PHILADELPHIA – Bryce Kresho's fifth-place finish led the Franklin & Marshall wrestling contingent Sunday afternoon at the Keystone Classic. Kresho was one of five Diplomats who placed at the tournament hosted at the University of Pennsylvania, joining teammates Jack Parker (sixth at 125 lbs.), Mason Leiphart (sixth at 133 lbs.), Josh Hillard (seventh at 149 lbs.), and Josh Palmucci (seventh at 165 lbs.) on the medal stand.

Kresho had his best career placement at this tournament after placing for the second consecutive season. The F&M junior started his day with a major decision against an EIWA foe from Drexel and earned his way into the medal round with a pin against Edinboro. Kresho also defeated an opponent from Lock Haven before closing his strong day with a 7-4 decision against Harvard during the fifth-place match. The Diplomats' captain now has a team-leading 12 victories on the young season.

Parker and Leiphart both earned their way into the fifth-place matches before finishing their tournaments in sixth. Leiphart advanced to the semifinals with a decision against the host Quakers and a technical fall against Drexel's John Hildebrandt to reverse one of his losses from a season ago. He has now placed at the Keystone Classic in each of his first three seasons. Parker earned a Keystone Classic medal in his first time wrestling at the event, picking up victories against teammate James Garcia and Harvard's Logan Brzozowski (w, 13-7).

Hillard and Palmucci both capped their tournaments with wins during their medal matches. Hilldard started his tournament with a tough matchup against the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country before he was able to reverse a loss from a season ago versus Lock Haven's Nicholas Stonecheck. Hillard finished his tournament with a major decision against an EIWA foe from Drexel in his first time on the podium at this event. Palmucci earned his first trip to the podium at this tournament with an 11-2 major decision against Edinboro's Maxwell Kirby before finishing his day strong with a 7-6 decision against the hosts.

Luke Bender (157 lbs.) and Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.) also won matches throughout Sunday's action. Bender's win came via an 11-2 major decision against Drexel's Aboubakare Diaby before another Dragon stopped him one match shy of the podium. Wheatley advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-5 decision win against Harvard, but saw his tournament also finish one match shy of a medal against another Crimson wrestler.

With final exams and training for the second half of the season in the coming weeks, the Diplomats will be away from competition for nearly a month before they return to the mats at Lehigh's Sheridan Open. That tournament is set for Friday, December 20 in Bethlehem.

Jack Parker (125 lbs.) – Sixth Place
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals Lost vs. #18 Max Gallagher (Penn); 14-3
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. James Garcia (F&M); 4-3
Consolation quarterfinals: Won vs. Logan Brzozowski (Harvard); 13-7
Consolation semifinals: Lost vs. Sean Logue (Lock Haven); 8-0
Fifth Place: Lost vs. Kaden Chinavare (Central Michigan); TF: 5:25 (19-4)

James Garcia (125 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Sean Logue (Lock Haven); F: 5:00
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Jack Parker (F&M); 4-3

Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.) – Sixth Place
Round of 16: Won vs. Spencer Barnhart (Penn); 8-3
Quarterfinals: Won vs. John Hildebrandt (Drexel); TF: 6:15 (19-3)
Semifinals: Lost vs. Alex Almeyda (Penn); 4-0
Consolation semifinals: Lost vs. Andrew Austin (Central Michigan); 12-10
Fifth Place: Lost vs. Colton Camacho (Edinboro); 8-0

Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.) – Fifth Place
Round of 16: Won vs. Deon Pleasant (Drexel); 10-1
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Evan Mougalian (Penn); F: 0:59
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Gavin Suica (Edinboro); F: 2:44
Consolation quarterfinals: Won vs. Conner Heckman (Lock Haven); 9-4
Consolation semifinals: Lost vs. Jordan Soriano (Drexel); 13-8
Fifth Place: Won vs. Jameson Garcia (Harvard); 7-4

Aidan O'Shea (141 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Jordan Soriano (Drexel); 9-8
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Gavin Suica (Edinboro); 15-5

Josh Hillard (149 lbs.) – Seventh Place
Round of 16: Lost vs. #1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech); F: 2:53
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Nicholas Stonecheck (Lock Haven); 7-2
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. DaShawn Farber (Lock Haven); 7-4
Seventh Place: Won vs. Jonathan Fuller (Drexel); 12-3

Luke Bender (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Matt Henrich (Virginia Tech); 16-2
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Aboubakare Diaby (Drexel); 11-0
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Luke Nichter (Drexel); F: 2:08

Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.) – Seventh Place
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Caden Dobbins (Lock Haven); 4-0
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Maxwell Kirby (Edinboro); 11-2
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. Kylan Montgomery (Virginia Tech); 3-1
Seventh Place: Won vs. Vincent Manella (Penn); 7-6

Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. Alex Whitworth (Harvard); 7-5
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Tyler Stoltzfus (Lock Haven); TF: 4:07 (18-3)
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Haden Battiglieri (Harvard); 16-11

Nick Alvarez (174 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Ty Finn (Virginia Tech); TF: 6:15 (20-4)
Consolation of 8 #1: Bye
Conoslation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Brody Evans (Edinboro); 8-1

Brody Kline (285 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Tanner Updegraff (Drexel); 5-3
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Parker Ferrell (Virginia Tech); 12-1