BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team topped VMI in a thrilling 23-22 dual to open up its weekend at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. The Diplomats raced out to a 15-0 lead in the lightweights before prevailing by a single team point. F&M then matched up with No. 18 Rutgers out of the Big Ten, falling to the nationally-ranked Scarlet Knights by a 41-3 score during the afternoon session.
Franklin & Marshall 23, VMI 22
In the team's first dual of the season, the Diplomats came out firing by taking the first three matches against the Keydets. First-year James Garcia started his collegiate dual career with a 2-0 record on Saturday, including a second period fall in 3:49 against Cody Tanner to get the dual started. Mason Leiphart followed that performance up with a 5-0 decision before Bryce Kresho continued his terrific start to the season with a pin in 6:08.
Bonus points from Luke Bender and Dominic Wheatley proved huge for the Diplomats in the final team score. Bender was up 8-3 after a takedown and near fall points in the first period before adding another takedown during the third period to secure the major decision. Wheatley scored four takedowns, including three in the second period, before a full set of near fall points at the buzzer got him the technical fall right at the five minute mark.
The Diplomats were leading 24-10 after Wheatley's technical fall and they would need all of those points as the Keydets won the final three bouts which featured a fall and major decision in the eventual 23-22 final.
#18 Rutgers 41, Franklin & Marshall 3
After starting its season off with a 1-0 record, the Diplomats matched up with nationally-ranked Rutgers in its second dual of the day. Franklin & Marshall got out to the early lead as Garcia improved to 6-1 on the year following a 9-4 decision over Kurt Wehner. Garcia was leading 3-2 after a takedown in the first, but further extended his lead with two more takedowns during the final two minutes.
The Scarlet Knights' lineup featured six nationally-ranked wrestlers over the final nine matches as Rutgers came away with the eventual 41-3 victory. F&M's closest battle against a nationally-ranked opponent came at 141 lbs. where Kresho dropped a 10-8 battle to No. 22 Joseph Oliveri. A takedown and ride out at the end of the second period from Kresho tied the match at eight-all, but Oliveri escaped and earned a stall point during the final period to claim his victory.
While Saturday's action featured dual meet competition, Sunday's wrestling will consist of individual pool tournament action at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic. Fifteen wrestlers are slated to compete in the pools for the Diplomats as action on the mats is set to get underway at 9 a.m.
Franklin & Marshall 23, VMI 22
125: James Garcia (F&M) WBF Cody Tanner (VMI); 3:49 (F&M 6-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) dec. Dyson Dunham (VMI); 5-0 (F&M 9-0)
141: Bryce Kresho (F&M) WBF Phoenix Alyea (VMI); 6:08 (F&M 15-0)
149: Patrick Jordon (VMI) WBF Josh Hillard (F&M); 7:11 (SV) (F&M 15-6)
157: Luke Bender (F&M) maj. Eric Doran (VMI); 14-5 (F&M 19-6)
165: Ryan Vigil (VMI) maj. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 9-0 (F&M 19-10)
174: Dominic Wheatley (F&M) TF Tyler Berish (VMI); 5:00 (F&M 24-10)
184: Braxton Lewis (VMI) WBF Leo Varga (F&M); 3:50 (F&M 24-16)
197: Toby Schoffstall (VMI) maj. RJ Moore (F&M); 9-0 (F&M 24-20)
285: Josh Evans (VMI) dec. Brody Kline (F&M); 4-3 (F&M 23-20)
**F&M & VMI were both deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct
#18 Rutgers 41, Franklin & Marshall 3
125: James Garcia (F&M) dec. Kurt Wehner (RUT); 9-4 (F&M 3-0)
133: #6 Dylan Shawver (RUT) won by forfeit (Rutgers 6-3)
141: #22 Joesph Oliveri (RUT) dec. Bryce Kresho (F&M); 10-8 (Rutgers 9-3)
149: #33 Michael Cetta (RUT) WBF Josh Hillard (F&M); 4:03 (Rutgers 15-3)
157: Conner Harer (RUT) maj. Luke Bender (F&M); 11-1 (Rutgers 19-3)
165: Anthony White (RUT) maj. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 11-1 (Rutgers 23-3)
174: #19 Jackson Turley (RUT) maj. Dominic Wheatley (F&M); 18-4 (Rutgers 27-3)
184: Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) TF Leo Varga (F&M); 3:32 (21-5) (Rutgers 32-3)
197: #12 John Poznanski (RUT) TF RJ Moore (F&M); 5:15 (19-4) (Rutgers 37-3)
285: #5 Yaraslau Slavikouski (RUT) maj. Brody Kline (F&M); 14-3 (Rutgers 41-3)
