EVANSTON, Ill. – For the first time in program history, the Franklin & Marshall wrestling team put two grapplers on the podium at the historic Ken Kraft Midlands Championships. James Conway had already guaranteed himself a spot on the podium yesterday when he became the Diplomats' first-ever semifinalist. Mason Leiphart joined him on the podium with two wins in the consolation rounds on Saturday morning.
Conway finished his tournament in fifth place. The Diplomats' nationally-ranked junior already owned two victories over Penn's Max Hale this season, but could not make it three straight as one takedown proved to once again be the difference in the third meeting between the EIWA foes. After a 4-2 setback in the semifinals, Conway found himself trailing 10-0 following the first period against the PRTC's Neil Antrassian. He outpaced his post-graduate opponent during the final two periods but the early deficit proved too much to overcome in the 12-8 final. In his last match of the tournament, Conway received a medical forfeit victory against Princeton's Nate Dugan to secure a fifth-place step on the podium.
Mason Leiphart officially made it two F&M place winners when he picked up a 6-1 EIWA victory against Harvard's Coleman Nogle to secure his spot on the podium. During the consolation quarterfinals, Leiphart had his most impressive victory of the Midlands when he tech-falled the No. 20-ranked wrestler in the country from Virginia in just 3:36 by a 21-2 score behind two Jonesy tilts and two more turns from the tradition top position. Leiphart's tournament ended in a sixth-place showing after facing two more nationally-ranked opponents to close his 4-3 individual record.
The Diplomats brought five wrestlers to the Midlands Championships and had all five in the medal hunt heading into Saturday's second and final day, but a number tough battles fell against F&M during the round of 12 in the consolations. John Crawford looked to be in position to avenge his defeat from the dual against Michigan State as he held a riding time advantage in the second overtime but Kael Wisner secured a takedown during the final seconds. Noah Fox was also in a battle at 174 lbs. where he was in on his opponent's legs several times, but could not secure the match-tying takedown versus fifth-seeded Alex Cramer of Central Michigan in a 6-3 final. Pat Phillips (141 lbs.) also had the fifth-seeded wrestler for his chance to get on the podium before falling by a 9-3 decision.
After an overall strong weekend against some of the nation's top competition, the Diplomats will now turn their attention to their own tournament as they host the 11th Annual David H. Lehman '68 F&M Open on Friday, January 5. Wrestling at the Lehman Open will get underway at 9 a.m. inside the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center.
Franklin & Marshall Results from entire Midlands Championships
#7 Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.) – Sixth Place
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Carter Dibert (Arizona State); F: 4:12
Round of 16: Won vs. #10 Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin); TF: 4:27 (18-0)
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #2 Michael Colaiocco (Penn); 6-5
Consolation Round of 12: Won vs. Coleman Nogle (Harvard); 6-1
Consolation Quarterfinals: Won vs. #6 Marlon Yarbrough (Virginia); TF: 3:31 (21-2)
Consolation Semifinals: Lost vs. #9 Zeth Romney (Cal Poly); 10-1
Fifth Place: Lost vs. #1 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech); 6-2
#11 Pat Phillips (141 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Ja`Kerion Merritt (Central Michigan); 14-3
Round of 16: Lost vs. #6 Tom Crook (Virginia Tech); 2-1
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Danny Martinez (SIU Edwardsville); TF: 5:24 (17-0)
Consolation Round 5: Won vs. #9 Bradley Rosen (North Central); 9-2
Consolation Round of 12: Lost vs. #5 Dylan Laylon (Cleveland State); 9-3
Noah Fox (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Joseph Walker (Michigan); 7-4
Round of 32: Won vs. TJ McDonnell (Oregon State); F: 6:59
Round of 16: Lost vs. #3 Adam Kemp (Cal Poly); 13-6
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Cale Anderson (Wisconsin); 12-6
Consolation Round 5: Won vs. Shane Cartagena-Walsh (Rutgers); 6-0
Consolation Round of 12: Lost vs. #5 Alex Cramer (Central Michigan); 6-3
#3 James Conway (184 lbs.) – Fifth Place
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Cody Brenner (Central Michigan); 17-4
Round of 16: Won vs. Malachi DuVall (George Mason); 16-4
Quarterfinals: Won vs. #11 Cody Howard (Virginia Tech); 11-8 (SV)
Semifinals: Lost vs. #7 Max Hale (Penn); 4-2
Consolation Semifinals: Lost vs. Neil Antrassian (Penn RTC); 12-8
Fifth Place: Won vs. #8 Nate Dugan (Princeton); MFF
#12 John Crawford (197 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Joseph Braunagel (Illinois); 2-1
Round of 16: Won vs. #5 Martin Cosgrove (Penn); 12-4
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #4 Andy Smith (Virginia Tech); 9-0
Consolation Round of 12: Lost vs. #11 Kael Wisner (Michigan State); 4-1 (TB-1)
