LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team opened its home scheduled by hosting four other Division I teams at the Diplomat Duals on Sunday. F&M went 3-1, with its only loss coming to B1G foe Michigan State during the opener before the Diplomats rolled to victories against VMI, Presbyterian, and Bloomsburg.
Mason Leiphart and James Conway have represented the Diplomats in the national rankings for the first times in their careers this season and continued to have great success on Sunday as each posted perfect 4-0 individual records. The Diplomats' third nationally-ranked wrestler, John Crawford, went 3-1 with fellow captain Noah Fox posting an identical record. Pat Phillips went 2-1 on the day while Josh Palmucci also won two matches during F&M's four dual meets.
Michigan State 34, Franklin & Marshall 10
With all four matches starting at 125 lbs., Leiphart got the Diplomats on the board against the Spartans with an 8-3 win to even the team score at three-all. The Diplomats were also leading 7-5 at 149 lbs. and had a chance to tie the dual before a reversal and pin in favor of Michigan State spun the momentum in the Spartans' favor. Two nationally-ranked opponents proved worthy of their national accolades to give MSU a strong lead. The Diplomats countered with two victories from their own veteran leaders, including a key third period takedown from Noah Fox that sealed his 11-8 decision at 174 lbs. Conway started his day with three consecutive bonus point victories, beginning with a major decision against Michigan State, before the Spartans took the final two matches of the opening dual.
Franklin & Marshall 21, VMI 14
The second dual of the day was a back-and-forth start that set Leiphart and Pat Phillips pick up decisions, but the Keydets were leading 11-6 after five bouts. Leading 1-0 on a second period escape, Josh Palmucci picked up a key win as he earned five back points during a third period rideout to bring F&M within two points before VMI answered that with a third period rally of its own at 174 lbs. Conway put the Diplomats in front for good when he secured four first period takedowns and an eventual fall at the 2:21 mark of the first period, putting his side up by a 15-14 score. Decision wins from John Crawford and Harrison Shapiro closed out the Diplomats' first of three team victories during Sunday's action.
Franklin & Marshall 34, Presbyterian 9
The Diplomats' most convincing win of the day came when they won eight of the 10 bouts against Presbyterian. Leiphart, Dominic Wheatley (157 lbs.), Palmucci, Conway, and Crawford all registered bonus points during the third round victory. Conway and Crawford closed F&M's final bout victories of that dual with falls, while Leiphart scored 15 points just 1:41 into the first period of his match. Palmucci and Fox also put up 16 and 15 points, respectively, during a huge offensive display. Jack Parker (125 lbs.) and Bryce Kresho (141 lbs.) both split time in the lineup with their teammates and earned decisions against the Blue Hose for their individual victories.
Franklin & Marshall 27, Bloomsburg 12
During the team's final dual of the day, Eric Howe got F&M started with his 7-2 victory at 125 lbs. Two forfeits given to Leiphart and Phillips got the Diplomats out to a 15-0 lead after just three bouts, but the Huskies won the next three bouts to make the team score 15-9 as Bloomsburg was deducted one team point during that run for coach's misconduct. Nevertheless, the Diplomats were in good hands with the veteran part of their lineup as Fox, Conway, and Crawford sealed the 3-1 day with three consecutive victories. Two third period takedowns gave Fox an 11-2 major decision before Conway capped his undefeated day with a 9-2 decision. Crawford then left no doubt to the final team outcome as he picked up a 15-0 technical fall before the Huskies claimed the heavyweight bout.
Up Next
As the fall semester comes to a close and the team gets set for finals, F&M will be off from competition until Friday, December 22 when it takes part in Sheridan Invitational which will be hosted by Lehigh.
Franklin & Marshall Box Scores
Michigan State 34, Franklin & Marshall 10
125: #30 Tristan Lujan (MSU) dec. Eric Howe (F&M); 6-1 (MSU 3-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) dec. Andrew Hampton (MSU); 8-3 (Tied 3-3)
141: Andrew Hampton (MSU) maj. Pat Phillips (F&M); 8-0 (MSU 7-3)
149: Clayton Jones (MSU) WBF Luke Bender (F&M); 6:03 (MSU 13-3)
157: #14 Chase Saldate (MSU) WBF Dominic Wheatley (F&M); 4:42 (MSU 19-3)
165: #12 Caleb Fish (MSU) maj. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 13-5 (MSU 23-3)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) dec. DJ Shannon (MSU); 11-8 (MSU 23-6)
184: #17 James Conway (F&M) maj. Ryan Boucher (MSU); 15-2 (MSU 23-10)
197: Kael Wisler (MSU) WBF #30 John Crawford (F&M); 5:49 (MSU 29-10)
285: Josh Terrill (MSU) TF Harrison Shapiro (F&M); 21-4 (5:25) (MSU 34-10)
Franklin & Marshall 21, VMI 14
125: Anthony Burke (VMI) dec. Jack Parker (F&M); 8-5 (SV) (VMI 3-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) dec. Dyson Dunham (VMI); 7-1 (Tied 3-3)
141: Pat Phillips (F&M) dec. Patrick Jordon (VMI); 8-4 (F&M 6-3)
149: Ryan Vigil (VMI) maj. Luke Bender (F&M); 11-3 (VMI 7-6)
157: Josh Yost (VMI) maj. Dominic Wheatley (F&M); 17-3 (VMI 11-6)
165: Josh Palmucci (F&M) dec. Luke Hart (VMI); 7-0 (VMI 11-9)
174: Braxton Lewis (VMI) dec. Noah Fox (F&M); 9-4 (VMI 14-9)
184: #17 James Conway (F&M) WBF Riley Finck (VMI); 2:21 (F&M 15-14)
197: #30 John Crawford (F&M) dec. Josh Evans (VMI); 4-1 (F&M 18-14)
285: Harrison Shapiro (F&M) dec. Brian Jackson (VMI); 5-1 (F&M 21-14)
Franklin & Marshall 34, Presbyterian 9
125: Jack Parker (F&M) dec. Trent Dominguez (PRES); 9-4 (F&M 3-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) TF Brayden Adams (PRES); 15-0 (1:41) (F&M 8-0)
141: Bryce Kresho (F&M) dec. Ryan Luna (PRES); 9-6 (F&M 11-0)
149: Trent Donahue (PRES) WBF Luke Bender (F&M); 2:36 (F&M 11-6)
157: Dominic Wheatley (F&M) maj. Elijah Holiday (PRES); 10-2 (F&M 15-6)
165: Josh Palmucci (F&M) maj. Joshua Roe (PRES); 16-3 (F&M 19-6)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) dec. Reed Douglass (PRES); 15-10 (F&M 22-6)
184: #17 James Conway (F&M) WBF Caleb Roe (PRES); 4:16 (F&M 28-6)
197: #30 John Crawford (F&M) WBF Connor Garren (PRES); 5:59 (F&M 34-6)
285: Nathan Carnes (PRES) dec. Harrison Shapiro (F&M); 4-2 (F&M 34-9)
Franklin & Marshall 27, Bloomsburg 12
125: Eric Howe (F&M) dec. Bronson Garber (BLOOM); 7-2 (F&M 3-0)
133: Mason Leiphart (F&M) won by forfeit (F&M 9-0)
141: Pat Phillips (F&M) won by forfeit (F&M 15-0)
149: Cade Balestrini (BLOOM) dec. Bryce Kresho (F&M); 10-9 (F&M 15-3)
157: William Morrow (BLOOM) dec. Dominic Wheatley (F&M); 11-8 (SV) (F&M 15-5)
165: Caden Dobbins (BLOOM) maj. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 8-0 (F&M 15-9)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) maj. Josh Bonomo (BLOOM); 11-2 (F&M 19-9)
184: #17 James Conway (F&M) dec. Tanner Culver (BLOOM); 9-2 (F&M 22-9)
197: #30 John Crawford (F&M) TF Kolby Flank (BLOOM); 15-0 (7:00) (F&M 27-9)
285: Shane Noonan (BLOOM) dec. Harrison Shapiro (F&M); 6-3 (F&M 27-12)
*** Bloomsburg was deducted one team during the 157 lb. match for coach's misconduct
