LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team rolled to a 35-11 EIWA victory against Sacred Heart on its home mats Sunday afternoon. F&M won seven of the 10 bouts, picking up bonus points during six of those victories which included a pin and four technical falls.
The Diplomats started off the dual with two of those tech falls from two of the best in Division I in that category. Mason Leiphart got an early takedown and picked up the full compliment of four near fall points three times during the first period before a reversal finished off that match early in the second period. Leiphart now has 11 technical falls on the year, five more than the next highest total in Division I. Pat Phillips moved into a tie for second place in the nation with his sixth tech fall of the season. F&M's sophomore was up 10-0 following a takedown and eight back points during the first period. Phillips then got a reversal and four more near fall in the third to terminate the match early.
Sacred Heart found some momentum in the middle of the lineup as the Pioneers won three of the next four bouts to close the team score to a 16-11 battle. However, it was more bonus points that kept the hosts in front as first-year Bryce Kresho stuck his opponent in just 1:53 to help keep his team on top.
Franklin & Marshall finished the dual by winning the last four matches. Noah Fox scored 11 takedowns to complete a 26-11 technical fall in 6:49 during the 174 lb. bout before an injury default at 184 lbs. gave James Conway and the Diplomats six more points with him leading 10-5 at the time behind four takedowns. John Crawford - ranked No. 32 in the coaches' ranking - posted the team's fourth and final technical fall of the afternoon on the strength of five takedowns and eight near fall during a 20-5 victory in 6:44 of wrestling at 197 lbs. Cenzo Pelusi capped the dual with three more takedowns during a 9-3 victory at heavyweight.
The Diplomats racked up 113 match points during the win against Sacred Heart, finishing with a 38-4 advantage in near fall points and a 30-12 edge in takedowns.
Wrestling will have a limited squad competing at the Messiah Open next Saturday, February 5 before the Diplomats return home to battle Millersville for the Rupp Cup on Friday, February 10. That rivalry dual with the Mauraders will mark the final scheduled competition of the regular season.
Franklin & Marshall 35, Sacred Heart 11
125: Mason Leiphart (F&M) TF Michael Manta (Sacred Heart); 3:10 (16-0) (F&M 5-0)
133: Pat Phillips (F&M) TF Ben Davoli (Sacred Heart); 6:01 (16-0) (F&M 10-0)
141: Dakota Asuncion (Sacred Heart) dec. Aidan O'Shea (F&M); 6-2 (F&M 10-3)
149: Bryce Kresho (F&M) WBF Calvin Pineda (Sacred Heart); 1:53 (F&M 16-3)
157: Nicholas Palumbo (Sacred Heart) maj. Nick Alvarez (F&M); 15-5 (F&M 16-7)
165: Aidan Zarrella (Sacred Heart) maj. RJ Moore (F&M); 12-3 (F&M 16-11)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) TF Nico Bogardus (Sacred Heart); 6:49 (26-11) (F&M 21-11)
184: James Conway (F&M) inj. def. Owen Ayotte (Sacred Heart); 4:39 (F&M 27-11)
197: John Crawford (F&M) TF Logan Michael (Sacred Heart); 6:44 (20-5) (F&M 32-11)
285: Cenzo Pelusi (F&M) dec. Matthew Jannucci (Sacred Heart); 9-3 (F&M 35-11)
