MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team defeated Millersville by a 38-7 score during its annual Rupp Cup match-up showcase of Lancaster wrestling on Friday evening. The Diplomats' won the Rupp Cupp for the 12th time in the last 13 meetings and have now won their last four duals with the Marauders. Friday's victory was especially impressive considering it was the second-largest margin of victory in the Rupp Cup series which dates back to the 2007-08 season. The only season in which the Diplomats posted a more convincing win was during a 41-3 victory in 2014.

The Diplomats won eight of the 10 matches overall, with seven of those victories coming by bonus points. Those totals included one pin, five technical falls, and one major decision. Franklin & Marshall outscored its local rivals by 124-29 margin in bout points and held a 28-6 advantage in takedowns. F&M also secured 45 back points throughout the dual meet.

Friday's dual started out with a local flare as Lancaster Catholic graduate Eric Howe opened the match at 125 lbs. He was leading 4-3 during the third period, but his opponent went feet to back late in the match in what eventually turned into a deceiving major decision for Millersville. Nevertheless, F&M quickly turned the tide with back-to-back technical falls from Mason Leiphart and Pat Phillips to start a stretch of four consecutive victories.

Leiphart needed just 1:13 of match time to collect his eighth technical fall of the season. Phillips got his technical fall as time expired during the first period following 13 back points on his series of tilts. Manheim Township graduate Josh Hillard represented Lancaster well by defeating the No. 8 wrestler in the Division II ranks by an 11-4 score. He had two takedowns and put his opponent on his back in a push for the major decision during the third period.

First-year Dominic Wheatley followed that performance up with a takedown during each of his three periods for a 12-0 major decision that gave the Diplomats a 17-4 lead at the halfway point. The hosts would win their final bout of the evening at 165 lbs. where Josh Palmucci earned two stall points during the third period but came up just short in the 5-4 decision.

Nevertheless, F&M closed the dual with a run of four early match terminations from the veteran part of its lineup. Noah Fox (174 lbs.) tech falled the No. 6 wrestler in Division II at 165 lbs. with four takedowns and four near fall points, needing just 5:57 to complete his 17-1 final. James Conway, ranked No. 20 in the latest InterMat poll, also had four takedowns during 21-4 technical fall that lasted just 5:17 at 184 lbs. No. 31 John Crawford was up 7-1 at 197 lbs. behind two takedowns before hitting the assassin for the only fall of the night at the 4:46 mark of his match. Despite a scoreless first period, Harrison Shapiro closed the night with a technical fall at heavyweight where he recorded 15 unanswered points during the final 2:21 of the second and third periods to seal the 38-7 F&M victory.

Wrestling returns to action in just under 24 hours as the Diplomats wrap up the EIWA and dual meet portion of its schedule with a 6 p.m. dual meet at Drexel on Saturday.

Franklin & Marshall 38, Millersville 7
125: Bryce Beatty (Millersville) maj. Eric Howe (F&M); 13-5 (MU 4-0)
133: #30 Mason Leiphart (F&M) TF Dominic Flatt (Millersville); 1:13 (15-0) (F&M 5-3)
141: Pat Phillips (F&M) TF Aidan Micheli (Millersville); 3:00 (17-1) (F&M 10-4)
149: Josh Hillard (F&M) dec. #8 Craig Cook (Millersville); 11-4 (F&M 13-4)
157: Dominic Wheatley (F&M) maj. Eli Tuckey (Millersville); 12-0 (F&M 17-4)
165: Jonathan Parrilla (Millersville) dec. Josh Palmucci (F&M); 5-4 (17-7)
174: Noah Fox (F&M) TF #6 Brandon Connor (Millersville); 5:57 (17-1) (F&M 22-7)
184: #20 James Conway (F&M) TF #8 Anthony Giampietro (Millersville); 5:17 (21-4) (F&M 27-7)
197: #31 John Crawford (F&M) WBF Bruce Vaughan (Millersville); 4:46 (F&M 33-7)
285: Harrison Shapiro (F&M) TF Avery Kuhns (Millersville); 5:21 (15-0)