MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Dominic Wheatley won the title at 174 lbs. to highlight the Franklin & Marshall wrestling team's performance at Millersville's Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Tournament on Saturday. Wheatley went 4-0 with three bonus point victories to win his first collegiate tournament.
With a bye into the round of 16, Wheatley did not need any more than the first period to record his first three victories as he had a first period technical fall, pin in 1:04, and fall in 1:27 to reach the finals. During the championship match, Wheatley record a 5-0 decision over Benjamin Smith to complete his perfect 4-0 performance.
Tyler Fromm advanced all the way to the quarterfinals of 165 lbs. as he registered a default win that was followed by a 7-3 decision over B1G foe Ryan Money of Maryland. Only a loss the top ranked recruit in his entire class could stop Fromm's championship run. Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.) and Leo Varga (184 lbs.) won multiple matches to add to a strong showing in the upper half of the lineup. Fuccilli won two matches before falling in sudden victory during the consolations. Varga also won back-to-back matches in the consolations as his day included a first period pin.
First-year CJ Ferree won three consecutive matches in the wrestlebacks, with each of those victories coming via bonus points. Ferree had a pair of technical falls before a third period pin. Classmate Alex Ortiz also made a deep run in the consolation bracket with two wins that included a technical fall in just 1:41.
Other notable wins included bonus point victories against EIWA opponents for Vincent Gioffree (125 lbs.) and Charlie Colantonio (133 lbs.), while Seth Weaver earned a 6-4 decision against American's Gavin Cohen. Brayden Hartranft (141 lbs.), Brendan Sholders (149 lbs.), Jude Bowers (149 lbs.), and Jesse Scott (165 lbs.) each secured bonus point victories. The highest scoring match of the day certainly belonged to Brandt Fajerman who earned a 26-24 decision to start his tournament, while Brandon Sauter also put up the points with a 17-11 decision to start his tournament.
Wrestling will be back in action on Sunday evening as the team hosts Senior Night during its home and EIWA opener against LIU. Action in the Mayser Center gets started at 7 p.m. with Senior Day set to take place following the team social which gets underway prior to the match.
Franklin & Marshall Results
Vincent Gioffree (125 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Dale O'Blia (Princeton); TF: 3:10 (17-2)
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Meyer Rosen (Bucknell); 12-1
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Kaedyn Williams (Unattached); F: 4:47
Ejiro Montoya (125 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Tomah Gummow (Ithaca); 10-8
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Andrew Aparo (Ithaca); MFF
Charlie Colantonio (133 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Anthony Samuels (Sacred Heart); F: 4:09
Round of 16: Lost vs. Sean Garretson (Navy); TF: 7:00 (17-2)
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Ellis Kirsch (American): F: 2:55
Brayden Hartranft (141 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Andrew Roman (Nassau CC); TF: 4:25 (17-1)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Elijah Cortez (Spartan Combat RTC); TF: 5:37 (19-4)
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Daniel Haws (Centenary); 6:59
Brandt Fajerman (141 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Dnaiel Gonzalez (Centenary); 26-24
Round of 32: Lost vs. Nicholas Vafiadis (Navy); MFF
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Daniel Haws (Centenary); MFF
CJ Ferree (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Joe Mahoney (Unattached); 3-1
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Eaghan O'Hara (Muhlenberg); TF: 6:03 (18-2)
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Brayden Pequignot (Millersville); TF: 2:36 (15-0)
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Elias Smith (Millersville); F: 6:22
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Jay Chase (Bloomsburg); F: 2:24
Brendan Sholders (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Mike Fahmie (Ithaca); TF: 5:21 (17-0)
Round of 16: Lost vs. Frank Antonelli (Navy); F: 4:59
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. James Latona (Navy); F: 1:42
Jude Bowers (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Elias Smith (Millersville); 7-5
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Daniel Lloyd (Millersville); TF: 4:33 (19-3)
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. John Fox (Nassau CC); 14-3
Brandon Sauter (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Enrique Sanchez (Bluefield State); 17-11
Round of 32: Lost Donny Almeyda (Penn RTC); TF: 1:56 (16-1)
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Anthony Basile (George Mason); F: 6:14
Aidan O'Shea (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Jackson Butler (Unattached); 10-3
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. James Latona (Navy); 9-0
Seth Weaver (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Gavin Cohen (American); 6-4
Round of 16: Lost vs. Owen Woll (Unattached); 8-6
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Connor Eck (Clarion); TF: 3:59 (21-5)
Tyler Fromm (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Isaac Placencia (Point Park); Def: 2:13
Round of 16: Won vs. Ryan Money (Maryland); 7-3
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Melvin Miller (Unattached); TF: 4:42 (22-7)
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Davis Park (Navy); 14-9
Alex Ortiz (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Sean Walker (Bucknell); 11-6
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Jose Alvarenga Giron (Sussex County); TF: 1:41 (15-0)
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Riley Boos (Felician); 10-7
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Shane McFillan (Bucknell); TF: 7:00 (20-5)
Jesse Scott (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Bailey Gimbor (Kutztown); 15-3
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Ricky Halford (Pitt.-Johnstown); F: 6:39
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Nathaniel Replogle (Unattached); 8-6
Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.) – First Place
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Luke McGovern (Centenary); TF: 1:36 (20-5)
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Liam Kilrain (Navy); F: 1:04
Semifinals: Won vs. Konrad Parker (Ithaca); F: 1:27
First Place: Won vs. Benjamin Smith (Unattached); 5-0
Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Dalton Gimbor (Kutztown); 17-5
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Charles Perkins (Point Park); 8-0
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Reece Smith (Centenary); 5-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Liam Kilrain (Navy); 5-2 (SV)
Leo Varga (184 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Kingsley Menifee (Unattached); 13-3
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Daniel Gurovich (Pittsburgh); 5-4
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Jesse Huelbig (Sussex County); F: 1:05
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Cole DuBois (Millersville); 5-2
Jake Allred (197 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Ryan Galka (Ithaca); 12-5
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Bye
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Anthony Bruscino (Navy); 9-1
