SALEM, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team opened the 2024-25 season with five place winners at the Southeast Open on Saturday. Bryce Kresho (third place at 141 lbs.) and RJ Moore (fifth place at 197 lbs.) both made deep runs in the open division. The Diplomats also showed tremendous depth in the lightweights as James Garcia (second place), Ejiro Montoya (fourth place), and Jack Parker (sixth place) each made it to the medal round at 125 lbs. in the freshman/sophomore division.
A team captain, Kresho dropped only his first match of the day as he battled No. 12 Jordan Titus of West Virginia to an 11-9 final. He then defeated Morgan State's Shawn Ryncarz by fall before capping his stretch of five straight wins to close the day with victories against Virginia Tech (twice), Virginia, and North Carolina. Moore certainly looked well adjusted to his new weight class as he had a major decision, win versus Virginia, and capped his day with a medical forfeit victory during the fifth place match.
The highlight weight class for the Diplomats came at 125 lbs. where Garcia made the finals of his first collegiate tournament, falling only by a 4-2 score in the final. He won four straight to get to that point, including a win over Big Ten foe Maryland in the quarterfinals. Garcia was one of just two wrestlers who defeated Montoya as the two Diplomats met in the semifinals after Montoya started his fourth place showing with three consecutive bonus point victories. Montoya registered technical falls against Davidson and West Virginia, in addition to a 25-11 victory versus VMI as he scored 61 points during his first three collegiate matches. Parker won four consecutive matches during his run to a sixth place showing, featuring three technical falls and a major decision.
In addition to the medalists, No. 33 Mason Leiphart started his season by extending his school record in technical falls with a pair of second period techs before hitting the No. 30-ranked wrestler in the consolation rounds. Chris Arciuolo (157 lbs.) and Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.) also recorded bonus point victories in their open division brackets. First-years who earned their first collegiate victories on Saturday included Chris Colantino (125 lbs.), Vincent Gioffre (125 lbs.), Jake Neill (157 lbs.), Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.), Leo Varga (184 lbs.), and Brody Kline (285 lbs.). Brandt Fajerman (141 lbs.), Billy Templeton (157 lbs.), Tyler Shea (165 lbs.), and Jake Allred also added wins to F&M's day in the freshman/sophomore division.
Wrestling returns to action next weekend at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic which will be hosted at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Diplomats begin that weekend with their only two duals during the first half of the season against VMI (10 a.m.) and Rutgers (4 p.m.) on Saturday, November 9. On Sunday, F&M will take part in tournament action that will be divided into pools.
Franklin & Marshall Results
Open Division
#33 Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Chad Bellis (Appalachian State); TF: 3:38 (18-0)
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Blake Boarman (Tennessee-Chattanooga); 12-8
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Logan Heil (Campbell); TF: 3:05 (15-0)
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. #30 Kyle Burwick (North Dakota State); F: 2:16
Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.) – Third Place
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. #12 Jordan Titus (West Virginia); 11-9
Consolation of 16 #2: Bye
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Shawn Ryncarz (Morgan State); F: 4:03
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Jack Bastarrika (Virginia Tech); 11-9
Consolation quarterfinals: Won vs. DJ Chavis (Virginia Tech); 11-8
Consolation semifinals: Won vs. Luke Roberts (Virginia); MFF
Third Place: Won vs. Jace Palmer (North Carolina); 7-5
Aidan O'Shea (141 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Jayden Scott (North Carolina); 15-5
Consolation of 16 #2: Bye
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Jace Palmer (North Carolina); 8-6
Brandon Sauter (141 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Hunter Mason (Virginia Tech); TF: 3:36 (16-1)
Consolation of 16 #2: Bye
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Joshua Viarengo (Davidson); F: 2:50
Chris Arciuolo (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Luke Robie (Virginia Tech); F: 4:55
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Sam Hillegas (West Virginia); MFF
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Michael Dolan (West Virginia); 9-3
Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Kylan Montgomery (Virginia Tech); TF: 6:10 (19-3)
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Makoa Niebel (F&M); F: 1:40
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Ryan Bolletino (Campbell); 4-3
Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Jackson Hurst (Tennessee-Chatanooga); 12-1
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Josh Palmucci (F&M); F: 1:40
Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Dayton Fields (Newberry); 8-5
Consolation of 16 #2: Bye
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Marcus Murabito (North Carolina); 14-3
Nick Alvarez (174 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Luke Hart (VMI); 13-0
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Marcus Murabito (North Carolina); 18-5
Noah Bash (174 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Harrison Smith (Virginia Tech); TF: 4:50 (16-0)
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Justin Phillips (Virginia); TF: 2:49 (15-0)
RJ Moore (197 lbs.) – Fifth Place
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech); F: 1:38
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Eric Washington (Morgan State); 18-4
Consolation quarterfinals: Won vs. Steven Burrell, Jr. (Virginia); 12-7
Consolation semifinals: Lost vs. Cade Lautt (North Carolina); 14-1
Fifth Place: Won vs. Rune Lawrence (West Virginia); MFF
Freshman/Sophomore Division
James Garcia (125 lbs.) – Second Place
Round of 32: Won vs. Bentley Ellison (Campbell); 4-2
Round of 16: Won vs. Garrett Johnson (Unattached); 16-4
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Abram Cline (Maryland); 8-3
Semifinals: Won vs. Ejiro Montoya (F&M); 8-5
Championship: Lost vs. Cooper Shore (Campbell); 4-2
Ejiro Montoya (125 lbs.) – Fourth Place
Round of 32: Won vs. Enis Lijkovic (Davidson); TF: 6:42 (19-4)
Round of 16: Won vs. Cody Tanner (VMI); 25-11
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Matthew Dolan (West Virginia); TF: 7:00 (17-2)
Semifinals: Lost vs. James Garcia (F&M); 8-5
Third Place: Lost vs. Cameron Stinson, Jr. (North Carolina); F: 2:24
Jack Parker (125 lbs.) – Sixth Place
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Cooper Shore (Campbell); 8-3
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Julian Dawson (Morgan State); TF: 2:53 (17-2)
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Tyler Tice (Tennessee-Chattanooga); 16-4
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Abram Cline (Maryland); TF: 7:00 (15-0)
Consolation quarterfinals: Won vs. Matthew Dolan (West Virginia); TF: 3:00 (17-2)
Fifth Place: Lost vs. Anthony Rossi (Virginia); 15-11
Charlie Colantonio (125 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Elijah Lowe (Tennessee-Chattanooga); 10-1
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Christian Prize (Gardner-Webb); TF: 5:55 (19-2)
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Jimmie Jones (Morgan State); 4-2
Vincent Gioffre (125 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Ryan Messick (Virginia Tech); 6-1
Round of 16: Lost vs. Matthew Dolan (West Virginia); F: 2:06
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Anthony Rossi (Virginia); F: 1:12
Brandt Fajerman (141 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Anthony Lucchiani (Unattached); 7-1
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Matthew Dailey (Unattached); F: 6:45
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Jake Yowell (Noke RTC); F: 1:58
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Myrin Nixon (Morgan State); 8-1
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. Phoenix Alyea (VMI); 10-6
Kyle Deisley (149 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Hayden Hughes (Tennessee-Chattanooga); 7-5
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Kaleb Smith (Noke RTC); 10-2
Luke Bender (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. AJ Rodrigues (Maryland); 3-0
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Vincent Echvarry (Unattached); F: 1:53
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Tyler Berish (VMI); TF: 6:28 (20-5)
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Max Salerno (Gardner-Webb); F: 1:39
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Christopher Earnest (Campbell); 13-6
Jake Neill (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Sasha Gavronsky (West Virginia); 8-1
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Luke Murray (Unattached); 2-0
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Shaymus MacIntosh (Morgan State); 8-2
Billy Templeton (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Matt Henrich (Virginia Tech); 5-0
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Bradley Williams (Unattached); 6-2
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Tavian Camper (Tennessee-Chattanooga); 10-3
Seth Weaver (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Frank DiBella (Virginia Tech); 17-4
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Colin Nugent (North Carolina); 10-7
Tyler Shea (165 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Brody Murray (Tennessee-Chattanooga); 8-5
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Gage Wright (Virginia Tech); F: 3:37
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Braden Blackorby (Virginia); F: 3:43
Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Jackson Potts (Gardner-Webb); 12-3
Consolation of 16 #2: Bye
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Ethan Flowers (VMI); F: 1:18
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Bodie Morgan (Davidson); 3-1
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. Cortilius Vann (Morgan State); 16-4
Jake Allred (184 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Jack Lesher (Virginia); F: 4:06
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Kelvin Daniels (St. Andrews); F: 2:06
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Edison Flores (Gardner-Webb); 8-5
Leo Varga (184 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won Kelvin Daniels (St. Andrews); 8-3
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Kingsley Menifee (Morgan State); 4-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Savoy New (Davidson); 17-7
Brody Kline (285 lbs.)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Brenan Morgan (Virginia); 14-2
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Jake Rickett (F&M); F: 4:47
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Oscar Williams (Maryland); 9-1
Jake Rickett (285 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Landon Sargent (Campbell); F: 2:54
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Brody Kline (F&M); F: 4:47
