LAST TIME OUT
Ursinus Dual (Won 33-13)
- The Diplomats evened their season record at 2-2 during the final dual of the 2022 calendar year
- F&M won seven of the 10 matches, including three bonus point victories in addition to two forfeits
- Mason Leiphart (125 lbs.) claimed sole possession of the Division I lead with his fifth technical fall. Since that dual, he has now been tied by Indiana's Donnell Washington for the national lead in that category
- Leiphart's 14-6 record has him just victory off of a top-10 mark nationally for wins
- James Conway (184 lbs.) had the Diplomats' only fall of the night, registering his third pin of the season at the 3:51 mark
- Aidan O'Shea (133 lbs.) notched an 11-0 major decision to improve his record to 8-6 during his rookie campaign
- O'Shea has now recorded bonus points in seven of his eight victories and leads the team with four major decisions - a mark that is just one behind a top-four mark in Division I
- Pat Phillips (141 lbs.) and Noah Fox (174 lbs.) both picked up decisions in the win, while Nick Alvarez (157 lbs.) and John Crawford (197 lbs.) received forfeits
- Mason Leiphart and John Crawford are both a perfect 4-0 in dual meets on the year, with Gio Diaz (2-0), Aidan O'Shea (1-0), and Sam Kotch (1-0) sporting undefeated records in their only dual matches to date
F&M Probable Lineup
125: Jack Bruce, Sr. (4-6)
133: Josh Hillard, Fy. (11-8), Aidan O'Shea, Fy. (8-6), Brandon Sauter, Fy. (5-8)
141: Bryce Kresho, Fy. (6-8), Sam Kotch, Fy. (4-6), Drew Currier, Fy. (3-6), James Toal, Fy. (0-0)
149: Hunter Hockensmith, Jr. (1-5), Avery Clarke, So. (0-4)
157: Nick Alvarez, Fy. (6-7), Anthony Micci, So. (4-7), Chris Hisey, Sr. (1-2)
165: RJ Moore, Fy. (5-10), Makoa Niebel, So. (1-8)
174: Noah Fox, Jr. (5-7)
184: James Conway, So. (7-6)
197: Harrison Shapiro, Jr. (3-9)
285: #31 Cenzo Pelusi, Sr. (0-0), Chase Thompson, Fy. (2-6), Tyler O'Boyle, So. (0-1)
F&M at Wilkes Open
- Franklin & Marshall last competed at the Wilkes Open during the 2019-20 season
- The Diplomats were scheduled to compete in this event a year ago before it was changed for one year to a dual format
- John Crawford (then at 174 lbs.) was the only member on the current F&M team to compete at the tournament in the team's most recent appearance, going 2-2. Crawford will not compete in this year's event as he and several members of the team prepare for next week's Midlands Championships
- Cenzo Pelusi (285 lbs.) went 2-2 at the Wilkes Open competing for Drexel during the 2018-19 season before transferring to Franklin & Marshall
Division I Teams at Wilkes Open
- Binghamton - EIWA
- Bloomsburg - MAC
- Drexel - EIWA
- George Mason - MAC
- Lehigh - EIWA
- LIU - EIWA
- Lock Haven - MAC
- Rutgers - BIG
- Sacred Heart - EIWA
- A total of 27 teams are expected to compete at this event, spanning all three NCAA levels
Division I National Leaders
- Franklin & Marshall has won 125 individual matches this season, recording bonus points in 64 of those victories (51.2%)
- That total includes 26 falls as a team and 13 technical falls
- 17 F&M wrestlers have at least one pin during the first half of the 2022-23 season
Mason Leiphart (125 lbs.) - 5 Tech Falls & 14 Wins
- Mason Leiphart is currently tied for the Division I lead with five technical falls, sharing that top spot with Indiana's Donnell Washington (174 lbs.)
- Leiphart is one of just three true freshman in the top 15 nationally for tech falls, leading Iowa State's Jacob Frost and SIU-Edwardsville's Alec Peralta who each have four TFs
- Little Rock's Jayden Carson is the only other 125 lb. wrestler in Division I that is ranked in the top 15 for tech falls
- Leiphart's 14 wins are just one off of a top-10 mark in Division I wrestling
- The only true freshman with more wins than Leiphart is Indiana's Henry Porter (15-3 at 133 lbs.) who took a gap year before enrolling with the Hoosiers
- The Diplomats' first-year has recorded bonus points in 12 of his first 14 career victories, including one fall, five tech falls, three major decisions, and three forfeits
Just Outside the Rankings
- First-year Josh Hillard currently has five falls, just one behind the seventh-highest total in Division I
- Hillard has gotten bonus points during 10 of his first 11 collegiate victories
- First-year Aidan O'Shea's four major decisions are just one off of a top-four mark in Division I wrestling
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 went 8-2 in duals last season for the highest single-season win percentage this century
- 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
- Entering 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
Thank you LEHMAN OPEN SPONORS!!!
The 2023 David H. Lehman '68 F&M Open is set for Friday, January 6 inside the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center
Lead Sponsor
- Carl E. Becker II, M.D. '87, P'16, P'19 and Tracy Calhoun Becker '88, P'16, P'19 / Westphal Orthopedics
Weight Class Sponsors
- Dr. Martin '56, P'96 (Jimmy Martin)
- Brett Senior & Associates, P.C
- Waszen Brothers Sanitation
- Dailey Billing Services
- Hisey Family P’23
- Clark M. McSparren, Jr., '55
- Bill Myers ‘80
- Robilotto Family P’19, P’20
- Shapiro Family P’24
- Pelusi Family P’19, P’23
Mat Sponsors
- LA All Stars
- Patric Wallace '83, P'15
- John Thomas '81,P13, P'20 / Jim May '79
- Keir R. Joyce '94
- The Pelusi Family P’19, P’23
- Qualtek
- Bolletino Family P'22
- Bob Aber '65
- Brian “Nip” Brown ’80 and Mary Ann Brown
- Tier1 Sports Management, LLC
- Zeamer Family
- The Captains Mat" - Team captains (2010-2019): Jake Bucha '10, Matt Fullowan '12, Colin Ely '12, Andrew Murano '14, Antonio Pelusi '19
- Boring Family / Accurate Total Car Care
- Denny, Paula, Logan & Nathan
- Senior Commons at Powder Mill
- Dana Weinstein '96
Hospitality room
- The Pelusi Family P'19, P'23
Friends of the program
- Bede Bidlack '92
- John Stevenson '72
- Roger V Jones '88
- Vince's Pizza
- Senior Commons at Powder Mill
- Dave Gable '86
- The King Family
- George Schnyder '66
- Theodore Robert King '16
- Scenic Paving
- Patrick and Donna Phillips P’25
- Dan Vilello
- David Weingold ‘83
Reception
- Stan and Gina Zeamer
Awards
- Al Ingraham '72
- adidas Wrestling
