MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Just four days after posting the highest dual meet team score in program history, the Franklin & Marshall wrestling team bested what would have been the school record coming into the week with a 49-6 victory over Millersville during the annual Rupp Cup. F&M took control of the all-time series (17-16 in favor of F&M) with Sunday's win. The Diplomats have now won six straight in the series and are 13-4 against the Marauders since the local rivalry was renamed in honor of Lancaster's County's wrestling patriarch, Ted Rupp.
The Diplomats secured bonus points in each of their nine victories, totaling three falls, three technical falls, a major decision, and two forfeits. The Diplomats held a 17-2 advantage in takedowns and secured 31 near falls points while only allowing escapes during the nine matches that ended in F&M victory.
After James Garcia received a forfeit to start the dual, seniors Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.), Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.), and Pat Phillips (149 lbs.) all rolled to technical falls. Leiphart and Phillips both secured their technical falls in under two minutes with a slew of back points, while Kresho used three takedowns before getting a turn during the third period to seal his sixth straight victory. Leiphart's win made him 7-1 this season in dual meets and gave him a career mark of 32-3 in dual action.
Lancaster native Josh Hillard got the Diplomtas' first fall of the afternoon as he was up 3-0 before getting a reversal and pin during the second period at the 3:15 mark. Josh Palmucci secured three takedowns of his own at 165 lbs. to finish with a 16-3 major decision before Brandon Carr received the second forfeit of the afternoon at 174 lbs.
Fifth-ranked James Conway (184 lbs.) and Brody Kline (285 lbs.) gave the Diplomats their final two falls of the day. Conway was up 9-2 with three takedowns before securing his Division I-leading 30th victory of the season in 2:32. Conway finishes his dual season with a perfect 10-0 record to mark the 74th time in program history a Diplomats has finished with unblemished record in dual competition. The last was his teammate, Leiphart, who went a perfect 9-0 in duals during the 2023-24 season. Kline built a 14-0 lead before pinning his opponent in 5:43 to close the dual. Millersville got its only victory at 197 lbs. Even in the loss, Leo Varga was rallying for the comeback win as he secured back-to-back takedowns during the third and was trailing just 10-9 before his opponent got the reversal and eventual pin.
With just one week remaining in the regular season, the Diplomats finished the dual meet portion of their schedule with a 7-3 overall record. That marked the team's highest winning percentage since the 2021-22 season while the team's previous four wins in EIWA action marked the most since the 1990-91 campaign. The Diplomats officially wrap up the regular season next Sunday, February 22 when they travel to George Mason to compete in the Patriot Last Chance Open.
Franklin & Marshall 49, Millersville 6
125: James Garcia (F&M) won by forfeit (F&M 6-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) TF Colin Higgins (Millersville); 1:32 (15-0) (F&M 11-0)
141: Bryce Kresho (F&M) TF Nicholas Cottone (Millersville); 6:36 (16-0) (F&M 16-0)
149: Pat Phillips (F&M) TF Taylor Robinson (Millersville); 1:46 (15-0) (F&M 21-0)
157: Josh Hillard (F&M) WBF Elias Smith (Millersville); 3:15 (Fall 3:15) (F&M 27-0)
165: Josh Palmucci (F&M) maj. Nicholas Bennet (Millersville); 16-3 (F&M 31-0)
174: Brandon Carr (F&M) won by forfeit (F&M 37-0)
184: #5 James Conway (F&M) WBF Avery Aurand (Millersville); 2:32 (F&M 43-0)
197: Jaxon Townsend (Millersville) WBF Leo Varga (F&M); 6:34 (F&M 43-6)
285: Brody Kline (F&M) WBF Kurt Scheuerman (Millersville); 5:43 (F&M 49-6)
