WASHINGTON, D.C. – James Conway punched his ticket to the NCAA Division I Tournament as a program-record seven Diplomats found their way onto the podium during day one of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships. The seven place winners broke the previous school record of four podium finishes set during the 1976 and 2012 seasons.
Conway became the Diplomats' 25th finalist at the EIWA Championships as the fourth-ranked wrestler in all of Division I improved to 32-1 on the season. He started his day with a first period cradle for the fall against Morgan State's Bryce Phillips in just 2:25. Conway officially punched his ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in his career with an 8-0 major decision against Navy's fifth-seeded Daniel Williams during the semifinals.
With his run to Saturday's championship match, Conway becomes the Diplomats' first EIWA finalist since All-American Rick Durso accomplished that feat during the 2016 season. Conway will look to continue to make history on Saturday as he tries to become the program's 11th EIWA Champion. Durso, a two-time EIWA Champion, was the last to accomplish that feat when he also ascended the podium in 2016.
Also wrestling for a spot in the national tournament on Friday was James Garcia as the Diplomats' 125 lb. entrant was the No. 4 seed in the tournament and defeated fifth-seeded JJ Peace of American by a 4-2 score in the semifinals on a first period takedown. With his bracket taking two qualifiers, Garcia ran up against the third-ranked wrestler in the entire country during his semifinal bout and dropped a 15-0 technical fall. Garcia will return to action in the consolation semifinals Saturday against sixth-seeded Carson Wagner of Binghamton.
Bryce Kresho is still alive in his bid for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The 141 lb. bracket earned three allocations and the senior captain finds himself in the consolation semifinals following a 2-1 start to his tournament. Kresho, seeded fifth, received a first round bye and was defeated by fourth-seeded Dylan Chappell of Bucknell by an 11-6 score in the quarterfinals. However, just two matches stand between Kresho and Cleveland as he came back with a 6-3 victory against LIU's Brandan Rozanski and resounding 10-1 major decision versus American's Jack Maida.
Seniors Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.), Pat Phillips (149 lbs.), Josh Hillard (157 lbs.), and RJ Moore (197 lbs.) all earned their way onto the podium and will wrestle for seventh place during Saturday's morning session. Each of those four wrestlers are now multiple time EIWA place winners.
Leiphart was downed 7-3 in the quarterfinals, but racked up an 11-0 major decision versus Bucknell's sixth-seeded Bryce Manera. He was defeated 7-3 by Binghamton's Dillon Arrick in the consolation quarterfinal round. Phillips started his day with a 4-1 sudden victory decision and was edged out of the championship bracket via a 5-0 setback to the tournament's top seed from Morgan State. Phillips entered the medal rounds with a medical forfeit before overtime went in his opponent's favor during the consolation quarterfinals.
Hillard and Moore have now made the podium in consecutive EIWA tournaments. Hillard split a pair of 4-1 decisions to start his day, defeating Hofstra's Frank Volpe to avenge a pair of tight defeats from the regular season. A 4-3 consolation quarterfinal match dropped him into the seventh place bout. Moore made his return to the lineup after missing over two months of action. Nevertheless, he acclimated quickly with a 4-2 victory against Sacred Heart's Chris DeLena during his return. He was defeated by the top seed during the quarterfinal round, but got a technical fall of his own versus LIU's Kaleb Wright. A defeat at the hands of Navy moved him into the seventh-place match.
Josh Palmucci started his day with a 6-0 blanking of LIU's Josh Valentin, but a 9-2 decision against the top seed and a 10-4 setback against Morgan State denied him a spot on the podium. Brandon Carr (174 lbs.) and Brody Kline (285 lbs.) also competed in the postseason event, with Carr making his championship debut at the meet.
Wrestling resumes on Saturday morning with six of the Diplomats set to compete in the early part of the session that includes the consolation semifinals and seventh place matches beginning at 11 a.m. The first, third, and fifth place matches will be wrestled at 2 p.m. Just prior to the finals, the team will celebrate the EIWA Hall of Fame induction of Dave Lehman '68 who is the fifth F&M wrestler to earn this prestigious recognition. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will begin at 1:25 p.m.
Franklin & Marshall results
#4 James Garcia (125 lbs.)
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Won vs. #5 JJ Peace (American); 4-2
Semifinals: Lost vs. #1 Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh); TF: 4:14 (15-0)
Consolation semifinals: vs. #6 Carson Wagner (Binghamton) (Saturday; 11 a.m.)
#4 Mason Leiphart (133 lbs.)
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #5 Gauge Shipp (Hofstra); 7-3
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. #6 Bryce Manera (Bucknell); 11-0
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. #8 Dillon Arrick (Binghamton); 7-3
Seventh place: vs. #11 Treshaun Tecson (Morgan State) (Saturday; 11 a.m.)
#5 Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.)
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #4 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell); 11-6
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. #11 Branden Rozanski (LIU); 6-3
Consolation quarterfinals: Won vs. #8 Jack Maida (American); 10-1
Consolation semifinals: vs. #3 Braden Basile (Army) (Saturday; 11 a.m.)
#8 Pat Phillips (149 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. #9 Alex Turley (Hofstra); 4-1 (SV)
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #1 Eugene Harney (Morgan State); 5-0
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. #10 Tommy Bonasera (LIU); MFF
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. #5 Gage Owen (American); 4-1 (SV)
Seventh place: vs. Alex Turley (Hofstra) (Saturday; 11 a.m.)
#10 Josh Hillard (157 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #7 Cade Wirnsberger (Bucknell); 4-1
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. #9 Frank Volpe (Hofstra); 4-1
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. #4 Fin Nadeau (Binghamton); 4-3
Seventh place: vs. #5 Luke Nichter (Drexel) (Saturday; 11 a.m.)
#8 Josh Palmucci (165 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. #9 Josh Valentin (LIU); 6-0
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #1 Max Brignola (Lehigh); 9-2
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. #10 Joshua Greenwood (Morgan State); 10-4
#9 Brandon Carr (174 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #8 Richie Grungo (Lehigh); 8-0
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. #7 Cort Vann (Morgan State); 10-4
#1 James Conway (184 lbs.)
Round of 16: Bye
Quarterfinals: Won vs. #9 Bryce Phillips (Morgan State); F: 2:35
Semifinals: Won vs. #5 Daniel Williams (Navy); 8-0
First place: vs. #3 Caleb Campos (American) (Saturday; 2 p.m.)
#8 RJ Moore (197 lbs.)
Round of 16: Won vs. #9 Chris DeLena (Sacred Heart); 4-2
Quarterfinals: Lost vs. #1 Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell); TF: 4:30 (18-3)
Consolation of 8 #2: Won vs. #10 Kaleb Wright (LIU); TF: 7:00 (16-1)
Consolation quarterfinals: Lost vs. #5 JT Davis (Lehigh); F: 2:25
Seventh place: vs. #6 Ibrahim Ameer (Drexel) (Saturday; 11 a.m.)
#9 Brody Kline (285 lbs.)
Round of 16: Lost vs. #8 Chris Powell (LIU); 13-1
Consolation of 8 #2: Lost vs. #7 Logan Shephard (Bucknell); TF: 5:41 (17-2)
