ITHACA, N.Y. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team sent three wrestlers into the quarterfinals, including a pair of minor upsets during the first session of the 118th EIWA Championships. Seventh-seeded Wil Gil (141 lbs.) will be joined by No. 10 seed Gio Diaz (125 lbs.) and No. 9 seed Cenzo Pelusi (285 lbs.) in the quarterfinal round where the other seven Diplomats will be looking to wrestle back into medal contention later this afternoon during session II (4 p.m.)
Gio Diaz took down seventh-seeded Max Leete of American with a takedown during the second period and a takedown during the third for the eventual 8-7 victory. He was trailing 4-2 after a pair of first period takedowns from the Eagle, but that late action – which was unsuccessfully challenged by the American coach staff – was enough to see him into the quarterfinals where he will take on second-seeded Vito Arujua of Cornell in tonight's session.
Wil Gil, the No. 7 seed at 141 lbs., took care of business in his opening round match. Gil secured a pair of first period takedowns before settling in for the fall 2:09 into the first period of his match. Gil will return to action this evening against second-seeded CJ Composto of Penn.
Cenzo Pelusi capped the opening session on a positive note as he prevailed in a 3-2 victory. After a scoreless first period, Pelusi escaped to start the second period and was quickly on his offense for the eventual winning takedown. Eighth-seeded Matt Cover from Princeton escaped in the second and again after he had his choice in the third. Nonetheless, Pelusi stifled all attacks that the Tiger had in the victory. Pelusi will take on top-seeded and four-time defending EIWA Champion Jordan Wood of Lehigh in tonight's quarterfinal round.
Also a winner for the Diplomats during the opening session on Saturday was Noah Fox, who came in unseeded despite a winning record after having just one bout at 165 lbs. He pinned Breon Phifer of American in the first period before falling to the top seed Julian Ramirez of Cornell.
The EIWA Championships' second session will resume at 4 p.m. with quarterfinal and second round consolation action running concurrently. The evening session will wrap up with the third round of consolations following those bouts. Those who advance into tomorrow's session will find themselves on the medal stand with final placements to be determined tomorrow.
Franklin & Marshall Results & Upcoming Opponents
#10 Gio Diaz (125 lbs.)
Round of 16: won vs. #7 Max Leete (American); 8-7
Quarterfinals: vs. #2 Vito Arujua (Cornell) (Session II)
#12 Pat Phillips (133 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #5 Kurt Phipps (Bucknell); 7-1
Consolation II: vs. #13 Anthony Petrillo (Sacred Heart) (Session II)
#7 Wil Gil (141 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. #10 Timothy Levine (Brown); Fall: 2:09
Quarterfinals: vs. #2 CJ Composto (Penn) (Session II)
#11 Cristiaan Dailey (149 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Luke Nichter (Drexel); 16-4
Consolation II: vs. #14 Drew Witham (LIU) (Session II)
#14 Chase McCollum (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #3 Doug Zapf (Penn); 17-5
Consolation II: vs. #11 Joe McGinty (Hofstra) (Session II)
#17 Noah Fox (165 lbs.)
Pigtail: Won vs. #16 Breon Phifer (American); Fall 2:01
Round of 16: Lost vs. Julian Ramirez (Cornell); Fall: 2:37
Consolation II: vs. #9 Dalton Harkins (Army) (Session II)
#13 John Crawford (174 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #4 Nick Fine (Columbia); 3-2
Consolation II: vs. #12 Ryan Ferro (LIU) (Session II)
#12 James Conway (184 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #5 Neil Antrassian (Penn); 7-2
Consolation II: vs. #13 James Araneo (Brown) (Session II)
#14 Mike Waszen (197 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #3 Luke Stout (Princeton); TF: 5:00 (21-4)
Consolation II: vs. #11 Cade Wilson (Brown) (Session II)
#9 Cenzo Pelusi (285 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. #8 Matt Cover (Princeton); 3-2
Quarterfinals: vs. #1 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) (Session II)
