LANCASTER, Pa. – Visiting Drexel came away with a 30-9 victory over the Franklin & Marshall wrestling team on Friday evening in EIWA Independence Division action. The Diplomats jumped out to the early lead as Bryce Kresho recorded a fall, but the Dragons controlled the second half of the meet to come away with the conference win. That win came just one match after a third period rally from Mason Leiphart who also earned an EIWA victory for the home side.
Leiphart got the Diplomats on the board and tied the dual at three-all with his decision at 133 lbs. F&M's captain was down 3-0 heading into the third period, but took top with his choice and got a four-point near fall on a tilt to take the lead before adding on riding time for the 5-3 decision. The next match saw the Diplomats out to a 9-3 lead in the team score when Kresho recorded his Division I-leading 31st victory with a fall during the first period (2:48) of his match at 141 lbs. With the pin, Kresho also moves into a tie for seventh place in all of Division I with eight falls on the year.
The Diplomats had a number of additional chances to take bouts throughout the early part of the meet. Jack Parker was trailing 8-2 heading into the third period at 125 lbs., but got one takedown to make the match a 9-6 score. He was also in on the legs of 32nd-ranked Desmond Pleasant during the final seconds as Parker secured the riding time point early in the match but was just shy of the winning takedown.
Josh Hillard (149 lbs.) and Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.) were two more hard-fought battles between the Diplomats and Dragons. Tied at 1-1 in the third, Hillard was taken down but quickly escaped and had a chance at the go-ahead takedown before his opponent countered for the final score in a 7-2 decision. Palmucci found himself in a 5-3 third period battle before his opponent held off a final takedown attempt for the decision victory with riding time. The Dragons extended their lead during the back half of the dual with bonus points during four of the final seven matches to come away with the 30-9 victory.
Friday's dual wrapped up EIWA and Independence Division action for the Diplomats as they completed their first year of Independence Division wrestling with an earlier dual victory versus Sacred Heart. F&M returns to the mats tomorrow as the Diplomats have 17 wrestlers slated to compete at the Messiah Open which gets underway at 10 a.m. The team will wrap up its dual schedule next Sunday, February 16 with the annual Rupp Cup battle against local foe Millersville. That match between the two Lancaster Country programs is set for a 2 p.m. start inside the Mayser Center.
Drexel 30, Franklin & Marshall 9
125: #32 Desmond Pleasant (Drexel) dec. Jack Parker (F&M); 9-7 (Drexel 3-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) dec. John Hildebrandt (Drexel); 5-3 (Tied 3-3)
141: Bryce Kresho (F&M) WBF Deon Pleasant (Drexel); 2:48 (F&M 9-3)
149: Dominic Findora (Drexel) dec. Josh Hillard (F&M); 7-2 (F&M 9-6)
157: #31 Luke Nichter (Drexel) maj. Luke Bender (F&M); 12-1 (Drexel 10-9)
165: Cody Walsh (Drexel) dec. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 6-3 (Drexel 13-9)
174: #31 Jasiah Queen (Drexel) TF Nick Alvarez (F&M); 4:19 (25-10) (Drexel 18-9)
184: Giuseppe Hoose (Drexel) TF Leo Varga (F&M); 4:27 (16-1) (Drexel 23-9)
197: Ibrahim Ameer (Drexel) maj. RJ Moore (F&M); 11-0 (Drexel 27-9)
285: Shane Whitney (Drexel) dec. Brody Kline (F&M); 5-1 (Drexel 30-9)
