LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team welcomed Long Island University (LIU) to the Mayser Center on Friday evening and the two EIWA foes gave the home crowd a great dual on Senior Night. Unfortunately for F&M, the Diplomats needed to win the final two bouts of the evening but ended up splitting a pair of overtime matches during the 20-16 conference loss.
The Diplomats won two of the three overtime matches on the evening, but it was the Sharks who stole the final sudden victory bout to emerge victorious and stop the Diplomats from making it a clean sweep of those OT matches.
The two teams started the dual with each side picking up a technical fall. After Robert Sagaris earned his technical fall for LIU versus Jack Parker, Mason Leiphart answered with his seventh technical fall of the season to extend his Diplomats' career record in that category. Leiphart, the 28th-ranked wrestler in the latest InterMat poll, took a 10-0 lead into the second period after a takedown and scored seven combined back points before adding another takedown and two more near fall for the 15-0 win in just 1:03 into the second period of his match to even the team score at five-all. Leiphart is now a perfect 7-0 on the year in duals after picking up his 22nd victory of the season.
Pat Phillips avenged a loss from last year's dual to give the Diplomats the lead after 141 lbs. Facing off against Drew Witham, the two EIWA rivals traded escapes during regulation. Phillips forced the action throughout the overtime period and earned a stall call against his opponent before eventually securing the winning takedown that put his side up 8-5. Phillips now claims nine of his 21 victories against conference opponents and improved to 5-1 in dual meets after Friday night. Nevertheless, LIU countered that with three straight decisions of its own. Josh Hillard took a 4-3 lead into the second period of his match after getting an escape, takedown, and rideout. However, LIU's Drew Witham scored the final five points over the last four minutes during that 8-4 victory decision despite several reversal attempts from Hillard. A second period takedown proved to be the difference at 157 lbs. where Dominic Wheatley and Rhise Royster squared off, while LIU's James Johnston got two first period takedowns to propel him to a 10-5 decision at 165 lbs. over Josh Palmucci.
Trailing 14-5, the Diplomats looked to the veteran part of their lineup and Noah Fox appeared to be swinging the momentum back in F&M's favor as he secured six takedowns – including three in the third period – to earn a 20-5 technical fall at the final buzzer with the addition of his riding time point. Fox's third tech fall of the season was the senior's 21st win this season. He improved to 6-1 in dual meets and is now 8-2 against EIWA foes this year. In the very next bout, LIU was able to stop the F&M momentum temporarily as the Sharks' Anthony D'Alesio earned a takedown on F&M's nationally-ranked James Conway during the final seconds at 184 lbs. to claim a 6-5 decision and put the Diplomats in a position where they needed to win the final two bouts of the dual.
No. 31 John Crawford delivered the first of those two needed victories as he also won a 4-1 sudden victory bout. Wrestling on his Senior Night, Crawford ran his record to a perfect 6-0 against EIWA opponents and now holds a 6-1 record in duals following the 18th victory of his senior campaign. The Diplomats were not as fortunate at heavyweight where Harrison Shapiro created numerous opportunities throughout the match and nearly had a takedown at the edge of the mat late in the third period, but the referee ruled the action out of bounds and LIU's Aeden Beque would secure the winning points in overtime.
Wrestling will have the rest of the weekend off as the team turns its attention to the final tournament of the regular season as the Diplomats are next scheduled to compete at the Messiah Open on Saturday, February 10. F&M returns to dual meet action with the Rupp Cup at Millersville on February 16 before traveling to Drexel (Feb. 17) for its final dual of the regular season.
LIU 20, Franklin & Marshall 16
125: Robert Sagaris (LIU) TF Jack Parker (F&M); 5:22 (16-0) (LIU 5-0)
133: #28 Mason Leiphart (F&M) TF Kaelan Francois (LIU); 4:03 (15-0) (Tied 5-5)
141: Pat Phillips (F&M) dec. Devin Matthews (LIU); 4-1 (SV) (F&M 8-5)
149: Drew Witham (LIU) dec. Josh Hillard (F&M); 8-4 (Tied 8-8)
157: Rhise Royster (LIU) dec. Dominic Wheatley (F&M); 4-1 (LIU 11-8)
165: James Johnston (LIU) dec. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 10-5 (LIU 14-8)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) TF Corey Connolly (LIU); 7:00 (20-5) (LIU 14-13)
184: Anthony D`Alesio (LIU) dec. #18 James Conway (F&M); 6-5 (LIU 17-13)
197: #31 John Crawford (F&M) dec. John Dusza (LIU); 4-1 (SV) (LIU 17-16)
285: Aeden Begue (LIU) dec. Harrison Shapiro (F&M); 4-1 (SV) (LIU 20-16)
