LANCASTER, Pa. – James Conway – the seventh ranked wrestler at 184 lbs. in Division I – added to his list of program firsts on Friday when he became the Diplomats' first-ever individual champion of the David H. Lehman '68 F&M Open. Conway recorded five bonus point victories during his perfect 5-0 day, including a technical fall in the semifinal and championship bouts.

Conway started his day with a technical fall and pin against Air Force and Brown. His closest match at the Lehman Open still finished in major decision fashion as he defeated Lehigh's Jared Schoope by a 12-2 score. During the semifinal and championship matches, Conway left no doubt as the top seed at 184 lbs. outscored fifth-seeded Dylan Newsome of Virginia 21-6 in just 4:15 during the semifinals. He followed that up with another 21-6 technical fall against second-seeded Joe Curtis of Columbia. During his five matches, Conway amassed twenty-two takedowns, including six during the championship match against the Lions.

With his latest victories, Conway improves to 24-1 on the season to move into first place for total victories among all Division I wrestlers this season. His 10 technical falls are also the most among any Division I wrestlers as 17 of his 24 victories have come by bonus points. Conway became the ninth finalist in F&M history at the Lehman Open as he made an appearance in the championship match for the third consecutive season. The Diplomats have now had 29 place winners since the tournament's inception.

Conway was joined by three of his teammates in the quarterfinals as James Garcia (125 lbs.), Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.), and Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.) each made deep runs in the championship bracket. Only a sudden victory defeat to Air Force stopped Garcia's run as he started his tournament with victories against Kent State and George Mason. Garcia later collected an 8-4 win against the No. 8 seed from Princeton before falling one match short of the podium. Kresho began his day with back-to-back major decisions before falling to second-seeded Elijah Cortez of Spartan Combat. Palmucci had a tech fall and 21-9 major decision during his first two matches. He bounced back with an 8-1 decision in the consolations before being denied a spot on the podium just one round before the medals.

A number of Diplomats had strong performances in the consolation rounds. Pat Phillis and Aidan O'Shea were both among the final 16 wrestlers standing at 149 lbs. Phillips earned wins against Buffalo and Navy, while O'Shea registered a technical fall during the opening round before finishing his tournament with three technical falls in total among his four victories. Josh Hillard also won four matches. Hillard advanced to the Round of 16 with EIWA victories versus Navy and Drexel. Only a 5-4 decision stopped his championship side run, but the senior added two more wins in the consolation bracket before finishing 4-2 on the day.

Nick Alvarez and Luke Bender each added three wins to the Diplomats' strong day at 157 lbs. Alvarez  he recorded two technical falls and a major decision. Bender secured two technical falls and a 4-1 decision versus Navy during his strong run on the backside. Mason Leiphart finished with a 3-2 record at 133 lbs. which included another technical fall against Sacred Heart. Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.) and Tyler Shelton (184 lbs.) both won multiple matches at the Lehman Open. A total of 19 different Diplomats finished with at least one victory at their home tournament.

Wrestling will now turn its attention to dual meet action as Franklin & Marshall is set for five consecutive EIWA duals over the next month of action. Up first will be the team's trip to Binghamton next Sunday, January 18 with a 2 p.m. start versus the Bearcats.

Franklin & Marshall Results

#4 James Garcia (125 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Nico Calello (Kent State); 6-4
Round 16: Won vs. JB Dragovich (George Mason); 9-0
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #5 Tucker Owens (Air Force); 4-1 (SV)
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. #8 Dale O'Blia (Princeton); 8-4
Consolation Semifinals: Lost vs. #9 Nick Treaster (Navy); F: 0:48

Jack Parker (125 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. #6 Carson Wagner (Binghamton); 8-4
Round of 16: Lost vs. Joseph Calvin (Bellarmine); 15-5
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Zach Belverio (Buffalo); 12-9 (SV)

#6 Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Sean Logue (Lock Haven); 6-1
Round of 32: Lost vs. Trayce Eckman (Bellarmine); 8-3
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Will Schmitt (Sacred Heart); TF: 0:57 (15-0)
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Anthony Lucchiani (George Mason); 13-8
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Lucas Fye (Lock Haven); 12-10

Ejiro Montoya (133 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. #1 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech); TF: 2:15 (20-3)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Colin Martin (American); F: 5:58

Charlie Colantonio (133 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Hunter Heflin (Navy); 13-0
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Collin Higgins (Millersville); 11-2

#7 Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Landen Duncan (Kent State); 13-1
Round of 16: Won vs. Sebastian Ortega (Princeton); 11-3
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #2 Elijah Cortez (Spartan Combat); 13-4
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. Roman Lermer (Columbia); 10-7

Brayden Hartranft (141 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Seamus Mack (Lehigh); TF: 5:10 (21-5)
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Ryan Hartung (Binghamton); 8-3

#6 Pat Phillips (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Kosta Koufalis (Buffalo); 4-2
Round of 16: Lost vs. Eli Carr (Brown); 13-6
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Tyler Hood (Navy); 5-0
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Carson Walsh (Pittsburgh); 2-1

Aidan O'Shea (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Connor MacDonald (Sacred Heart); TF: 2:00 (15-0)
Round of 32: Lost vs. Luke Geleta (Binghamton); 8-2
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Cael Raines (Bloomsburg); TF: 4:07 (15-0)
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Dustin Elliott (Bloomsburg); TF: 1:46 (17-0)
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Donny Alemyda (PRTC); 11-6
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. #10 Jake Mann (Princeton); TF: 6:45 (17-1)

Brandon Sauter (149 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Donny Almeyda (PRTC); TF: 4:13 (19-3)
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Alex Baxley (Bloomsburg); F: 1:26
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Gage Owen (American); F: 2:59

CJ Ferree (149 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Won vs. Venumadhava Mirel (Navy); 2-0
Round of 32: Lost vs. #9 Bryce Shelton (Air Force); 16-2
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Philly Provenzano (Spartan Combat); Medical Forfeit

Jude Bowers (149 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. #10 Jake Mann (Princeton); TF: 3:53 (16-0)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Venumadhava Mirel (Navy); 14-1

Brendan Sholders (149 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Cam Ice (Hofstra); 9-2
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Julian Everitt (Navy); 6-1

#10 Josh Hillard (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Charlie Evans (Navy); 10-3
Round of 32: Won vs. Gavin Carroll (Drexel); 8-4
Round of 16: Lost vs. #7 Frank Volpe (Hofstra); 5-4
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. Cody Tavoso (Princeton); Medical Forfeit
Consolation of 8 #1: Won vs. Conner Doherty (Army Prep); 9-3
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. #9 Vince Bouzakis (Pittsburgh); 10-3

Nick Alvarez (157 lbs.)
Round of 128: Won vs. Luke Bender (F&M); 10-0
Round of 64: Lost vs. Dagen Condomitti (Rutgers); F: 4:30
Consolation of 64 #2: Bye
Consolation of 32 #1: Won vs. Marc Maurath (Columbia); TF: 2:39 (15-0)
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Jackson Albert (George Mason); TF: 4:48 (19-1)
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Jeb Prechtel (Bellarmine); F: 0:48

Luke Bender (157 lbs.)
Round of 128: Lost vs. Nick Alvarez (F&M); 10-0
Consolation of 64 #2: Won vs. Riley Oakes (Millersville); TF: 4:39 (16-1)
Consolation of 32 #1: Won vs. Ryan Hayes (Sacred Heart); TF: 6:07 (18-3)
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Tyler Russ (Navy); 4-1
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Cody Tavoso (Princeton); 5-3

Seth Weaver (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Riley Oakes (Millersville); 10-4
Round of 32: Lost vs. Cam Milheim (American); TF: 4:24 (21-5)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Gavin Cohen (American); 8-3

Billy Templeton (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Nate Higley (Bellarmine); 5-1
Consolation of 64 #2: Bye
Consolation of 32 #1: Lost vs. Charlie Scanlan (Columbia); 4-2

Kyle Deisley (157 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Zach Reilley (Hofstra); TF: 5:07 (21-6)
Consolation of 64 #2: Bye
Consolation of 32 #1: Lost vs. Gavin Cohen (American); F: 6:22

#6 Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Ryan Alvarado (Army); TF: 6:01 (17-1)
Round of 16: Won vs. Jake Wacha (NYC RTC); 21-9
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. Ben Weader (Virginia Tech); TF: 7:00 (17-2)
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. Chase Bish (Millersville); 8-1
Consolation Semifinal: Lost vs. Logan Fowler (Air Force); F: 4:31

Tyler Fromm (165 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Jack Valentin (LIU); 7-6
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Pete Winterstein (North Carolina State); 7-4 (SV)
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Declan Casey (Navy); 5-2

Jesse Scott (165 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Jordan Barry (LIU); 4-1 (SV)
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Nick Piontkowski (Bellarmine); 4-1 (SV)

Alex Ortiz (165 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Anthony Mann (Sacred Heart); 14-6
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Coy Bryson (Clarion); 12-6

Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Braxton Quaintance (Kent State); 8-5 (SV)
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Jack Weldon (Millersville); 11-4
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Kayleb Martin (Binghamton); 11-4
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Cooper Haase (Army); TF: 3:24 (19-4)

Brandon Carr (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Won vs. Dominic Wheatley (F&M); 6-2
Round of 32: Lost vs. #8 Liam Carlin (Penn); 8-3
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. #7 Dakota Morris (Army); 13-3

Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Brandon Carr (F&M); 6-2
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Lost vs. Braden Brown (LIU); Medical Forfeit

#1 James Conway (184 lbs.) – First Place
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Josh Cordio (Air Force); TF: 6:33 (20-3)
Round of 16: Won vs. Preston Marchessault (Brown); F: 4:45
Quarterfinals: Won vs. Jared Schoope (Lehigh); 12-2
Semifinals: Won vs. #5 Dylan Newsome (Virginia); TF: 4:15 (21-6)
First Place: Won vs. #2: Joe Curtis (Columbia); TF: 6:33 (21-6)

Dylan Shelton (184 lbs.; unattached)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Xavier Giles (Princeton); F: 1:18
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Won vs. Jesse Mullis (North Carolina State); 5-3
Consolation of 16 #2: Won vs. John Baker (Binghamton); 5-3
Consolation of 8 #1: Lost vs. Ronald Dimmerling (Kent State); TF: 6:18 (17-1)

Leo Varga (184 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. #2 Joe Curtis (Columbia); F: 1:59
Consolation of 16 #2: Lost vs. Josh Cordio (Air Force); 5-3

Jake Allred (197 lbs.)
Round of 64: Bye
Round of 32: Lost vs. Thadd Huff (Bellarmine); 4-0
Consolation of 32 #2: Bye
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Reid Schroeder (Army); F: 2:09

Brody Kline (285 lbs.)
Round of 64: Lost vs. Everest Ouellete (North Carolina State); 4-2
Consolation of 32 #1: Bye
Consolation of 32 #2: Won vs. Armstrong Campbell (Unrostered); F: 3:22
Consolation of 16 #1: Lost vs. Riley McPherson (Brown); 9-5