FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team evenly split its 10 bouts with Sacred Heart in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) action on Saturday afternoon. However, the Diplomats (4-2, 2-1 EIWA) racked up the bonus points to take the team victory on the road and record their second conference victory of the season by a 21-16 score. A fall from Bryce Kresho, technical fall from James Garcia, and major decision from Josh Hillard were all crucial in the tightly contested conference match.
Starting off the match at 157 lbs., Josh Hillard helped set the bonus point tone as he had a takedown during each of the three periods of his 12-1 major decision. Hillard's point total included a takedown and two near fall points late in the second period to break that match open as he scored nine unanswered points in just over two minutes to close his match. At 165 lbs., Josh Palmucci found himself trailing 7-3 early in the second period, but he continued to push the pace on his way to earning a pair of stalling points in the second. Palmucci closed the key 9-7 comeback victory with an escape and takedown during the third period to end his bout with six unanswered points.
Sacred Heart got back in the match with hard-fought decisions during three of the next four matches. In all three matches, first period takedowns were the difference as Brandon Carr (174 lbs.) and Brody Kline (285 lbs.) were unable to find third period takedowns of their own in 4-2 decisions. The Pioneers also got their lone offensive points at 197 lbs. with a first period takedown as Leo Varga dropped a 5-1 decision.
Even with the hosts putting the Diplomats under pressure, Franklin & Marshall never trailed thanks in part to No. 6 James Conway earning a 7-1 decision at 184 lbs. The national leader in both wins (26) and takedowns (76) scored from neutral during the first and third periods of his victory. The Diplomats really turned up the offensive intensity when the match went back to 125 lbs. where James Garcia scored six takedowns during a 20-5 technical fall in 6:02. As seemed to be the case for most of the dual, F&M just could not shake Sacred Heart as the Pioneers took a 10-6 decision at 133 lbs. where Ejiro Montoya got the call.
With the match hanging in the balance at 15-12 with two bouts to go, Franklin & Marshall looked to senior captain Bryce Kresho to bring home the victory. It wasn't easy as last year's Division I leader in victories was trailing 6-3 after three minutes. Nevertheless, a reversal late in that opening period cut into the deficit and gave Kresho the momentum heading into the second period where an escape and takedown tied the match before Kresho officially clinched the dual with his pin at 4:04. With the dual victory secured, Sacred Heart got its only bonus point of the match with an 11-3 major decision over Pat Phillips.
Even with the 5-5 split in bouts, F&M scored 68 match points compared to 54 for the host Pioneers. F&M additionally held a 16-12 edge in takedowns while Hillard had the only near fall points of the night.
Following single dual meet weekends during the past two weeks, the Diplomats will double up on EIWA action this coming week. Up first will be a Saturday night dual at Drexel (6 p.m.) on January 31 before the Diplomats return home on Sunday, February 1 for a match with Hofstra that is set for 1 p.m.
Franklin & Marshall 21, Sacred Heart 16
157: Josh Hillard (F&M) maj. Felix Lettini (Sacred Heart); 12-1 (F&M 4-0)
165: Josh Palmucci (F&M) dec. AJ Falcone (Sacred Heart); 9-7 (F&M 7-0)
174: Aidan Zarrella (Sacred Heart) dec. Brandon Carr (F&M); 4-2 (F&M 7-3)
184: #6 James Conway (F&M) dec. Hunter Perez (Sacred Heart); 7-1 (F&M 10-3)
197: Chris DeLena (Sacred Heart) dec. Leo Varga (F&M); 5-1 (F&M 10-6)
285: Brendan Gilchrist (Sacred Heart) dec. Brody Kline (F&M); 4-2 (F&M 10-9)
125: James Garcia (F&M) TF Caden Smith (Sacred Heart); 6:02 (20-5) (F&M 15-9)
133: John Sheehy (Sacred Heart) dec. Ejiro Montoya (F&M); 10-6 (F&M 15-12)
141: Bryce Kresho (F&M) WBF John Hildebrandt (Sacred Heart); 4:04 (F&M 21-12)
149: Dakota Asuncion (Sacred Heart) maj. Pat Phillips (F&M); 11-3 (F&M 21-16)
