LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team won its home and EIWA opener on Sunday night with a 27-11 victory over LIU. The match was also Senior Night for the Diplomats who saw four of their seven victories come from that senior class.
Starting at 125 lbs., James Garcia scored three takedowns and accumulated seven back points in the first period to record a technical fall in just 2:09. Senior Mason Leiphart used a first period takedown to propel him to a 4-0 win before the Sharks got their first win of the night with a 10-5 decision at 141 lbs.
Senior Pat Phillips got the Diplomats back on track at 149 lbs. as he had a reversal and four near fall to jump out to a 6-0 lead in the second period. He secured the only takedown of the match during the third period before his opponent was able to defend just long enough to keep the match at a regular decision. LIU trimmed its deficit to 11-7 at the halfway point with its first bonus point victory of the night, a 10-0 major decision at 157 lbs.
Franklin & Marshall secured the dual with the three consecutive victories beginning at 165 lbs. Josh Palmucci went feet to back in the first period for a 7-0 lead and only added to his lead from there with a takedown in the second and reversal in the third for an eventual 15-3 major decision. Making his dual debut, first-year Brandon Carr was out to a 7-1 lead at 174 lbs. after securing his second takedown of the match before securing an 8-5 decision.
The marquee match of the night came at 184 lbs. where James Conway and Anthony D'Alesio met in a rematch of NCAA qualifiers. Conway, ranked in the top 15 nationally by multiple media outlets, left no doubt in the rubber match as he secured five takedowns – including three during the final period – to earn a 19-3 technical fall in 6:38. With the match clinched after the victory at 184 lbs., the Sharks got a 12-1 major decision at 197 lbs., but heavyweight Brody Kline sent the Mayser Gym crowd home on a high note with a 14-2 major decision. Kline had four takedowns, with two of those coming in the final period, to secure the Diplomats' fourth bonus point victory of the night.
After starting its dual season with a conference victory, the Diplomats return to tournament action this coming Sunday, November 23 at the Keystone Classic which will be hosted at the University of Pennsylvania.
Franklin & Marshall 27, LIU 11
125: James Garcia (F&M) TF Sawyer Ostroff (LIU); TF: 2:09 (17-1) (F&M 5-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) dec. Branden Rozanski (LIU); 4-0 (F&M 8-0)
141: Amir Avazov (LIU) dec. Bryce Kresho (F&M); 10-5 (F&M 8-3)
149: Pat Phillips (F&M) dec. Tommy Bonasera (LIU); 9-2 (F&M 11-3)
157: Brayden Roberts (LIU) maj. Nick Alvarez (F&M); 10-0 (F&M 11-7)
165: Josh Palmucci (F&M) maj. Jordan Barry (LIU); 15-3 (F&M 15-7)
174: Brandon Carr (F&M) dec. Domenic D`Agostino (LIU); 8-5 (F&M 18-7
184: #15 James Conway (F&M) TF Anthony D`Alesio (LIU); 6:38 (19-3) (F&M 23-7)
197: John Dusza (LIU) maj. RJ Moore (F&M); 12-1 (F&M 23-11)
285: Brody Kline (F&M) maj. Kaleb Wright (LIU); 14-2 (F&M 27-11)
