ITHACA, N.Y. – Wil Gil is headed to Detroit and the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in two weeks after advancing to the consolation finals of the 141 lb. weight class at the EIWA Championships on Sunday morning. After a number of close calls throughout his career, the three-time EIWA place winner locked up a cradle and pinned fourth-seeded Darren Miller to officially punch his ticket to the national tournament.
Knowing he needed two wins to officially lock up an automatic qualifying spot, Gil secured three takedowns and a two near fall during his first match of the morning session. The scoring was more than enough as he secured a 10-5 decision against eighth-seeded Danny Coles of Princeton.
With a win clinching the bid for either wrestler, Gil and Miller both went into the second period scoreless. Gil earned the reversal in that period after he had his choice, but the fourth-seeded Bison was able to escape as Gil held a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the third. Miller took bottom thinking that he was going to escape and the match would be decided in neutral. Gil had other ideas as the F&M senior locked up a cradle and got a quick two count to go up 4-1. However, he was far from finished as he re-hooked the cradle and got the fall in 5:37 to send the F&M contingent into jubilation.
Cenzo Pelusi was also in action on Sunday morning for the Diplomats as battled fifth-seeded Joe Doyle of Binghamton. Unfortunately for the Diplomat, this match did not go in F&M's favor as the early takedown and rideout from Doyle put Pelusi in the early hole. Pelusi trailed 3-0 after a second period escape and chased the Bearcat around the mat during the third period, earning a stalling point, but it was not enough in the 4-1 final.
Both Gil and Pelusi will wrap up their EIWA Championships in the medal round which starts at 3 p.m. this afternoon. Gil will take on fifth-seeded Connor McGonagle of Lehigh for third place as he looks to boost his national resume. Pelusi will have No. 13 seed Daniel Conley of Columbia in the seventh place match.
Franklin & Marshall Place Winner Results & Upcoming Opponents
#7 Wil Gil (141 lbs.) – NCAA Qualifier
Round of 16: Won vs. #10 Timothy Levine (Brown); Fall: 2:09
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #2 CJ Composto (Penn); 6-3
Consolation III: Won vs. #13 J.J. Wilson (Cornell); 15-5
Consolation IV: Won vs. #8 Danny Coles (Princeton); 10-5
Consolation Semi: Won vs. #4 Darren Miller (Bucknell); Fall: 5:37
Third Place: vs. #5 Connor McGonagle (Lehigh) (Session IV)
#9 Cenzo Pelusi (285 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. #8 Matt Cover (Princeton); 3-2
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #1 Jordan Wood (Lehigh); 8-0
Consolation 3: Won vs. #6 Ryan Catka (Navy); 3-2
Consolation IV: Lost vs. #5 Joe Doyle (Binghamton); 4-1
Seventh Place: vs. #13 Daniel Conley (Columbia) (Session IV)
