
Fifth Place: Won vs. Kai Owen (Columbia), 6-4
Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Michael Dolan (West Virginia), 14-3
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Nicholas Kauffman (Roanoke), 8-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Gavin Owens (Tiffin), 8-2
Consolation of 4: Lost vs. Sam Kotch (Franklin & Marshall, 5-3
Chris Arciuolo (149 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Kaden Keiser (Appalachian State), DQ: 4:53
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Justin Smythe (Tiffin), 7-4
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Noah Frack (Davidson), F: 4:40
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Ryan Vigil (VMI), 12-4
Nick Velde (149 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Luke Robie (Southeast RTC), 5-1
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Joshua Viarengo (Davidson), 6-1
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Kylan Montgomery (Virginia Tech), 2-0
Nick Alvarez (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Zane Cox (Roanoke), F: 5:20
Round of 16: Won vs. Robert Avila (Virginia), 13-9
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Thomas Snipes (The Citadel), 11-4
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Drake Acklin (Appalachian State), 13-5
Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Jacob Cherry (Roanoke), 7-0
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Adam Ortega (The Citadel), 2-0
RJ Moore (165 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. Ryan Duffelmeyer (The Citadel), 9-3
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Luke Hart (VMI), 2-0
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Aidan Lenz (The Citadel), 4-2
Noah Bash (174 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Dylan Kohn (Unattached), 7-2
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Connor Twigg (Tiffin), F: 1:09
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. River Carroll (VMI), 6-2
Chase Thompson (285 lbs.)
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Josh Evans (VMI), 3-1
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Clayton Ours (Tiffin), 10-5
