Regular Season
- F&M went 8-5 in dual meets, marking back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 1992
- The Diplomats were 6-2 on their home mats, including a 35-11 EIWA win against EIWA foe Sacred Heart. Franklin & Marshall also defeated LIU on the road, 29-11, in EIWA action
- Franklin & Marshall is one just six teams in all of Division I Wrestling that has at least five starters with at least 20 individual wins (6 - Appalachian State; 5 - F&M, Navy, Lock Haven, Indiana, Gardner-Webb)
- Just three of those teams have five or more individuals with at least 22 victories (6 - Appalachian State; 5 - F&M and Lock Haven)
- Wrestling with one of the youngest lineups in the country, the Diplomats featured as many as six true-freshman throughout the dual season
- F&M is one of just 12 teams in the country entering at least four first-years into this weekend's conference tournaments around the country
- Perhaps more significantly is the fact that the Diplomats are one of just two teams (VMI) who will be entering four true freshman into their respective conference tournaments
- 7 of F&M's 10 entrants into the EIWA Championships posted a winning record throughout the regular season
- 9 Diplomats competing this weekend won at least 14 matches during the regular season
EIWA Championships
Hosted by Penn (March 4-5)
Saturday, March 4
Session I
- 10:30 a.m.: Preliminary Round
- 10:50 a.m.: Round of 16 & First Round Consolations
Session II
- 4:30 p.m.: Quarterfinals & Second Round Consolations
- 7:30 p.m.: Third Round Consolations
Sunday, March 5
Session III
- 10:30 a.m.: Semifinals & Consolation Quarterfinals
- 12:30 p.m.: Consolation Semifinals & 7th Place Matches
Session IV
- 4:30 p.m.: Hall of Fame Presentation
- 4:45 p.m.: 1st, 3rd, & 5th Place Matches
- 7:15 p.m.: Team & Special Awards
NCAA Allocations by Weight Class
Franklin & marshall diplomats
8-5 (2-3 EIWA)
F&M Lineup
125: Mason Leiphart, Fy. (25-11)
133: Pat Phillips, So. (22-12)
141: Aidan O'Shea, Fy. (16-15)
149: Bryce Kresho, Fy. (14-14)
157: Nick Alvarez, Fy. (14-16)
165: Noah Bash, So. (3-16)
174: Noah Fox, Jr. (23-13)
184: James Conway, So. (22-13)
197: John Crawford, Jr. (23-11)
285: Cenzo Pelusi, Sr. (14-5)
125: Mason Leiphart, FY.
Dover, Pennsylvania / Dover High School
Season: 25-11, 12-3 EIWA
Career: 25-11, 12-3 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #7
- #33 RPI in final regular season release
- Division I leader in technical falls (12) across all weight classes
- Broke F&M's previous single-season record for technical falls which was set by All-American Rick Durso '16 during his senior season
- Leiphart is just one tech fall short of tying the school's career record for technical falls which is held by James Nalbone '91
- Tied for the second-most wins among all Division I starters at 125 lbs., trailing only Matt Ramos (Purdue)
- Tied with George Mason's Markel Baker for the most wins at any weight by a true freshman, an opponent who he defeated 6-5 during the regular season
- Most wins among all EIWA 125 lbs. entrants
- Fourth-most wins amongst all EIWA postseason wrestlers
- 13th most victories among all Division I wrestlers competing in the postseason
- Enters EIWA Championships on a five-match winning streak
- Won 10 of his last 12 matches overall, having dropped back-to-back matches just twice all season
- 5-1 against wrestlers in EIWA 125 lb. field, defeating Antonio Mininno (Drexel), Jacob Moon (Hofstra), Robert Sagaris (LIU), Dayton DelViscio (Navy), and Mike Manta (Sacred Heart)
- Placed third at Southeast Open, sixth at Bearcat Open, and sixth at Keystone Classic
- 21 of his 25 victories have come via bonus points
133: Pat Phillips, So.
Springfield, New Jersey / Jonathan Dayton HS
Season: 22-12, 10-5 EIWA
Career: 37-23. 17-10 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #9
- Tied for fifth-most wins among all starters at 133 lbs.
- Second in EIWA in wins at 133 lbs. this season, trailing only Kurt Phipps (Bucknell)
- Tied for 14th among all EIWA Postseason wrestlers in wins
- Top 20 among all Division I sophomores in victories
- Tied for eighth in all of Division I with five technical falls
- Placed second at both the Southeast Open and Bearcat Open
- 4-2 vs. wrestlers in the EIWA 133 lbs. field, defeating Brandon Ferretti (Navy), Angelo Rini (Columbia), Chase Liardi (Hofstra) & Kaelen Francois (LIU)
- Rini is currently the No. 33 wrestler in the latest coaches' ranking, while Ferretti is ranked No. 31 in the latest RPI
- Phillips previously defeated current No. 6 and former All-American Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) during the Southeast Open
141: Aidan O'Shea, FY.
Bellefonte, Pennsylvania / Bellefonte Area HS
Season: 16-15, 2-8 EIWA
Career: 16-15, 2-8 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #14
- Ranked 24th in wins among Division I postseason starters at 141 lbs., the sixth-highest total in the EIWA
- 1-2 against EIWA opponents in this weekend's 141 lb. bracket, defeating LIU's Devin Matthews by a 9-6 decision
- Placed fourth at both the Shorty Hitchcock Memorial and Wilkes Open
- Registered bonus points during 12 of his 16 victories, including three falls, three technical falls, and six major decisions
- O'Shea's six major decisions are tied for the 13th-most in a single season at F&M, becoming the first Diplomat to hit that mark since Jose Diaz '22 during the 2018-19 season
149: Bryce Kresho, FY.
Waleska, Georgia / Cass High School
Season: 14-14, 5-9 EIWA
Career: 14-14, 5-9 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #12
- Tied for 33rd in wins among Division I postseason wrestlers at 149 lbs., ranking sixth in the EIWA
- Registered four falls, including pins against EIWA foes from American and Sacred Heart
- 1-2 against EIWA postseason wrestlers at 149 lbs., defeating Hofstra's Michael Leandrou by an 11-2 major decision
- Holds an 8-6 record since moving up 149 lbs. in January
- Has won five of his last seven bouts entering the postseason, including three bonus point victories during that time
- Placed third at the Messiah Open
157: Nick Alvarez, FY.
Xenia, Ohio / Legacy Christian Academy
Season: 14-16, 4-8 EIWA
Career: 14-16, 4-8 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #16
- Tied for 31st in Division I for wins among postseason wrestlers at 157 lbs., ranking fourth in the EIWA
- Registered two falls and three technical falls during the regular season
- Has wrestled four of his potential opponents at this weekend's EIWA Championships during the regular season
- Scored bonus points during three of his four overall EIWA victories, earning a fall and technical fall against Sacred Heart while also securing another technical fall versus Bucknell
- Placed fourth at the Wilkes Open as part of a season-high five-match winning streak
165: Noah Bash, So.
Brockway, New Jersey / Brockway Area High School
Season: 3-16, 0-7 EIWA
Career: 3-16, 0-7 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #17
- All three victories this season have been by falls in the first period
- Defeated opponents from Tiffin, Gettysburg, and Marymount, conceding bonus points during just five matches
- Quickest pin came in 58 seconds versus Marymount's Hezzy Ntube
- Winning the spot late in the season, has wrestled just one potential opponent at the EIWA Championships, dropping a 5-1 decision to LIU's Blake Bahna
174: Noah Fox, JR.
Montville, New Jersey / Montville Township HS
Season: 23-13, 7-5 EIWA
Career: 41-24, 13-13 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #12
- Leads all EIWA wrestlers at 174 lbs. with 23 wins, ranking fifth amongst all postseason starters at his weight
- Tied for eighth in victories among all wrestlers competing at the EIWA Championships
- Win total is tied for eighth among all NCAA Division I juniors competing in the postseason
- Recorded five falls, two technical falls, and three major decisions
- 1-4 against EIWA wrestlers competing at 174 lbs., featuring a 16-2 major decision against LIU's Anthony Franden, while all of his defeats have come via decisions
- Has posted separate six and five-match winning streaks during the regular seasons
- Enters the postseason having won two straight and 11 of his last last 14 matches overall
- Wilkes Open Champion and was Round of 12 finisher at the Midlands Championships
184: James Conway, So.
Towson, Maryland / Loyola Bakersfield High School
Season: 22-13, 5-5 EIWA
Career: 40-25, 12-13 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #11
- Team captain
- Tied for second among Division I starters at 184 lbs. for total victories
- Leads the EIWA in wins at 184 lbs., ranking 14th amongst all starters entering the EIWA Tournament
- Ranks among the top 20 Division I sophomores in wins this season
- 1-3 against EIWA wrestlers at 184 lbs. this weekend, featuring a victory versus Sacred Heart's Owen Ayotte
- Wilkes Open runner-up during a stretch where he went 12-3 in the middle of the season
- Enters the postseason having won two consecutive matches and four of five overall, with all of those victories coming by bonus points, falling only to the No. 24 wrestler in the country by decision during that stretch
197: John Crawford, JR.
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania / Strath Haven HS
Season: 23-11, 9-3 EIWA
Career: 45-32, 17-18 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed #7
- Team captain
- Leads the EIWA and ranks second among all Division I starters at 197 lbs. in total victories, trailing only Michael Battista (Virginia) who he defeated during the regular season
- Tied for eighth among all EIWA starters in total victories
- Tied for eighth among all Division I juniors across all weight classes for wins
- Owns a 5-3 record against EIWA entrants at 197 lbs., defeating Drexel's Sean O'Malley, Bucknell's Nolan Springer, Brown's Aaron Wolk, and Sacred Heart's Logan Michael (twice)
- Crawford's win over former NCAA qualifier Battista is against the current No. 24-ranked wrestler in the latest coaches' ranking
- Crawford also owns victories against North Carolina's Max Shaw (No. 24 RPI) and Indiana's Nick Willham (No. 26 RPI), with numerous other tests against nationally-ranked wrestlers
- Placed second at the Lehman Open, fifth at the Keystone Classic, sixth at the Southeast Open, and was a Round of 12 finisher at the Midlands Championships
- Has gone 10-2 during his last 12 matches, falling only nationally-ranked opponents during that stretch
- Enters postseason winning back-to-back matches, having separate five and six-match winning streaks throughout the regular season
285: Cenzo Pelusi, Sr.
Worcester, Pennsylvania / LaSalle College HS
Season: 14-5, 6-4 EIWA
F&M Career: 49-28, 25-18 EIWA
Collegiate Career: 56-46, 26-27 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 3rd (placed seventh last year)
Seed: #10
- Team captain
- Holds 34th-most wins among 285 lb. starters despite only wrestling half of the season
- 3-4 against EIWA entrants at heavyweight this season, claiming victories against Drexel's Santino Morina, Brown's Alex Semenenko, and LIU's Aidan Begue
- All four EIWA losses this season have been by decision, including three that were decided by a third period takedown
- Placed fourth at Wilkes Open
- Won six consecutive matches to start the month of January and has won back-to-back matches entering the postseason
W. Roy Phillips '34 Wrestling Coach Mike Rogers
- Entering 13th season as head coach
- Coached nine NCAA Division I qualifiers at F&M, highlighted by 2014 All-American and two-time EIWA Champion Rick Durso '16
- Team has posted back-to-back winning seasons for first time since 1992
- Led team to 10th-highest GPA in Division I during F&M's last full season, including new school records for NWCA Academic All-Americans and EIWA Scholar-Athletes
- Was a three-time NCAA qualifier at Lock Haven, earning All-America accolades twice.
- 1996 Gorrarian Award winner for most pints in the least amount of time at NCAA Division I Championships.
- Previously served as assistant coach at Lock Haven and American in addition to leading the Pennsylvania team to multiple Junior Freestyle Championships.
Assistant Coach Steve Borja
- 10th season at Franklin & Marshall
- Previously served as an assistant coach at Millersville University and Manheim Central High School
- Graduated from Virginia Tech in 2008 where he was a two-time first-team All-CC wrestler who was ranked as high as fourth in the country during the 2007 season
Assistant Coach TYson Dippery
- Fifth season coaching at Franklin & Marshall
- Compiled a college career record of 101-48, graduating from Rider in 2018
- Qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2016 after placing sixth at the Big Ten Championships while competing for Rutgers
Assistant Coach Rob Morrison
- Second season as volunteer assistant coach
- Two-time NCAA Qualifier at Rider University (2010, 11)
- PIAA AAA South Central Champion from Cedar Cliff High School, eventually placing third at the state championships
Assistant Coach Antonio Pelusi '19
- First season as a member of the coaching staff
- Three-time NCAA qualifier and EIWA place winner for the Diplomats
- 85-54 career record at F&M
- One of just nine wrestlers in program history who has advanced to the NCAA Division I Championships at least three times
UP NEXT
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Tulsa, Oklahoma (BOK Center)
Thursday, March 67 - Saturday, March 18
