LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team used three bonus point victories to fuel a 23-15 win against Hofstra in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) action on Sunday afternoon inside the Mayser Center. The win against Hofstra snapped a nine-match losing skid in the all-time series and was the Diplomats' first against the Pride since a 29-20 on January 16, 1996.
With the victory, Franklin & Marshall (5-3, 3-2 EIWA) finishes in third place in the EIWA's six-team Liberty Division following victories against LIU, Hofstra, and the aforementioned Pride.
The Diplomats got off to a great start with four consecutive victories to start the dual. James Garcia got things rolling as he secured a fall in just 4:12 with the match starting at 125 lbs. Garcia's win was his 15th of the season, highlighted by his third pin of the year. Mason Leiphart followed that up by adding another technical fall to his school record as he got an early takedown before 12 near fall points and a stalling point for his 16-0 win in just 2:59. Leiphart's fifth tech fall this season gives him 30 for his career in his 76th overall victory at F&M.
Bryce Kresho made it three consecutive wins and was pursuing more bonus points late in his match at 141 lbs. The senior scored two takedowns and a reversal before adding riding time during his 10-3 victory. Fellow senior Pat Phillips got the Diplomats out to a 17-0 lead when his first period takedown proved to be the difference in a 4-3 decision. Kresho and Phillips now have 81 and 73 wins, respectively, during their careers.
Hofstra made its comeback run in the middle weights with three consecutive hard-fought decisions. At 157 lbs., Josh Hillard and Frank Volpe battled to sudden victory where that match-clinching scramble ultimately went in favor of the Pride wrestler for their first win of the day. A third period takedown at 174 lbs. was the difference in that 4-1 match between Brandon Carr and Matt Waddell. At 165 lbs., Josh Palmucci looked to be rallying late against No. 32 Jake Slotnick with a third period takedown, before being stopped in the 9-6 decision.
With F&M's lead trimmed to 17-9, fifth-ranked James Conway put an end to any further comeback thoughts from the visitors as he secured his sixth pin this year at the 3:51 mark at 184 lbs. Conway secured four takedowns and was leading 12-3 before getting a bar and a half as he improved to 28-1 on the season. With the dual victory secured after Conway's pin, the Pride did take the final two matches by decision. At 197 lbs., Will Conlon defeated Leo Varga by a 5-0 score. The third 4-1 match of the afternoon also went to the visitors from Hofstra as Adrian Sans defeated Brody Kline late in that match at heavyweight.
Despite a 5-5 split in matches, the Diplomats scored 55 match points to just 35 for Hofstra. F&M had a 9-6 advantage in takedowns and additionally had the only near fall points of the match.
Wrestling will now have 10 days before returning to competition inside the Mayser Center when it hosts Morgan State in non-divisional EIWA action. That match – which will also be the home finale – is set for Wednesday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Franklin & Marshall 23, Hofstra 15
125: James Garcia (F&M) WBF Teague Strobel (Hofstra); 4:12 (F&M 6-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) TF Gauge Shipp (Hofstra); 2:59 (16-0) (F&M 11-0)
141: Bryce Kresho (F&M) dec. Chase Liardi (Hofstra); 10-3 (F&M 14-0)
149: Pat Phillips (F&M) dec. Alex Turley (Hofstra); 4-3 (F&M 17-0)
157: Frank Volpe (Hofstra) dec. Josh Hillard (F&M); 4-1 (SV) (F&M 17-3)
165: #32 Jake Slotnick (Hofstra) dec. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 9-6 (F&M 17-6)
174: Matt Waddell (Hofstra) dec. Brandon Carr (F&M); 4-1 (F&M 17-9)
184: #5 James Conway (F&M) WBF Josh Jorgge (Hofstra); 3:51 (F&M 23-9)
197: Will Conlon (Hofstra) dec. Leo Varga (F&M); 5-0 (F&M 23-12)
285: Adrian Sans (Hofstra) dec. Brody Kline (F&M); 4-1 (F&M 23-15)
