Diplomats Cruise Past Gettysburg, Improve to 3-2

In the decades long rivalry between Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg Colleges, the Diplomats reminded the Bullets what it means to be a Division I program, punishing the visiting rivals 43-8 in the Mayser Center Wednesday evening.

F&M assumed a commanding 31-0 lead after six matches, with 18 of those points coming as a result of three Gettysburg forfeits. Freshman Aaron Moldoff fired up F&M with a quick pin to open at 125-pounds. Back-to-back forfeits at the 133 and 141-pound classes left sophomores Robert Ruiz and Richard Durso on the sidelines, giving F&M an additional 12 points.

Junior Andrew Murano stepped in at 149-pounds, contributing to the Diplomat attack with a major decision victory, while freshman Chuckie Kerkesner recorded a pin late in the heavyweight match to wrap up the night. Sophomore Isaiah Cromwell overcame a 5-1 deficit with a pin over Gettysburg’s Marshall Puls in 4:45 at 197-pounds, and Colin Lahiff pulled through with a sudden victory in a nail biter at 165. 

F&M’s suffered just two losses on the night, holding its opponent to under 10 points for the second time this season.

Assistant Coach Matt Greenberg was satisfied with the overall performance, but will be looking to make adjustments before Friday’s match against Davidson College.

“We’re trying to find guys who want to step up, who can handle the pressure and who want to take the role of a leader and we’ll keep putting guys out there until we can find the best possible line up,” Greenberg said. I was pleased with the win; I always think we can do better. Some of our guys didn’t necessarily take them [their opponents] out of the match as quickly as I would have liked. I think there were some good things, I’d like to see a little bit more; but that’s coaching—you always want to see more”

In the past couple years, F&M has come a long way, amending its schedule from predominantly Division III competition, to this year’s primarily D-I agenda.

“When I first got here, we had an entire Division III schedule. Three, four years ago we had four forfeits and we were in that position, so it kind of shows you how quickly you can turn things around. You’re never too good for anybody, you’re never above it.”  

When the Diplomats face Davidson on Friday, the team can’t afford to make any mistakes, and Coach Greenberg is counting on near flawless performances in every weight class.

“We’ve got to make some adjustments,” Greenberg said. “Some guys, they’re not going to have the opportunity to fix those mistakes and make up for some of those points that they gave away so we’re going to have to clean some things up. We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing and see the improvement.”

Murano, who carries the weight of being the lone 149-pounder on the team will be counted on for another strong performance.

The junior considers the win against Gettysburg to be a testament to F&M’s Division I status.

“It just shows that we belong at the Division I level and we know that,” Murano said. “We’re all Division I wrestlers, we’re all tough, we’re all pulling out wins and this is a programs that’s on the rise.”

Despite the win, Murano was utterly disappointed with the trio of forfeits, and his teammates’ inability to compete.

“For me, it’s frustrating, but for them [teammates who won by forfeit] it’s extremely frustrating. A lot of people would be happy just getting the win, but we’re not happy. We want to go out there and we want to wrestle and show what we can do. It’s nice to have six points on the board in all three weight classes, but at the same time, I’d like to get six points in all three of those weight classes with our guys wrestling.”

Murano is expectantly awaiting Friday’s match, where no forfeits are likely to be seen.

“It’s tough to get your weight down mid-week, and we may have been a little sluggish today, but come Friday we’re taking on Davidson so we should have no problem with that—I think we’re going to win as a team.”

For Murano, competing against Division III Gettysburg served as a reinforcement reminding him why he chose Division I F&M, rather than a D-III program.

“We’re small fish in a big pond, and we just want to show that the small fish can really do well at this level,” Murano said. “That’s what we’re out here to prove and we don’t want it any other way.”

While the Diplomats face myriad challenges this season, the improvements the team has made are immeasurable. F&M currently holds a 3-2 record, contrasted with last year’s 0-5 start, and the team will look to improve to 4-2, at 7:30 p.m. Friday here in Lancaster.