BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team kicked off the holiday tournament portion of its schedule at Lehigh's Sheridan Invitational on Friday. The Diplomats' contingent was led by Jack Parker and Drew Currier as both grapplers advanced to the medal round and concluded their tournament with fourth place finishes.
Parker advanced to the consolation finals at 125 lbs. with his only two losses on the day coming to the same wrestler from Rutgers. In between those results, Parker secured an 8-5 sudden victory decision against Central Michigan and defeated teammate Eric Howe to reach the medal round. Howe was in the semifinals after he defeated Lehigh's Logan Wadle by an 11-8 score to start his day before he eventually matched up with his teammate.
Currier also took his only two defeats of the day to the same opponent. However, he wrestled a much more competitive third place rematch bout as he had Brown's Hunter Adrian on his back to close the second period before the buzzer saved the Bears' wrestler. Prior to that matchup, Currier notched four takedowns (including three in the first period) to defeat Rutgers' Devon Britton by an 18-13 final. Aidan O'Shea was also in the consolation semifinals at 133 lbs. with his victory on Friday coming via a 7-0 shutout against Indiana's Isaac Thornton.
The Diplomats entered a large contingent throughout the first five weights and also secured wins from Bryce Kresho, Josh Hillard, and Luke Bender. Kresho advanced to the semifinals with back-to-back falls against Indiana's Cole Rhemrev and Central Michigan's Jimmy Nugent. Kresho was knocked out of the championship bracket by the No. 11-ranked wrestler in the country from Lehigh before falling to another Mountain Hawk during his consolation match.
Hillard also secured two victories at 149 lbs. The first of those victories was an 11-2 major decision against teammate Hunter Hockensmith before a strong performance against Cornell's highly-touted recruit in Josh Saunders. Trailing that match by an 11-6 score with under a minute to go in the third period, Hillard secured takedowns with 41 and 32 seconds showing on the clock before riding out for the win. Luke Bender recorded the Diplomats' win at 157 lbs. as he matched up with teammate Dominic Wheatley in the consolations where he emerged with a 10-2 victory.
Wrestling will continue its holiday tournament schedule just before the New Year as Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.), Pat Phillips (141 lbs.), Noah Fox (174 lbs.), James Conway (184 lbs.), and John Crawford (197 lbs.) are each set to compete at next week's historic Midlands Championships. That tournament will begin on Friday, December 29 and continue through Saturday, December 30. Fans who can't make the trip to Evanston in person can stream the event live on BTN+.
Franklin & Marshall Results
Jack Parker (125 lbs.) – Fourth Place
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Brandon Chletsos (Rutgers); F: 1:21
Consolation of 8 #2: Bye
Consolation of 4: Won vs. Wyatt Skebba (Central Michigan); 8-5 (SV)
Consolation Semifinals: Won vs. Eric Howe (F&M); F: 1:46
Third Place: Lost vs. Brandon Chletsos (Rutgers); F: 2:20
Eric Howe (125 lbs.)
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Logan Wadle (Lehigh); 11-8
Semifinals: Lost vs. Blaine Frazier (Indiana); TF: 6:45 (16-0)
Consolation Semifinals: Lost vs. Jack Parker (F&M); F: 1:46
Drew Currier (133 lbs.) – Fourth Place
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Hunter Adrian (Brown); 14-4
Consolation of 8 #2: Bye
Consolation of 4: Bye
Consolation Semifinals: Won vs. Devon Britton (Rutgers); 18-13
Third Place: Lost vs. Hunter Adrian (Brown); 9-5
Aidan O'Shea (133 lbs.) – Unattached
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Vince Perez (Central Michigan); 6-0
Consolation of 8 #2: Bye
Consolation of 4: Won vs. Isaac Thornton (Indiana); 7-0
Consolation Semifinals: Lost vs. Hunter Adrian (Brown); 7-1
Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. Cole Rhemrev (Indiana); F: 4:16
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Jimmy Nugent (Central Michigan); F: 6:21
Semifinals: Lost vs. #11 Malyke Hines (Lehigh); 11-6
Consolation Semifinals: Lost vs. Carter Bailey (Lehigh); 9-2
Brandt Fajerman (141 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Ja'Kerion Merritt (Central Michigan); F: 4:39
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Jimmy Nugent (Central Michigan); F: 2:08
Brandon Sauter (141 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Nathan Lucier (Binghamton); F: 2:53
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Ian Oswalt (Binghamton); F: 1:09
Josh Hillard (149 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Drew Munch (Lehigh); TF: 4:49 (18-2)
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Hunter Hockensmith (F&M); 11-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Josh Saunders (Cornell); 13-12
Consolation of 4: Lost vs. Nate Wade (Cornell); F: 3:33
Billy Templeton (149 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Kimo Leia (Lehigh); TF: 5:00 (19-4)
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Aidan Torres (Indiana); TF: 6:46 (18-2)
Hunter Hockensmith (149 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Trenton Wachter (Central Michigan); 11-0
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Josh Hillard (F&M); 11-2
Luke Bender (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #26 Max Brignola (Lehigh); 11-3
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Dominic Wheatley (F&M); 10-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Blake Saito (Brown); 11-0
Avery Clarke (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Mason Shrader (Central Michigan); F: 0:46
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Luca Frinzi (Lehigh); 10-4
Dominic Wheatley (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Fin Nadeau (Binghamton); 4-1
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Luke Bender (F&M); 10-2
Chris Arciuolo (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Nico Bolivar (Indiana); 14-2
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. AJ Desantis (Rutgers); 8-0
Tyler Shea (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Blake Saito (Brown); F: 1:42
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Carter Baer (Binghamton); TF: 3:22 (15-0)
Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Keegan Rothrock (Brown); F: 1:52
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Dominic Frontino (Brown); TF: 6:50 (17-2)
Harrison Shapiro (285 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Karam Chakif (Lehigh); 8-1
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Austin Kohlhoffer (Army); 11-1
Tyler O'Boyle (285 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Alex Hamrick (Brown); F: 4:56
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. TJ Moore (Lehigh); F: 3:52
