LANCASTER, Pa. – The Division I Franklin & Marshall wrestling team is excited to welcome eight new Diplomats to the team for the 2023-24 season. The incoming class features three wrestlers who have captured state championships during their high school career as this group is equally as accomplished in the classroom as it is on the mat.
"This class brings in plenty of experience at the state and national level," commented W. Roy Phillips '34 Wrestling Coach Mike Rogers. "They all love the sport of wrestling and working hard. On top of that, they are all incredibly strong students with high academic goals. They are exactly the type of student-athletes that we are looking for at F&M."
This incoming class also features a strong local connection as three of the members of the class hail from the Keystone State in addition to wrestlers from Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, and Connecticut.
Notable accolades already among the group's accomplishments include Luke Bender being the first-ever Diplomats' recruit who won an NHSCA Senior National Championship, with Brandt Fajerman and Jack Parker also earning podium finishes at that national tournament. Dominic Wheatley also finished his prep career as a nationally-ranked recruit after placing third at PIAA states in a very tough weight class.
Rogers added that, "with those individuals already excelling at the national level, and joining several other talented recruits in this class, we can't wait to see what the future holds for them both on and off the mat."
Franklin & Marshall Wrestling Class of 2027
- Jake Allred – 197 – Paoli, Pa./Conestoga High School
- Luke Bender – 157/165 – Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen High School
- Brandt Fajerman – 133/141 – Davidson, N.C./Hough High School
- Eric Howe – 125 – Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic High School
- Jack Parker – 125 – Richmond, Va./Saint Christopher's School
- Tyler Shea – 157/165 – Milford, Conn./Green Farms Academy
- Billy Templeton – 157/165 – Montville, N.J./Montville Township High School
- Dominic Wheatley – 165/174 – Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area High School
The Recruit Breakdown
Jake Allred – Paoli, Pa./Conestoga High School
Projected Weight Class: 197
Career Highlights: Two-time PIAA AAA state qualifier … Three-time Southeast Regional qualifier, finishing runner-up as a senior and fifth in 2022 … Two-time District I finalist, claiming gold in 2021 … Captain of both the wrestling and football team … Recipient of the Conestoga High School US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award after being named MVP of the wrestling team and best all-around football player as a senior … Four-time Pennsylvania All-Academic Team honoree … Recipient of the school's wrestling academic award.
Luke Bender – Lewes, Del./Cape Henlopen High School
Projected Weight Class: 157/165
Career Highlights: Two-time Delaware state champion (2021, 23), missing his junior season due to injury … Led Cape Henlopen to its first-ever state championship during the 2021 season … NHSCA Senior National Champion, also placing fourth as a sophomore … Academic All-American … National Honor Society member.
Brandt Fajerman – Davidson, N.C./Hough High School
Projected Weight Class: 133/141
Career Highlights: North Carolina State Champion at 126 lbs. In 2021 … Four-time NCHSAA state qualifier, adding two silver medals (2020, 22) and a bronze (2023) … Three-time NCHSAA Regional Champion (2020, 22, 23), advancing to the finals all four years … NHSCA Senior Nationals All-American, placing sixth as a senior … Placed eighth to earn All-America status at Grappler Fall Classic.
Eric Howe – Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic High School
Projected Weight Class: 125
Career Highlights: Career record of 134-31 … Two-time PIAA AA state qualifier, twice finishing in the Round of 12 at the state championships (2021, 22) … Placed twice at the PIAA Southeast Regional Championships, taking second (2021) and third (2022) … Two-time PIAA District III Champion (2021, 22) … Selected as the 2020-21 Lancaster-Lebanon League AA Wrestler of the Year … Northeast Regional Championship runner-up in Greco … Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … Inducted into Tri-M Music Honors Society … Member of the George Mason wrestling team during the 2022-23 season, not competing due to injury.
Jack Parker – Richmond, Va./Saint Christopher's School
Projected Weight Class: 125
Career Highlights: Won 2023 Virginia VISAA State Championship as a senior … Two-time Virginia state finalist and three-time state qualifier … Earned NHSCA All-American honors after sixth place finish … National Prep All-American, placing fifth … Graduated with Honors.
Tyler Shea – Milford, Conn./Green Farms Academy
Projected Weight Class: 157/165
Career Highlights: Western New England Independent School Wrestling Association (WNEISWA) state champion … Two-time NEISWA place winner, helping team to fifth place finish as a senior … Two-time national prep qualifier … All-Fairchester Athletic Association selection … Connecticut state champion in both freestyle and greco … Rated as high as No. 14 in the prep national rankings … Named to High Honor Roll three times.
Billy Templeton – Montville, N.J./Montville Township High School
Projected Weight Class: 157/165
Career Highlights: New Jersey Group III State Champion, capping a 37-5 senior season … Finished as Montville's all-time leader in career pins … Selected as Montville Township High School Athlete of the Year … Honor Roll student throughout high school career.
Dominic Wheatley – Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area High School
Projected Weight Class: 165/174
Career Highlights: Three-time PIAA AAA state qualifier, placing third in 2023 and seventh in 2021 … Went 42-4 as a senior, also winning District XI and Northeast Regional Championships … Three-time District XI Finalist … Placed eighth at Beast of the East during 2021-22 season … Nationally ranked wrestler … Graduated with a 4.0 cumulative GPA on the High Honor Roll … AP Scholar … National Honor Society member … Two-time Blue Eagle Award nominee.
