SEASON RECAP/LAST TIME OUT
- F&M wrapped up the regular season with a 25-15 win against Millersville to retain the Cup and conclude the dual season with a record of 3-5 as a team. That record included a 1-4 record in EIWA dual matches, highlighted by a 29-12 win against Sacred Heart
- The Diplomats also wrestled Binghamton, LIU, Hofstra, and Drexel in EIWA Independence Division matches while seeing a number of the other EIWA opponents throughout the year at different tournaments
- The dual versus Millersville was the last time that most of the F&M starting lineup was in action, although the team has since competed in the F&M Invitational and Zingos Nationals leading up to the conference tournament
EIWA Championships
Friday, March 7 & Saturday, March 8
Tournament Schedule
Friday March 7
SESSION 1
- 10:00-12:00pm Round of 12
- 12:00-2:00pm Quarterfinals
SESSION 2
- 4:00-6:00pm Consolation Round One
- 6:00-8:50PM Semifinals & Quarterfinal Consolations
Saturday March 8
SESSION 3
- 10:00-12:00pm: Semifinal Consolations & Seventh Place matches
- 12:00pm: Hall of Fame Presentations
- 12:15-3:00pm: Finals, 3rd & 5th Place matches
- 3:00pm: Team & Special Awards
Allocations per Weight Class
- 125: 2
- 133: 1
- 141: 3
- 149: 1
- 157: 1
- 165: 2
- 174: 4
- 184: 1
- 197: 4
- 285: 3
Franklin & marshall diplomats
3-5 (1-4 EIWA)
F&M Lineup
125: Jack Parker, So. (16-14)
133: Mason Leiphart, Jr. (9-6)
141: Bryce Kresho, Jr. (32-13)
149: Josh Hillard; Jr. (12-14)
157: Luke Bender, So. (12-13)
165: Josh Palmucci; Jr. (12-15)
174: Nick Alvarez, Jr. (10-12)
184: Noah Bash, Sr. (5-16)
197: RJ Moore, Jr. (7-16)
285: Brody Kline, Fy. (6-16)
125: Jack Parker, SO.
Richmond, Va. / St. Christopher's School
Season Record: 16-14, 8-5 EIWA
Career: 30-27, 13-10 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #8
- Sixth at Binghamton Bearcat Open
- Sixth at Keystone Classic
- 3-3 vs. EIWA starters at 125 lbs.
- Has two wins vs. Dylan Acevedo-Switzer (Hofstra) and a technical fall victory vs. Julian Dawson (Morgan State)
133: Mason Leiphart, Jr.
Dover, Pa. / Dover Area High School
Season Record: 9-6, 4-1 EIWA
Career Record: 79-31, 28-15 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 3rd (7th in 2023)
Seed: #8
- Team captain
- F&M all-time leader in technical falls
- Led all Division I wrestlers in technical falls during 2022-23 season
- Tied for 10th in school history for career wins
- Two-time NWCA Scholar All-American
- Two-time EIWA Academic Achievement Award
- Sixth at Keystone Classic
- 2-1 vs. EIWA starters at 133 lbs.
- Earned a 9-7 decision vs. Liardi of Hofstra and a 6-0 decision vs. Francois (LIU)
141: Bryce Kresho, Jr.
Waleska, Ga. / Cass High School
Season Record: 32-13, 9-5 EIWA
Career Record: 64-49, 22-27 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #5
- Team captain
- Ranked 33rd in latest NCAA RPI Ratings
- Winningest wrestler in Division I this season (32 wins)
- Tied for ninth in all of Division I with nine pins
- Eighth in all of Division I with eight major decisions
- Kresho's 32 wins are the sixth-most in a single-season in F&M history
- 16th F&M wrestler all-time to win at least 30 matches in a year
- Placed at every tournament he has entered this season
- Third at Southeast Open
- Fourth at Sheridan Invitational
- Fifth at Keystone Classic
- Fifth at Lehman Open
- Sixth at Midlands
- 4-4 vs. EIWA starters at 141 lbs., defeating Lucier (Binghamton), Hoyle (Hofstra), Matthews (LIU), Fallon (Sacred Heart)
149: Josh Hillard, Jr.
Lancaster, Pa. / Manheim Township High School
Season Record: 12-14, 8-6 EIWA
Career Record: 44-59, 20-32 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #9
- Registered 11 pins during the 2022-23 season for the third-highest single-season total in school history
- Ranked 19th in school history with 17 career pins
- Seventh at Keystone Classic
- 1-4 vs. EIWA starters at 149 lbs., defeating Dakota Asuncion of Sacred Heart by major decision during regular season
- All of his EIWA losses have come by regular decisions that were decided in the third period
- Won five of his last seven matches heading into postseason
157: Luke Bender, So.
Lewes, Del. / Cape Henlopen High School
Season Record: 12-13, 6-6 EIWA
Career Record: 21-27, 11-11 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #10
- Seven of his victories have come via bonus points, including three pins and two technical falls
- 1-4 vs. EIWA starters at 157 lbs.
- Owns an 11-9 decision victory against Felix Lettini of Sacred Heart
165: Josh Palmucci, Jr.
Mullica Hill, N.J. / Kingsway Regional High School
Season Record: 12-15, 7-7 EIWA
Career Record: 28-36, 13-17 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #9
- NWCA Scholar All-American
- EIWA Academic Achievement Award
- Seventh at Keystone Classic
- 1-3 vs. EIWA starters at 165 lbs.
- Pinned Calvin Pineda of Sacred Heart
- That pin was one of three falls on the year as eight of his 12 victories have come via bonus points
- Owns three technical falls and two major decisions
174: Nick Alvarez, Jr.
Xenia, Ohio / Legacy Christian Academy
Season Record: 10-12, 9-2 EIWA
Career Record: 34-42, 19-17 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #11
- Placed third at F&M Invitational
- 2-2 vs. EIWA starters at 174 lbs.
- Defeated both Waddell (Hofstra) and Zarella (Sacred Heart) during the regular season
- Has won six of last eight matches entering the postseason
184: Noah Bash, Sr.
Brockway, Pa. / Brockway Area High School
Season Record: 5-16, 1-6 EIWA
Career Record: 15-45, 4-18 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 2nd
Seed: #12
- EIWA Academic Achievement Award
- Fourth place at F&M Invitational
- Only one match vs. EIWA starters at 184 lbs. after bumping up a weight class during the middle of the season
- Major decision, technical fall, and pin this season to account for three of his victories
197: RJ Moore, Jr.
Ambler, Pa. / Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Season Record: 7-16, 4-5 EIWA
Career Record: 17-42, 6-14 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #8
- Fifth place at Southeast Open
- 2-3 vs. EIWA starters at 197 lbs.
- Owns an 18-4 major decision win vs. Eric Washington (Morgan State) and 5-1 decision vs. Chris DeLana (Sacred Heart)
285: Brody Kline, Fy.
Richland, Pa. / Berks Catholic High School
Season Record: 6-16, 3-6 EIWA
Career Record: 6-16, 3-6 EIWA
EIWA Appearances: 1st
Seed: #10
- Making return to the lineup after being out since February 7
- Won season-best three consecutive matches in early November
- 0-3 vs. EIWA starters at 285 lbs.
W. Roy Phillips '34 Wrestling Coach Mike Rogers
- Currently in 15th season as head coach
- Coached 11 NCAA Division I qualifiers at F&M, highlighted by 2014 All-American and two-time EIWA Champion Rick Durso '16.
- Team went 6-3 in duals last season and has three consecutive winning records in dual meets for the first time since 1992
- Led team to 12th-highest GPA in Division I during 2023-24 season, including the school's first-ever Elite 90 Award Winner in James Conway which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the NCAA Championships
- Mentored seven EIWA Academic Achievement honorees and Academic All-Americans last season
- 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
- 12th 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
- Entering seventh season coach 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
- Entering fourth 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 Jack Bruce '23
- Former team captain, entering second season on coaching staff
- Wrestled at 125 & 133 lbs.
- Graduated with a degree in astrophysics
Assistant Coach Stephen Loiseau
- Entering first season at F&M
- Two-time NCAA qualifier for Drexel (2018, 19)
- Career record of 95-55, earning No. 12 seed at the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
- Previously served as an assistant coach at Millersville during the 2023-24 season
UP NEXT: NCAA Division I Championships (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Thursday, March 20 - Saturday, March 22