PHILADELPHIA – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling entered one of the youngest teams in the country to this weekend's EIWA Championships and saw two of those underclassmen come away with podium finishes. Sophomore James Conway closed his tournament a positive note with a seventh-place finish, while first-year Mason Leiphart wrapped up his EIWA debut with an eighth-place showing.
Conway capped his tournament on a high note as he scored five takedowns and a reversal during a 13-4 major decision during his placement match against seventh-seeded Aaron Ayzerov of Columbia. The sophomore was leading 6-2 after the first and finished all three periods in the top position to add a final point to the team's score as the Diplomats finished in 14th place. Conway's day started with a matchup against fourth-seeded Jacob Ferreira of Hofstra. As had been the case for him all weekend, Conway was right in the match until the very end but finished on the wrong end of a throw attempt during an eventual fall for his opponent.
Although the results ultimately did not pan out in his favor,Leiphart was certainly the aggressor during both of his matches on Sunday. In the first-year's match to qualify for the NCAA Championships, Leiphart took a quick shot right off the whistle and nearly had a takedown before his opponent locked up a cradle for the fall. During the seventh-place match, Leiphart secured the opening takedown within the first minute, before his same opponent from the opening round got the reversal and eventual fall.
Franklin & Marshall Individual Place Winner Results
#7 Mason Leiphart (125 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #10 Carter Bailey (Lehigh); TF: 2:05 (18-0)
Consolation 2: Won vs. #15 Michael Manta (Sacred Heart); TF: 1:53 (18-0)
Consolation 3: Won vs. #9 Micah Roes (Binghamton); F: 3:45
Consolation Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #5 Nick Babin (Columbia); F: 0:25
Seventh Place: Lost vs. #10 Carter Bailey (Lehigh); 2:48
#11 James Conway (184 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #6 David Key (Navy); 4-2 (OT)
Consolation 2: Won vs. #14 Joseph LoPresti (LIU); F: 1:08
Consolation 3: Won vs. #9 Maximus Hale (Penn); 7-1
Consolation Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #4 Jacob Ferreira (Hofstra); F: 6:05
Seventh Place: Won vs. #7 Aaron Ayzerov (Columbia); 13-4
