GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall wrestling team placed 12 wrestlers out of 19 entrants at the Messiah Open on Saturday. That group was highlighted by Ejiro Montoya (125 lbs.) and Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.) both making the finals of their respective weight classes. As a team, the Diplomats won a combined 53 matches. That total included 13 pins, 10 technical falls, nine major decisions, and two medical forfeit victories as 34 of those wins came via bonus points.

Wheatley made the finals after recording a fall, major decision, and regular decision over Duke's Logan Richey in the semifinals. He finished the day with a 3-1 record as his only blemish came to Penn State's Sam Beckett during the finals. Montoya competed unattached at 125 lbs. and was just one point shy of bonus points all the way up until the finals. That included a round of 16 fall and semifinal major decision to cap a 3-1 day for the first-year.

The light weights were impressive overall as the Diplomats claimed third place finishes at three of the first four weight classes between Charlie Colantonio (125 lbs.), James Garcia (133 lbs.), and Josh Hillard (149 lbs.). Colantonio went 4-1 on the day, falling only to the eventual champion at his weight class. All of Garcia's victories came via bonus points as he secured three technical falls and one medical forfeit. Just one of his wins needed to even begin the second period. Hillard started his tournament with back-to-back pints and earned a pair of victories against Drexel's Deon Pleasant to go 5-1 on the afternoon. First-year Michael Fuccilli also made it to the third place match before taking fourth. He first loss came to his teammate (Wheatley), but his four wins included a fall and major decision.

Tyler Shea (174 lbs.) and Jake Rickett (285 lbs.) both advanced to the consolation semifinals before coming away with sixth place finishes. After dropping his first match of the day, Shea responded with a major decision and two falls to get into the medal matches. Rickett earned his first four career victories in nail-biting fashion as a sudden victory in overtime, followed by a pair of tiebreaker victories and medical forfeit, got him into the top six.

Wrapping up the medalists was a seventh-place finish from Quincy Long, along with three other eighth place showings. Long had three major decisions and one technical fall among his victories, just missing bonus points as he closed his day with a 7-0 decision. Seniors Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.) and Noah Bash (184 lbs.) also made it to the podium. Niebel's tournament was highlighted by a 43 second pin, while Bash had a fall and technical fall of his own before a back-and-forth 22-20 decision sent him to the podium. Jake Neill (157 lbs.) earned his spot on the medal stand with a fall and a 3-2 decision over Penn State's Ty Watson. He later punched his ticket to a medal with a technical fall before an injury halted his tournament run.

Seth Weaver (157 lbs.) came up just one match shy of a medal as his day featured three wins by fall, while Brandt Fajerman (141 lbs.) and Brandon Sauter (149 lbs.) both earned a pair of technical fall victories. Billy Templeton (157 lbs.) had a pin and major decision among his two victories, while first-years Vincent Gioffree and Kyle Deisley both earned an additional win for F&M. A valuable member of the team for the past two seasons, Jiahe Li additionally made his collegiate debut at 165 lbs.

Following a full weekend of competition, the Diplomats wrap up the dual meet portion of the 2024-25 season next Sunday, February 16 with the annual Rupp Cup matchup against Millersville. That rescheduled dual between the two Lancaster County foes is set for a 2 p.m. start on Franklin & Marshall's campus.

Franklin & Marshall Results

Ejiro Montoya (125 lbs.) – Second Place (Unattached)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Thomas Longo (Wilkes); F: 1:47
Quarterfinal: Won vs. Xavier Diaz (Unattached); 14-7
Semifinal: Won vs. Brian McCaw (Muhlenberg); 14-2
First Place: Lost vs. Alexander Diaz (Unattached); F: 1:02

Charlie Colantonio (125 lbs.) – Third Place
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Andrew Mucciolo (The College of New Jersey); 10-3
Quarterfinal: Won vs. Frank Leanza (Malvern Prep); 5-2
Semifinal: Lost vs. Alexander Diaz (Unattached); 8-2
Consolation Semifinal: vs. Won vs. Xavier Diaz (Unattached); 2-1 (TB-1)
Third Place: Won vs. Frank Leanza (Malvern Prep); 2-1

James Garcia (133 lbs.) – Third Place (Unattached)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Chase Arnestad (Liberty); TF: 2:19 (17-2)
Quarterfinal: Won vs. Luke Reitter (The College of New Jersey); TF: 2:01 (20-5)
Semifinal: Lost vs. Andrew Binni (Navy Prep); TF: 6:24 (20-5)
Consolation Semifinal: Won vs. Mason Casey (Messiah); TF: 3:55 (19-3)
Third Place: Won vs. Colin Menier (The College of New Jersey); MFF

Vincent Gioffree (133 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Andrew Binni (Navy Prep); F: 1:49
Consolation Round 2: Bye
Consolation Round 3: Won vs. Noah Rosa (Wilkes); 16-8
Consolation Round 4: Lost vs. Luke Reitter (The College of New Jersey); 13-0

Brandt Fajerman (141 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Aiden Inzana (Shippensburg); TF: 2:58 (18-1)
Round of 16: Won vs. Daniel Pierce (Messiah); TF: 4:08 (18-2)
Quarterfinal: Lost vs. Dominic Ramos (Unattached); DEF: 3:20
Consolation Round 4: Medical forfeit vs. Temuujin Erdenetuya (Marymount)

Josh Hillard (149 lbs.) – Third Place
Round of 32: Won vs. Joe Lenio (Muhlenberg); F: 1:46
Round of 16: Won vs. Kevin Murphy (Wilkes); F: 2:00
Quarterfinal: Won vs. Deon Pleasant (Drexel); 9-2
Semifinal: Lost vs. Chance Babb (Alvernia); 11-6
Consolation Semifinal: Won vs. Pahris Petalas (Marymount); 8-7
Third Place: Won vs. Deon Pleasant (Drexel); 12-5

Brandon Sauter (149 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Jelcey Marte (Liberty); TF: 2:10 (16-1)
Round of 16: Won vs. Austin Smith (Unattached); TF: 2:29 (16-0)
Quarterfinal: Lost vs. Thomas VonEschenbach (USMAPS); 10-4
Consolation Round 4: Lost vs. Pahris Petalas (Marymount); F: 2:52

Jake Neill (157 lbs.) – Eighth Place
Round of 32: Won vs. Joseph Martini (Onondaga CC); F: 1:40
Round of 16: Won vs. Ty Watson (Penn State); 3-2
Quarterfinal: Lost vs. Casper Stewart (USMAPS); 6-1
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Alek Martinez (Marymount); TF: 6:37 (21-5)
Consolation Round Quarterfinal: Lost vs. Ty Watson (Penn State); MFF
Seventh Place: Medical forfeit vs. Aboubakare Diaby (Drexel)

Seth Weaver (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Jackson Brady (Wilkes); F: 0:53
Round of 16: Lost vs. Owen Hicks (USMAPS); F: 5:35
Consolation Round 2: Won vs. Paul Kakos (Alvernia); F: 1:42
Consolation Round 3: Won vs. Aiden Swann (Alvernia); 13-11
Consolation Round 4: Lost vs. Aboubakare Diaby (Drexel); 7-5

Billy Templeton (157 lbs.)
Round of 32: Won vs. Conner Sklavounos (Wilkes); 17-8
Round of 16: Lost vs. Aboubakare Diaby (Drexel); 5-4
Consolation Round 2: Won vs. James Weikel (Wilkes); F: 3:41
Consolation Round 3: Lost vs. Noah Rice (Messiah); 5-3

Kyle Deisley (157 lbs.) – Unattached
Round of 32: Lost vs. Owen Hicks (USMAPS); TF: 4:03 (15-0)
Consolation Round 1: Won vs. Jackson Brady (Wilkes); 8-6
Consolation Round 2: Lost vs. Ty Watson (Penn State); TF: 5:58 (17-1)

Makoa Niebel (165 lbs.) – Eighth Place
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Gage Wiggins (Wyoming Seminary); TF: 7:00 (15-0)
Consolation Round 2: Bye
Consolation Round 3: Bye
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Samuel Keppel (Wilkes); F: 0:43
Consolation Quarterfinal: Lost vs. Andrew Kozubal (Messiah); 6-3
Seventh Place: Lost vs. Brayden Shannon (Wilkes); 8-2

Jiahe Li (165 lbs.)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Trey Miletics (Muhlenberg); F: 0:10
Consolation Round 2: Bye
Consolation Round 3: Lost vs. Jordan Scott (Liberty); F: 1:40

Dominic Wheatley (174 lbs.) – Second Place
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Joshua Wilkins (Wilkes); F: 2:34
Quarterfinal: Won vs. Michael Fuccilli (Franklin & Marshall); 9-0
Semifinal: Won vs. Logan Richey (Duke); 5-1
First Place: Lost vs. Sam Beckett (Penn State); TF: 5:44 (20-4)

Michael Fuccilli (174 lbs.) – Fourth Place (Unattached)
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Won vs. Jared Butler (Messiah); 7-0
Quarterfinal: Lost vs. Dominic Wheatley (Franklin & Marshall); 9-0
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Ronald Black (Liberty); 16-2
Consolation Quarterfinal: Won vs. Melquan Warren (Wilkes); F: 1:11
Consolation Semifinal: Won vs. William Knapp (Alvernia); 7-4
Third Place: Lost vs. Logan Richey (Duke); 13-2

Tyler Shea (174 lbs.) – Sixth Place
Round of 32: Bye
Round of 16: Lost vs. Julian Schott (Marymount); 12-9
Consolation Round 2: Bye
Consolation Round 3: Won vs. Nick Montanye (Messiah); 10-2
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Jack Miller (The College of New Jersey); F: 2:56
Consolation Quarterfinal: Won vs. Tyler Woodworth (Colorado State); F: 2:54
Consolation Semifinal: Lost vs. Logan Richey (Duke); 8-5
Fifth Place: Lost vs. Warren Knapp (Alvernia); 13-7

Noah Bash (184 lbs.) – Eighth Place
Round of 32: Lost vs. Connor Jacobs (Clarion); TF: 5:00 (17-2)
Consolation Round 1: Bye
Consolation Round 2: Won vs. Teague Conover (Pitt.-Johnstown); TF: 2:52 (16-0)
Consolation Round 3: Won vs. Gunner Spain (Drexel); F: 2:03
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Rylan Moose (Marymount); 22-20
Consolation Round 5: Lost vs. Tim Eddinger (Messiah); TF: 5:00 (18-3)
Seventh Place: Lost vs. Hayden McLellan (Alvernia); F: 4:19

Jake Rickett (285 lbs.) – Sixth Place
Round of 32: Lost vs. Wade Wheeler (Liberty); 2-1
Consolation Round 1: Bye
Consolation Round 2: Won vs. Luke Abilio (Wilkes); 4-1 (SV)
Consolation Round 3: Won vs. Steven Ramirez (Marymount); 3-2 (TB-1)
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Andrew Franklin (Muhlenberg); MFF
Consolation Quarterfinal: Won vs. Matt Jones (Shippensburg); 4-3 (TB-1)
Consolation Semifinal: Lost vs. Trevor Gitski (Wilkes); 8-1
Fifth Place: Lost vs. Owen Reber (Alvernia); F: 2:15

Quincy Long (285 lbs.) – Seventh Place
Round of 32: Won vs. Matt Jones (Shippensburg); 9-1
Round of 16: Lost vs. Ben Krauss (Muhlenberg); 10-3
Consolation Round 2: Won vs. Tyirek Jackson (Liberty); 17-7
Consolation Round 3: Won vs. Myles Brown (Alvernia); 12-4
Consolation Round 4: Won vs. Nathaniel Manarin (Messiah); TF: 4:10 (20-3)
Consolation Quarterfinal: Lost vs. Owen Reber (Alvernia); 13-10
Seventh Place: Won vs. Matt Jones (Shippensburg); 7-0