LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team hosted the 12th Annual David H. Lehman '68 F&M Open on Friday inside the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center with over 30 Division I teams represented in the field. Even with the tough opposition, junior captain Bryce Kresho kept his season streak of placing at every tournament with a fifth-place showing, while several other Diplomats impressed during the first home event of the season.
Kresho was one of two Diplomats who made runs to the quarterfinals at 141 lbs. as the winningest wrestler in Division I this season entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed. He started his tournament with a pair of EIWA bonus point wins against LIU and American before a hard-fought 10-4 battle against American's fifth-seeded Eligh Rivera. Showing the same bounce-back ability he has all year, Kresho rebounded with a 7-0 win against Harvard's Dante Frinzi before advancing to the fifth-place match via a no contest. During his fifth match of the day, Kresho defeated seventh-seeded Andre Gonzales of Ohio State to cap his first-ever placement at the Lehman Open. That win marked his 26th of the season.
He was joined in the quarterfinals by fellow captain Pat Phillips who is competing unattached during his redshirt season. Phillips earned the No. 6 seed and picked up a first period technical fall against Kent State before back-to-back convincing decisions versus Princeton and Navy. His run through the championship bracket was halted by third-seeded and nationally-ranked Shanna Hanna of Campbell before dropping his final bout against Air Force.
Franklin & Marshall also had a pair of unattached first-years make deep runs at 125 lbs., with both James Garcia and Ejiro Montoya. Garcia found himself in the round of 16 after pinning his opponent from Harvard before dropping a narrow sudden victory bout to the sixth-seeded wrestler at the weight. Garcia rolled to consecutive major decisions in the consolation rounds to finish with three victories on the day. Montoya also won three matches. After just mere seconds of riding time decided his first match, he defeated two opponents from Hofstra and another from B1G foe Maryland via major decision.
Josh Hillard (149 lbs.) and Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.) also recorded three-win days to add to the Diplomats' success. Hillard's only losses came to seeded wrestlers who had previously qualified for the NCAA Tournament, but he did earn three EIWA victories to bolster his day, including a major decision against Army before a late rally allowed him a second victory against the service academy. Two of Palmucci's three victories came against conference foes, while he further racked up a major decision against North Carolina. His only losses came to the first and third-seeded wrestlers at the weight
Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.) and Brody Kline (285 lbs.) both picked up falls to highlight their Lehman Opens, while Seth Weaver (149 lbs.) and Brandon Sauter (149 lbs.) racked up the points during tech fall victories. Nick Alvarez made a run to the round of 16 at 174 lbs. behind a major decision against Lehigh, with Luke Bender (157 lbs.) and Jake Neill (165 lbs.) also earning victories throughout the home tournament.
Another highlight for the Diplomats was James Conway advancing to the finals of the Lehman Open for the second consecutive season. The returning NCAA qualifier and Elite 90 Award recipient from a season ago only fell to returning national runner-up Rocco Welsh of Ohio State by a 4-2 score after recording bonus points during four of his five victories to put himself in the finals.
Following the team's first home event of the season, the Diplomats next host their first home dual this year when they welcome Binghamton to the Mayser Center next Saturday, January 18. That EIWA matchup between Independence Division foes is slated for a 12 p.m. start.
Full Franklin & Marshall Results
James Garcia (125 lbs.) – unattached
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Isaiah Adams (Harvard); F: 5:53
Round of 16: Lost vs. #6 Sulaymao Bah (Columbia); 8-5 (SV)
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Austin Zimmerman (Edinboro); 12-1
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Tyeler Hagensen (Kent State); 15-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Bubba Wright (Air Force); F: 1:26
Ejiro Montoya (125 lbs.) – unattached
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Bubba Wright (Air Force); 2-1
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Teague Strobel (Hofstra); 12-7
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Dylan Acevedo (Hofstra); 5-1
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Abram Cline (Maryland); 12-4
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Nain Vazquez (Army); TF: 3:55 (16-1)
Jack Parker (125 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Nain Vazquez (Army); 14-8
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Tyeler Hagensen (Kent State); 8-6
Charlie Colantonio (125 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. #6 Sulaymao Bah (Columbia); TF: 5:49 (19-3)
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Isaiah Adams (Harvard); 9-1
Vincent Gioffre (125 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. #4 Davis Motyka (PRTC); TF: 3:43 (19-4)
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Connor Smith (Columbia); F: 3:57
#4 Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.) – Fifth Place
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Amir Azovov (LIU); TF: 7:00 (16-1)
Round of 16: Won vs. Cael McIntyre (American); 9-1
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #5 Eligh Rivera (American); 10-4
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Dante Frinzi (Harvard); 7-0
Consolation Quarterfinals: Advanced vs. Mason Tieffel (Kent State); no contest (match limit)
Fifth Place: Won vs. #7 Andre Gonzales (Ohio State); 12-7
#6 Pat Phillips (141 lbs.) – unattached
Round of 64: Won vs. Mason Tieffel (Kent State); TF: 2:28 (15-0)
Round of 32: Won vs. Sebastian Ortega (Princeton); 6-0
Round of 16: Won vs. Adam Heckman (Navy); 8-2
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #3 Shannon Hanna (Campbell); 4-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Carter Nogle (Air Force); F: 3:32
Brandt Fajerman (141 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. #7 Andre Gonzales (Ohio State); 19-5
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. #8 Tim Levine (Brown); 8-3
Josh Hillard (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Cole Stone (Army); 18-6
Round of 32: Won vs. Venumadhava Mirel (Navy); 8-1
Round of 16: Lost vs. Jack Gioffre (Virginia); 11-0
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Mason Barvitskie (Army); 8-6
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. #4 Kelvin Griffin (Lehigh); F: 2:24
Seth Weaver (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Zach Reilley (Hofstra); 9-4
Consolation of 32 #1: Won vs. Matthew Morris (Millersville); TF: 3:23 (17-1)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Danny Sinclair (Millersville); 14-4
Brandon Sauter (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Billy Mieiszner (Kent State); F: 1:17
Consolation of 32 #1: Won vs. Parker Lyden (Campbell); TF: 5:17 (21-6)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Zach Reilley (Hofstra); TF: 6:31 (18-2)
Kyle Deisley (149 lbs.) – unattached
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Sam Ewing (Buffalo); TF: 4:04 (16-0)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Nathan Perry (Maryland); TF: 5:54 (17-2)
Luke Bender (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Tyler Barrett (Columbia); 12-0
Consolation 64 #2: Bye
Consolation of 32 #1: Won vs. Kross Cassidy (Unrostered); 8-7
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Chris Earnest (Campbell); FFT
Chris Arciuolo (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Casper Stewart (Army Prep); TF: 5:59 (19-4)
Consolation of 64 #2: Bye
Consolation of 32 #1: Lost vs. Cooper Rathburn (Navy); 2-0
Billy Templeton (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. #1 Sammy Sasso (Ohio State); TF: 3:34 (17-2)
Consolation of 64 #2: Lost vs. Dominic Rosetti (Columbia); 11-3
Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Taythan Silva (Army); 8-4
Round of 32: Won vs. Omaury Alvarez (North Carolina); 11-3
Round of 16: Lost vs. #1 Max Brignola (Lehigh); 18-5
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Jake Slotnick (Hofstra); 6-2
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. #3 Domonic Baker (Campbell); 12-5
Jake Neill (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Adam Thomson (Penn); 16-5
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Mitch Bivona (Millersville); 6-3
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Jake Slotnick (Hofstra); TF: 7:00 (17-2)
Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Keegan Rothrock (Brown); 2-0
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Oliver Howard (Columbia); F: 4:02
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Ousmane Duncanson (Unrostered); F: 6:19
Tyler Shea (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Tyler Reed (Binghamton); 9-4
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Dominic Frontino (Unrostered); TF: 4:08 (19-3)
Nick Alvarez (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Justin Onello (Lehigh); 8-0
Round of 16: Lost vs. Shane Reitsma (Rider); 10-4
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Lance Urbas (PRTC); F: 2:42
Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Ty Raines (Buffalo); 6-2
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Nate Blanchette (Rutgers); 6-3
Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Bodie Morgan (Davidson); 8-4
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Lance Urbas (PRTC); 6-0
Noah Bash (184 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. #4 Dom Solis (Maryland); TF: 3:55 (19-4)
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. JR Reed (Cleveland State); 14-1
Leo Varga (184 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Josh Cordio (Air Force); 6-0
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Lane Kiser (Campbell); F: 0:53
RJ Moore (197 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Brian Burburija (Air Force); TF: 4:33 (15-0)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Nik Miller (Hofstra); 14-2
Brody Kline (285 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Brentan Simmerman (Kent State); 2-1
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Josh Boggan (Kent State); F: 6:35
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Oscar Williams (Maryland); 8-2
Quincy Long (285 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Bryson Harrington (Pittsburgh); 7-2
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Juliano Marion (Pittsburgh); F: 6:37
Jake Rickett (285 lbs.) – unattached
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Ben Farabaugh (Navy); F: 4:44
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Gavin Hoffman (Lock Haven); F: 0:38
