LANCASTER, Pa. – Taking center stage as the only Division I wrestling team in action on Wednesday night, Franklin & Marshall opened its dual schedule with a 32-9 home victory against nearby Elizabethtown. The Diplomats got a pin, two tech falls, and a forfeit victory to start 1-0 in front of the home crowd. The strong result came with five first-years in the lineup who were wrestling in the Mayser Center for the first time in their careers.
Fresh off his strong opening weekend, Pat Phillips kept the points coming as he rolled to a technical fall in 6:03 behind after a takedown and back points during each of the three periods. First-years Sam Kotch and Nick Velde ran the team score to 12-0 with their victories. After giving up the first takedown, Kotch scored eight of the final nine points of his 8-3 victory, only conceding a third period takedown the rest of the way. Velde got a takedown and four near fall to jump out to a quick 6-0 lead at 149 lbs. He would add another set of four near fall during the second period of his 10-0 major decision.
The Blue Jays answered back with decision victories at 157 and 165 lbs. First-year Nick Alvarez suffered a 10-5 setback in his first dual, while a riding time point proved to be the difference in classmate RJ Moore's 2-1 bout. Elizabethtown's third and final win of the night came at 285 lbs. where Harrison Shapiro bumped to heavyweight, with a second period reversal and eventual riding time point saw him on the wrong side of a 3-1 final.
Franklin & Marshall reversed the momentum with three of its veterans from 174 lbs. through 197 lbs. Noah Fox used a takedown in the first, a reversal in the second, and riding time to come away an 8-4 winner. James Conway had the team's lone pin of the night as he scored six takedowns – including five during the first period – before pinning his opponent at the 4:48 mark of the second. John Crawford also terminated his match early with a 19-4 technical fall in 6:02. Crawford clinched the dual victory with his six takedowns and a set of four near fall while only conceding escapes during his win.
Following the match at heavyweight, Mason Leiphart took a forfeit at 125 lbs. to make the final a 32-9 team score. In addition to the team's regularly scheduled 10 matches, first-year Aidan O'Shea made his debut in front of the home fans and was impressive during a technical fall of his own. Starting off with the first bout of the night, O'Shea was up 8-0 after one period following a takedown and six near fall points. He added three takedowns during the second and another in the third for a 17-2 final that saw his match end at the 5:57 mark.
The Diplomats finished Wednesday's match with a 21-5 edge in takedowns while also scoring the only 20 back points of the evening. Wrestling returns to action this Sunday when the team heads to Binghamton's Jonathan Koloust Bearcat Open. That tournament is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start with live video and live results available through FloWrestling.
Franklin & Marshall 32, Elizabethtown 9
133: Pat Phillips (F&M) TF Scott Reagan (ETOWN); 6:03 (15-0) (F&M 5-0)
141: Sam Kotch (F&M) dec. Braden Scott (ETOWN); 8-3 (F&M 8-0)
149: Nick Velde (F&M) maj. Shane Strausser (ETOWN); 10-0 (F&M 12-0)
157: Dorian Gonzalez (ETOWN) dec. Nick Alvarez (F&M); 10-5 (F&M 12-3)
165: Brian Schneider (ETOWN) dec. RJ Moore (F&M); 2-1 (F&M 12-6)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) dec. Ganon Smith (ETOWN); 6-4 (F&M 15-6)
184: James Conway (F&M) WBF Will Davis (ETOWN); 4:48 (F&M 21-6)
197: John Crawford (F&M) TF Tyler Phenegar (ETOWN); 6:02 (19-0) (F&M 26-6)
285: Dylan Waller (ETOWN) dec. Harrison Shapiro (F&M); 3-1 (F&M 26-9)
125: Mason Leiphart (F&M) won by forfeit (F&M 32-9)
133: EXH: Aidan O'Shea (F&M) TF Braden Schuyler (ETOWN); 5:57 (17-2)
