LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team opened its Lehman Open week of wrestling with a 2-1 record during a tri-meet on Thursday afternoon. The Diplomats did not get off to the start they would have hoped for during a 25-10 setback against Brown, but rebounded nicely with a 29-9 victory over Davidson and 33-9 win against Presbyterian.
James Conway (184 lbs.) and Cenzo Pelusi (285 lbs.) each went a perfect 3-0 on the day to pace the Diplomats, while Mason Leiphart (125 lbs.), Pat Phillips (133 lbs.), Avery Clarke (149 lbs.), Nick Alvarez (157 lbs.), Noah Fox (174 lbs.), and John Crawford (197 lbs.) all registered two victories.
Brown 25, Franklin & Marshall 10
Matching up in what has been a tight EIWA battle during recent years, the visiting Bears seized control of the match early with seven straight victories before the Diplomats got the board during the final three bouts. Fox rallied from an 8-1 deficit at 174 lbs., but could not complete the comeback despite scoring eight of the final 11 points while ceding only escapes. Conway used four takedowns in his victory, while Crawford recorded a takedown and four near-fall during the second period of his match before riding out in the third period. Pelusi got his perfect day started with a takedown late in the third period of a 3-2 victory.
Franklin & Marshall 29, Davidson 9
After winning the last three bouts against Brown, that seemed to give the homestanding Diplomats a new sense of motivation as this time it was F&M who won five straight to start that dual. The first three victories all came by bonus points as Leiphart added to his national lead in technical falls, needing just 90 seconds to rack up 16 unanswered points. Phillips and Aidan O'Shea followed that up with decision victories before Clarke secured his first of two falls on the afternoon with 30 seconds to go in the second period. Alvarez ran the Diplomats' lead to 20-0 as he was up 3-2 heading to the third period before adding two near-fall over the final two minutes.
After a scoreless first period, Fox scored two takedowns during the final two periods of his 6-0 victory before Conway just missed a major decision with four takedowns of his own during the final two periods of his second match. Crawford was also locked in a scoreless bout before being reversed to his back during his only setback of the day. Nevertheless, Pelusi came through with another one-point victory at heavyweight before Hunter Hockensmith racked up three takedowns and six near-fall points in a 15-4 major decision during an extra match following the F&M victory.
Franklin & Marshall 33, Presbyterian 9
The Diplomats again raced out to the early lead in the final dual of the day, securing four victories during the first half of the meet. Leiphart again did his damage on top with 10 back points in a 15-6 major decision. Phillips used four near-fall of his own to jump out to a 6-0 lead during an eventual 11-4 decision. Following a loss at 141 lbs., Clarke took bottom following a scoreless first period and reversed his opponent to his back in 4:10 for his second fall of the afternoon. Alvarez followed that up with his second consecutive victory, securing four near-fall, a takedown, and riding time in the third period to lock up another bonus point for his team.
Franklin & Marshall closed the dual with wins during the final four bouts. Although his opponent kept it close with reversals, Fox had the only three takedowns during an 8-6 victory, while Conway scored a third period takedown to emerge a 3-1 winner during his tightest bout of the afternoon. With Crawford leading 10-6 in his final bout, his opponent was forced to default with an injury before Pelusi capped the full day of action with his first bonus point of the afternoon following a 12-4 major behind the strength of four takedowns.
Up Next
Wrestling will be back in action for the second straight day on Friday when the team hosts the 10th Annual David H. Lehman '68 F&M Open. All healthy wrestlers are slated to compete for the Diplomats in the field that will see 30 Division I teams enter wrestlers into another strong field. Wrestling will get underway in the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Brown 25, Franklin & Marshall 10
125: Shane Hanson-Ashworth (Brown) dec. Mason Leiphart (F&M); 7-4 (Brown 3-0)
133: Hunter Adrian (Brown) dec. Pat Phillips (F&M); 2-0 (Brown 6-0)
141: Ian Oswalt (Brown) maj. Sam Kotch (F&M); 10-2 (Brown 10-0)
149: Blake Saito (Brown) maj. Avery Clarke (F&M); 10-2 (Brown 14-0)
157: Keegan Rothrock (Brown) maj. Nick Alvarez (F&M); 12-0 (Brown 18-0)
165: Harrison Trahan (Brown) maj. RJ Moore (F&M); 13-0 (Brown 22-0)
174: Drew Clearie (Brown) dec. Noah Fox (F&M); 11-9
184: James Conway (F&M) dec. Nick Olivieri (Brown); 10-5
197: John Crawford (F&M) maj. Lear Quinton (Brown); 10-0
285: Cenzo Pelusi (F&M) dec. Alex Semenenko (Brown); 3-2
Franklin & Marshall 29, Davidson 9
125: Mason Leiphart (F&M) TF Devon Diaco (Davidson); 1:30 (16-0) (F&M 5-0)
133: Pat Phillips (F&M) dec. Jackson Sichelstiel (Davidson); 6-2 (F&M 8-0)
141: Aidan O'Shea (F&M) dec. Joshua Viarengo (Davidson); 4-2 (F&M 11-0)
149: Avery Clarke (F&M) WBF Noah Frack (Davidson); 4:30 (F&M 17-0)
157: Nick Alvarez (F&M) dec. Marc Koch (Davidson); 5-2 (F&M 20-0)
165: Bryce Sanderlin (Davidson) dec. RJ Moore (F&M); 8-1 (F&M 20-3)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) dec. Brett Sanderlin (Davidson); 6-0 (F&M 23-3)
184: James Conway (F&M) dec. Cameo Blankenship (Davidson); 12-5 (F&M 26-3)
197: Gavin Henry (Davidson) WBF John Crawford (F&M); 4:39 (F&M 26-9)
285: Cenzo Pelusi (F&M) dec. Jake Fernicola (Davidson); 4-3 (F&M 29-9)
149 extra: Hunter Hockensmith (F&M) maj. Matthew McLaughlin (Davidson); 15-4
Franklin & Marshall 33, Presbyterian 9
125: Mason Leiphart (F&M) maj. Dominic Chavez (Presbyterian); 15-6 (F&M 4-0)
133: Pat Phillips (F&M) dec. Jacob Brasseur (Presbyterian); 11-4 (F&M 7-0)
141: Trenton Donahue (Presbyterian) dec. Aidan O'Shea (F&M); 7-2 (F&M 7-3)
149: Avery Clarke (F&M) WBF Khalid Brinkley (Presbyterian); 4:10 (F&M 13-3)
157: Nick Alvarez (F&M) maj. Michael Ramirez (Presbyterian); 10-2 (F&M 17-3)
165: Tyler Chittum (Presbyterian) WBF RJ Moore (F&M); 6:48 (F&M 17-9)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) dec. Zachary Wells (Presbyterian); 8-6 (F&M 20-9)
184: James Conway (F&M) dec. Cordel Duhart (Presbyterian); 3-1 (F&M 23-9)
197: John Crawford (F&M) def. Malcolm Wiley III (Presbyterian); 5:19 (F&M 29-9)
285: Cenzo Pelusi (F&M) maj. Morvens Saint Jean (Presbyterian); 12-4 (F&M 33-9)
