LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team welcomed Lehigh, Ohio State, Penn, North Carolina, and Army to the Mayser Center on Saturday afternoon for the F&M Scramble. With a tough field and several nationally-ranked wrestlers competing in Lancaster, the Diplomats still found success on the mats in what was the team's final competition before F&M fully turns its attention to the EIWA Championships on two weeks.
Competing in a round robin/pool format, Brandon Sauter (141 lbs.) Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.), and Noah Fox (174 lbs.) each went undefeated on the day for a Diplomats' lineup that was without several nationally-ranked wrestlers as they prepare the for the postseason. Fox, currently ranked No. 21 in the latest RPI rankings, ran his season record to 25-8 with a pair of technical falls against EIWA foes from Lehigh and Army. Josh Palmucci picked up his 13th and 14th wins of the season and is now 7-3 in his last 10 matches after he also defeated conference opponents from Army and Lehigh. Both of Palmucci's victories came by major decision. With just one other entrant at 141 lbs., Brandon Sauter made the most of his only opportunity on the mat as he recorded a technical fall in 3:50 against Army's Colt Schrader.
Competing unattached, Nick Alvarez earned a pair of wins at 174 lbs. His first victory was a 12-0 major decision against Army before capping his day with a 6-0 victory over Lehigh. His only loss during a 2-1 afternoon came to No. 17 Tyler Eischens of North Carolina. Eric Howe (125 lbs.), Jack Parker (125 lbs.), Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.), Noah Bash (174 lbs.), and Harrison Shapiro (285 lbs.) each split their two bouts on the afternoon.
Howe, Bash, and Shapiro all recorded their victories by fall. Howe had the quickest fall for the Diplomats as he got on and off the mat in just 1:28 against Lehigh's Ethan Smith. Bash needed just 1:48 before pinning Army's Kent McCombs to the mat before he faced the No. 17 wrestler in the country from North Carolina. Shapiro registered a third period fall against North Carolina's Adam Honis in 5:16 for his bonus point victory. Jack Parker's win came via medical forfeit, while Makoa Niebel earning a 4-3 decision against Lehigh's Ryan Alvarado.
With the F&M Scramble marking the conclusion the regular season, the Diplomats will now begin preparations for the EIWA Championships which get underway on Friday, March 8 and continue through Saturday, March 9. Bucknell will serve as the host of this year's conference championship and NCAA Division I qualifying tournament.
Eric Howe (125 lbs.)
Round 2: Won vs. Ethan Smith (Lehigh); F: 1:28
Round 3: Lost vs. Max Gallagher (Penn); TF: 6:01 (17-2)
Jack Parker (125 lbs.) – Unattached
Round 2: Lost vs. Max Gallagher (Penn); TF: 4:15 (18-3)
Round 3: Won by. Ethan Smith (Lehigh); medical forfeit
Brandon Sauter (141 lbs.)
Round 2: Won vs. Colt Schrader (Army); TF: 3:50 (18-3)
Josh Hillard (149 lbs.)
Round 1: Won vs. Bryce Kresho (Franklin & Marshall); 4-2
Round 2: Lost vs. Matt Repos (Lehigh); 5-3
Round 3: Lost vs. Kelvin Griffin (Lehigh); F: 1:47
Round 3: Lost vs. #23 Jude Swisher (Penn); TF: 5:33 (21-5)
Bryce Kresho (149 lbs.)
Round 1: Lost vs. Josh Hillard (Franklin & Marshall); 4-2
Round 2: Lost vs. Kelvin Griffin (Lehigh); F: 1:33
Round 3: Lost vs. #23 Jude Swisher (Penn); F: 3:51
Round 4: Lost vs. Owen Reinsel (Lehigh); 14-2
Dominic Wheatley (157 lbs.)
Round 1: Lost vs. Griffin Gonzalez (Lehigh); 5-3
Round 3: Lost vs. #29 Isaac Wilcox (Ohio State); 13-4
Chris Arciuolo (157 lbs.)
Round 1: Lost vs. Nathan Lukez (Army); TF: 5:00 (15-0)
Round 4: Lost vs. Griffin Gonzalez (Lehigh); TF: 6:06 (17-2)
Billy Templeton (157 lbs.)
Round 1: Lost vs. #29 Isaac Wilcox (Ohio State); F: 3:41
Round 3: Lost vs. Nathan Lukez (Army); TF: 5:22 (18-1)
Tyler Shea (157 lbs.) – Unattached
Round 2: Lost vs. Nathan Lukez (Army); F: 4:22
Round 3: Lost vs. Griffin Gonzalez (Lehigh); F: 6:38
Round 4: Lost vs. #29 Isaac Wilcox (Ohio State); F: 1:44
Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.)
Round 2: Won vs. Ryan Alvarado (Army); 14-4
Round 3: Won vs. Liam Gil-Swiger (Lehigh); 14-1
Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.)
Round 2: Won vs. Ryan Alvarado (Army); 4-3
Round 3: Lost vs. Liam Gil-Swiger (Lehigh); 11-1
Noah Fox (174 lbs.)
Round 2: Won vs. Justin Onello (Lehigh); TF: 6:53 (17-2)
Round 4: Won vs. Kent McCombs (Army); TF: 4:10 (20-4)
Noah Bash (174 lbs.)
Round 2: Won vs. Kent McCombs (Army); F: 1:48
Round 3: Lost vs. #17 Tyler Eischens (North Carolina); F: 1:02
Nick Alvarez (174 lbs.) – Unattached
Round 2: Lost vs. #17 Tyler Eischens (North Carolina); TF: 5:18 (20-3)
Round 3: Won vs. Kent McCombs (Army West Point); 12-0
Round 4: Won vs. Justin Onello (Lehigh); 6-0
Jake Allred (184 lbs.)
Round 2: Lost vs. Dakota Morris (Army); 10-1
Round 3: Lost vs. #23 Gavin Kane (North Carolina); TF 5:29 (16-1)
Round 4: Lost vs. Remy Brancato (Lehigh); 10-3
Harrison Shapiro (285 lbs.)
Round 1: Won vs. Adam Honis (North Carolina); F: 5:16
Round 3: Lost vs. Hogan Swenski (Ohio State); 4-1
