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Rogers & Greenberg Flashback to Wrestling Origins

Hard as it may be to believe, F&M wrestling coaches Mike Rogers and Matt Greenberg weren’t wrestling in their cribs. In fact, both had rather unconventional, and surprisingly late introductions to the sport.

Growing up in Florida during the 80s and 90s, wrestling wasn’t the most popular sport. Truth be told, it was probably about as popular as sailing—maybe even less so.

During his freshman year of high school, Rogers began his wrestling career, and concluding his inaugural season with a grand total of five wins. As a senior, Rogers won states and took second place nationally, earning him recognition and recruiting visits from various colleges. Despite various offers from several schools across the country, Rogers chose Lock Haven University, a school which would accommodate his desire for a small campus with a Division I wrestling program.

Upon his immediate arrival, Rogers made a mark at Lock Haven, capturing first place at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship. He would go on to defend that title for the remainder of his collegiate career, in addition to earning All-American accolades, and boasting two championship victories in the Eastern Wrestling League (EWL).

“I was of a part of a pretty good team—we finished fifth in the country, so that kind of put me on the track that small schools can compete with big schools,” Rogers said. “We’re a school of 3,000 students finishing fifth behind schools like Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, right in the mix with a lot of Big 10, Big 12 schools.”

It was this aspect of wrestling that intrigued Rogers, and motivated him to work harder in order to upend the larger, better known schools.

“I think wrestling is a unique sport that lends itself to small schools being able to compete against large schools and it’s 10 guys against 10 guys, and you can really turn a situation where you have four or five guys getting big enough points, you can be as competitive as anyone else, so that was really appealing to me.”

Despite initially pursuing a career in special education, Rogers found his way back to wrestling, and is seeking to provide his team with the best collegiate wrestling experience possible, accompanied by top-tier academics.

Like Rogers, Greenberg began wrestling at a very late stage in the game, following an odd and unexpected turn of events.

As a sophomore in high school, Greenberg was enthralled with the prospect of snowboarding, and had recently purchased his first board. As he prepared to be a part of the snowboard clique and become one of the ‘dudes,’ Greenberg found himself getting into frequent trouble at school.

Notified of their son’s misbehavior, Greenberg’s parents quickly gave him an ultimatum—get rid of the snowboard, or find a winter hobby that would keep him out of trouble.

The school wrestling coach had called Greenberg’s home, suggesting that Matt and wrestling might be a match.

 “I stumbled into wrestling—my first practice I remember walking in and asking where the ropes were, and I thought it was pro wrestling. I had no idea what I was getting into,” said Greenberg. “Very quickly I realized it was the sport for me. I like the fact that you can control your own destiny, the fact that you don’t have to rely on other people holding up their end of the deal to be successful. If you want to win, you work harder than the guys around you, and you win.”

Equipped with this simple understanding of the sport, Greenberg embarked on what would prove to be an immensely successful career.

“Very quickly I became engulfed in the training, engulfed in the sport and I realized that this was something that could take me into college.”

Prior to his senior year, Greenberg received very little attention from recruiters, and finished his junior season fifth in the state. One year later, Greenberg entered the same tournament undefeated, but ended up taking third overall in the state.

“That’s when I started getting all the letters from the Ivy League schools and I said ‘wow I can do this.’ That summer, I took second in the country at the U.S. Nationals for high school, and I ended up committing to wrestle in college.”

Following his high school graduation, Greenberg matriculated at Columbia University, but his stay in the Upper West Side would be short-lived.

His sophomore year of college, Greenberg transferred to Cornell University, in what he deems “the best decision I ever made.”

“The program was on the way up, but it hadn’t established itself as the powerhouse it is today,” Greenberg said.

Greenberg thrived with the Big Red, aiding the team in its successful goal of breaking into the top-10 national rankings.

Greenberg finished his career as a four-time All-Ivy League selection, an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) title at 197-pounds, All-America honors his senior season, and three trips to the Division I National Championship.  

Like Rogers, Greenberg is quite fond of the concept of wrestling at the D-I level, in a smaller, liberal arts setting, preparing its wrestlers for the working world, while enjoying the benefits of elite wrestling.

“I wanted to be in a place where you had student-athletes and not just athletes,” said Greenberg. “I like a program that doesn’t have to deal with the scholarship side of the sport. I wanted a program where 99 percent of the athletes went on to do something other than athletics after college.”

For both Rogers and Greenberg, F&M has been the perfect fit, and at the helm of Diplomat wrestling are two men doing far more than just coaching. The pair have a vision, and have made it their business to prepare every F&M wrestler that walks through the door for the competitiveness of D-I wrestling perfectly balanced with a liberal arts education and an understanding of the working world that will lead them to successful professional careers and lives. 

High Expectations for F&M as Regular Season Comes to a Close

As the product of a smaller and less well-known college wrestling program, head coach Mike Rogers has found a home for himself here at F&M.

While many people consider F&M to be disadvantaged in the highly competitive E.I.W.A., Rogers doesn’t feel any sort of handicap, despite the fact that F&M has far lass funds, a significantly smaller student body, and an athletic scholarship allowance of exactly zero dollars.

When Rogers took up the reigns here at F&M in 2011, the team only had nine wrestlers, and was forced to forfeit in three or four weights on a regular basis.

“It was quite the undertaking,” Rogers said. “We only had nine guys, we were forfeit in three or four weights, but I saw a lot of potential.”

While the school does not allow for athletic scholarships, Rogers and assistant coach Matt Greenberg have worked on selling the school itself to recruits, and advertising the wrestling program for what it is—a family of hardworking wrestlers giving their all day in and day out towards achieving one communal goal.

“By not having scholarships, no one’s here for the wrong reasons, so I think that helps where everyone is here for the right reasons,” said Rogers. “They want to get a good education and compete at the DI level. It’s a little bit liberating if you think of it that way. We’re attracting the right kids, and it streamlines our recruiting so if academically or financially it’s not going to work out, you don’t waste each others time.”

Despite lacking the means and funding found at other E.I.W.A. programs, F&M has become increasingly competitive, and has clawed its way up from the bottom to the middle of the conference.

The team has improved immeasurably in the last two seasons, and with just one senior being lost to graduation, this youthful team has a bright and promising future ahead.

This season, the team has gotten more dual meet wins than ever before at this point in the season, and though the Diplomats have a long way to go before an E.I.W.A. title, the distance they’ve come in recent years is truly remarkable.

“We’re not forfeiting any weight classes and that’s an accomplishment in itself,” Rogers said. “We’re continuing to make progress, and as we get individual and team success, that gives us some notoriety. I think we can be competitive, and if we can do that, that’s a pretty significant move forward to be in the middle of a conference that has such quality programs from each school.”

One of the major changes Rogers and Greenberg have been responsible for is the improvement in the level of conditioning and the workouts. Rogers’ motto throughout his coaching career has been “we don’t lose, we just run out of time.” Throughout the season thus far, this has been exemplified time and again, as several of the losses F&M suffered were narrow defeats after a strong comeback that fell just short.

“When we’re falling short it’s more the mental part of it, and we’re still not quite believing in ourselves, and we’re holding ourselves back early, so that by the time they think they can win the match they’ve either dug a hole so deep or they’re very apprehensive to take that next step” said Rogers. Once we start doing that we’ll move forward a lot quicker. We’re losing a lot of really close, competitive matches because we start a little slow. What we’re changing is the expectation.”

Though the expectations for the team are high and perhaps in this season, unattainable, Rogers emphasized the coaching staffs’ refusal to compromise on these standards.

“We expect them to train as if they’re going to win,” Rogers said.  “Our standards are pretty high, and I’m not willing to lower our standards to meet a certain goal. Either we make it or we don’t.”

Though this outlook might seem particularly harsh and illiberal, the Diplomats coaching staff has never been disappointed by a complete team effort, even if the result is a loss.   

“We talk to our guys quite often about vision, and we want our fans to be entertained when we wrestle,” said Rogers. “Go out there, give it your best effort, and make it exciting for people. I don’t see any reasons why we can’t have All-Americans and why we can’t be winning tournaments at the national level. I don’t think we’re any different than any of those schools.”

As the team prepares for the upcoming E.I.W.A. Championship on Mar. 8, all eyes will be on nationally ranked sophomore Rick Durso, and the equally supportive cast led by upperclassmen Andrew Murano and Eric Norgard, and Colin Lahiff, with big performances expected from lightweights Robert Ruiz and Aaron Moldoff. 

Greenberg Hosts Weekly Radio Talk Show Analyzing Pop Culture, Sports

Though his job title indicates that the bulk of his work is confined to the wrestling mats, F&M assistant wrestling coach Matt Greenberg has gone above and beyond his obligations, and is truly embodying the liberal arts experience.

Earlier this month, Greenberg kicked off his first radio talk show on WFNM 89.1, titled “Matt's Bad Sports Show”. As a dilettante of pop culture and the world of athletics, Greenberg is eager to share his ruminations and observations on pop culture and sports with the local community, and plans on welcoming new guests to the show each week.

“It’s a fun show; I love being able to give my commentary on things that are going on in society,” Greenberg said. “I think a lot of people on campus want to have their voice heard, but might not have an outlet for it, and that’s what I’m hoping to give them—at least for an hour a week.”

Some of those guests include unheralded student-athletes like F&M wrestlers Andrew Murano ’14 and Colin Gironda ’16.

“They have a lot of talents,” said Greenberg.  “They’re not just wrestlers, they’re not just students; they’re unique people and they should be able to express what’s unique about them and what makes them different from all the people out there.”

While Greenberg never had the luxuries of a smaller liberal arts education, he has taken full advantage of the amenities available on campus, and is serving both Franklin & Marshall and the local community as far more than just the assistant wrestling coach.

Tune in for Greenberg’s show every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. via local radio on 89.1, or online at WFNM.org. 

Diplomats Nip Wildcats at Home 20-16

No longer will F&M wrestling be checked off as “an easy win” on the schedules of its opponents. No longer will the Diplomats settle for being able to count their wins on one hand.

For the first time in several years, F&M wrestling is off to a winning start. As Davidson prepared for the start of the match, many of the wrestlers were smiling, joking around with one another. A surprising number of Wildcat fans made the trip to Lancaster, but both they and their wrestlers left the building with their tails between their legs, bearing somber and defeated expressions.

In what Assistant Coach Matt Greenberg described as “a total team effort,” the Diplomats squeaked by Davidson 20-16, riding out an early five-bout win streak.

Sophomore Robert Ruiz took care of business at 133-pounds, capturing a major decision over Davdison’s Anthony Elias, putting F&M ahead 4-3. Nationally ranked Richard Durso dominated at the 141-pound spot, recording the only pin of the night, and supplementing an additional six points to F&M’s total.  Andrew Murano and Rob King picked up decision victories at 149 and 165-pounds, respectively, while senior Eric Norgard secured a crucial major decision victory over Nathaniel Powers.

The win snaps a four match losing streak in the series against the Wildcats but more importantly, marks the first time this season the team has wrestled top-to-bottom as a full squad.

“We were greedy and unselfish at the same time,” said Greenberg. “Guys earned bonus points where they were available and held them from bonus points when they [Davidson] were expecting them. We asked a lot of our entire team Friday. Guys did not know where or when they were going to wrestle, but they were still ready when called upon to perform. We had some injuries and even those guys stepped up big.”

 Under the tutelage of Coaches Rogers and Greenberg, F&M has never beat Davidson until now, and the Wildcats were certainly bewildered after seeing a 4-9 team transform itself into a 4-2 team in just two short years.

“We didn’t see them last year but I would have to say we were looking forward to wrestling them again and knew this year was as good a time as any for us to step up and show them things are different in Lancaster nowadays,” Greenberg said.

And show them they did. Coach Greenberg credits much of Friday’s win to Coach Mike Rogers’ strategizing and preparing to face the Wildcats.

“Coach Rogers is the best coach I have ever seen when it comes to match preparation,” Greenberg said. “We sat down and came up with different strategies depending on all the different scenarios match-by-match as to who would wrestle and what we needed from them. A lot of the credit off the mats goes to Rogers and his preparation.”

F&M will hit the mats again next weekend, as the team makes the short trip to Millersville University for the Mid Penn Duals, beginning Saturday Jan. 19, and concluding on Sunday.

Lahiff in Action

Colin Lahiff locked in combat with Gettysburg's Manny Markantone at 165-pounds. Lahiff pulled through with the sudden victory for F&M in the win on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

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.  

Diplomats Kick Off New Year with Inaugural F&M Open

With the New Year comes a new tradition for F&M wrestling—the F&M Open. On Saturday, Jan. 5, the Diplomats hosted the inaugural F&M Open, welcoming a total of 270 wrestlers from 25 schools.

F&M held its own in the highly competitive field, which featured numerous nationally ranked competitors, including wrestlers from several top 25 teams (Maryland, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers).

The day was highlighted by impressive performances from sophomores Robert Ruiz and Richard Durso, who wrestled their way to the finals of the 133 and 141-pound weight classes, respectively. Durso, who was dealt his third loss of the season on Saturday, has found his way into the individual national rankings, holding down the no. 22 spot in Division I with a 22-3 season record thus far. After making an appearance as an NCAA national qualifier last year, Durso is looking to achieve all-American status, and has certainly asserted himself as a national caliber competitor. On a team with just three upperclassmen, the pressure to perform and lead lies in the hands of every returning wrestler.

“The pressure of wrestling at a high level isn’t really much of a factor on performance,” Durso said. “You have to use your nerves to your advantage and not let them psych you out. It’s important to keep your mind focused on your goal, or as Coach Rogers calls it, ‘tunnel vision’.”

Though Durso remained focused during Saturday’s matches, he fell shy of yet another first-place tournament finish this season, after being edged by Hofstra’s Jamel Hudson 7-6. Still, he deemed the first-ever F&M Open a “huge success,” and understands the benefit of having a high profile meet not only for reputability, but also for recruiting purposes.

“I thought the F&M Open was a huge success and will help get our name out there, which is important for recruiting and further growing our program,” Durso said.

Assistant Coach Matt Greenberg was equally as satisfied with the turnout and results of the tournament, and is excitedly anticipating the continuation of this Open in years to come, making it a marked event for recruits to attend.

"The gym was filled with fans, so having a marquee event in F&M's wrestling portfolio is key to building the program and will help us when we're recruiting top wrestlers."

As the team approaches the halfway point of the season, both wrestlers and coaches alike are anticipating the apex of the season—the EIWA Championship.

Last year, the Diplomats managed to oust Sacred Heart and Bucknell, registering a 12^th place finish in the 14-team conference. With an improved squad and a hunger to climb the ranks, the team has high hopes for breaking into the top-10, and is confident that the only place for this team to go is up.

“We’ve been continuing to work hard since the completion of last season, and it shows with the success and improvement of every wrestler on the team,” Durso said. “With our great coaching staff and hard work ethic, everything will fall into place. As long as the team continues to improve like we have in the past couple years, then I believe that this program is headed in the right direction and has the potential to become a big threat in Division I wrestling.”

F&M has a long and difficult road ahead this season, but the sky is the limit for this young team. Saturday’s tournament proved this team’s capability and passion to compete, and this was exemplified by the results, which included five Diplomats who registered top eight finishes in their weight classes against some of the best teams and wrestlers in the nation.  

The Dips are looking to finish the last week of winter break with a bang as the team concludes with a pair of home matches against Gettysburg and Davidson, beginning Wednesday Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. 

More Than Just Teammates

Though today wasn't the first wrestling match I've ever attended, it was certainly the largest. For the first time in my life, I actually understood what was going on. Needless to say, I was impressed by the performances I witnessed. But I was more impressed with the wrestlers, and the familial relationships that every team seemed to possess. In the contemporary age of sports, so many athletes seem to have forgotten the meaning of the word "team," and are overcome with a all-consuming desire to win. It's quite clear that for F&M, such is not the case. Despite several coinciding matches, not one F&M wrestler competed without support from one of the coaches, and a handful of teammates and parents. Whether it was competing for first place, or eighth place in the consolation bracket, each and every member of the F&M team was reinforced by his counterparts, and that's something that to me, is a remarkable achievement. Despite its Division I status and competitiveness, this team's level-headedness exemplifies the perfect balance, and is a paragon for Division I athletics.

Here is a link to the article recap from today's tournament: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/800027_2-Diplomats-reach-final-in-F-M-Open.html

A more detailed article with additional quotations will be released shortly...Stay posted!

An Impressive Feat

As Franklin & Marshall College's ONLY Division I program, the wrestling team is deviates from the other varsity sports programs on campus.

But the expectation of the wrestlers themselves, academically speaking, is quite the same. 

The F&M wrestlers are not only committed to top-tier academics, but also to the highest level of collegiate wrestling. 

Furthermore, F&M begins every season at a disadvantage. I'm referring of course to the school's inability to award athletic scholarships. 

As a humble spectator and sports writer, it's frankly quite an amazing feat that F&M wins at all. The facilities, the budget, the recognition--it's all less than that of other schools, yet these boys are putting in just as much, if not a bit more hard work than those on other teams. 

It's tough enough to be a varsity athlete at F&M, but to do what any single wrestler on the Dips' squad does, it takes heart; it takes determination, pertinacity and a whole lot of patience. 

This past weekend, F&M went 1-2. It was a hard fought trio of matches, and if anyone was thinking of getting down on themselves, bear in mind that proportionally, F&M is the mightiest of any school we face, and that in due time, the results will ensue all the hard work you've all invested. 

Just for your amusement though...

Student Undergraduate Enrollment:

Franklin & Marshall College - 2,363

Sacred Heart University - 4,173

Brown University - 6,118

Boston University - 15,977

F&M held its own against these three larger, and more well-funded schools, and there is no denying the Dips are on the straight-and-narrow this year, progressing in huge leaps towards the team's goal of capturing the E.I.W.A. Championship. 

I think one thing is certain though. If F&M wrestling were to join the rest of the college's varsity teams in the Centennial Conference, a championship trophy would be sitting in the office of Coaches Rogers & Greenberg at the end of the year. 

Pretty impressive if you ask me. 

For Stevens, a Long Way Come, a Long Road Ahead

He never thought he would overcome this—he just wanted to give it all up; wrestling, school, lacrosse.

But he didn’t. For Scott Stevens, his greatest fear and most terrifying obstacle has also served as his most effective source of motivation.

During his sophomore year of high school, Stevens faced the biggest challenge of his life. Juggling academics and varsity athletics while living away from home was proving to be too much for the young wrestler to handle. The burden was beginning to consume him.

“Everything seemed like it was crashing down,” Stevens said. “I was homesick and I wanted to leave.”

After a series of visits from his parents, Stevens managed to get back on his feet. But he never would have imagined the place he would find himself in, just three years after his 10^th grade crisis.

Today, Stevens recollects the troubling events that nearly got the best of him, and is proudly (and successfully) balancing his academics in conjunction with Division I wrestling.   

The difficult experiences he endured as an underclassman at the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, have largely shaped who he is today.

Stevens possesses a unique ability to comfortably adjust to any situation, pushing forward and enabling a tunnel vision focused directly on his goal.

Now in college, Stevens is finding himself in a similar situation to what he experienced in 10^th grade, but has the skills and experience required to overcome this difficult transition.

Since his arrival at Franklin & Marshall, Stevens has made good use of this skill, and thanks his preparatory school experiences for giving him this practical tool.

His seasonal record thus far stands at a below-average 3-6, but Stevens is grateful for his opportunity to be competing at the Division I level, and is unfazed by the statistics.

“I know eventually I’ll get it, I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and will see the outcome,” he said. “I know that I can overcome the adversity, and I focus on what’s important instead of dwelling on the little things.”

As a high school junior, Stevens began to entertain the prospect of wrestling in college. Soon, he formulated his vision, and once he started, there was no turning back.

“During the junior season, everything from then on I worked towards was to wrestle in college,” Stevens said. “There were points in the season I thought to myself how can I wrestle in college if I’m losing to certain kids.”

Nevertheless, Stevens managed to find his way onto the team here at F&M, and has been enjoying and savoring every moment of it.

“I love the team,” Stevens said. “It’s a lot different from my teams in the past because everyone on the team wants to be there and wants to do well and keep pushing forward. It kind of makes it easier when they have the same mindset.”

For the F&M freshman, the sport he once wanted to bid farewell too has been his faithful companion and one of his greatest joys. Perhaps that’s why Stevens has held on to it so dearly, and discontinued his participation in other sports.  

“It’s definitely a lot different than any other sport, and that’s what I like about it” Stevens said. “You don’t have to be the fastest, you don’t have to be the strongest; it’s how hard you work, how self-reliant you are.”

With the motivation to work hard, and the coaches and teammates to guide him towards success, Stevens begins a new chapter of his wrestling career, this time with fervor and passion, and a dream of heading to the NCAA National Championship.    

Crowd Propels F&M to Victory in Season's First Dual Match

In its first dual match of the 2012-13 season, the F&M wrestling team appeased a raucous home crowd with a 20-16 victory over Virginia Military Institute (V.M.I.).

After losing to V.M.I. over the last three seasons, including a loss by a margin of just one point last year, F&M had its revenge on the Keydets, propelled by a strong showing from a troop of underclassmen.

In the first match of his collegiate career, freshman Aaron Moldoff pinned his opponent in the 125-pound weight class, giving the Diplomats the 6-0 lead. Fellow freshman Rob King also had an impressive showing, capturing an F&M victory in the 157-pound slot with a major decision over VMI’s Edward Gottwald.

Sophomore Robert Ruiz emerged victorious at 133, followed by a pivotal 10-2 major decision; compliments of Richard Durso. Junior Andrew Murano came through with a win for F&M at 149, giving the Diplomats a commanding 16-0 lead.  

F&M assistant coach Matt Greenberg was pleased with the team’s performance, and is expecting big things this year from all of his wrestlers.

Going into the match, Greenberg and head coach Mike Rogers were optimistic, until starting 184-pounder Paul Alessandrini was sidelined with an injury, leaving an apparent vacancy in the Diplomats’ starting line.  

“We came back and really wanted to stick it to them,” Greenberg said. “We knew it was going to come down to performing out there when we had to. For us right now, beating guys who had previously beaten us is a good thing—it shows that we’re improving, and that as coaches we’re doing the right things on the mat as far as getting guys ready to compete.”

Greenberg was particularly pleased with the performances of the freshman, specifically the two victors Aaron Moldoff and Rob King.

“We knew every point was going to be critical, and he [King] stepped it up big time and got a major decision for us, which in dual meets can be the difference between winning and losing it.”

As V.M.I. paid a visit to Lancaster, the Diplomats performed in front of what Greenberg declares the most attended match in four years.

In addition to working on improving the skills of the wrestlers, Greenberg has invested a great deal into promulgating the excitement that accompanies Franklin & Marshall’s only NCAA Division I athletics program.

“It was an amazing sight,” said Greeenberg. “I’ve never seen the gym that full in four years, and I think that really helped, and as coaches it helps us know that we’re doing a good job in putting something out there that people want to see.”

Murano was also grateful for the packed bleachers, and was thrilled for the opportunity to perform in front of family, students, teachers, and administrators. The junior attributes a great deal of credit to the fans, and believes that F&M’s potential is limitless.

 “Everyone showed that they could fight, and we really showed the crowd that F&M wrestling is no joke,” Murano said. “Never before have I seen such a strong showing, and it really gives us momentum as a team. I hope we can expect a large showing like that for every home dual meet.”

As Murano and the rest of the team look forward to what the rest of the season holds in store, one thing is unmistakable—F&M wrestling has come a long way from where it was a few years ago, and this positive trend the team has demonstrated comes as a result of improved coaching and recruiting methods.

“This was the first time as a team that we have beaten V.M.I. in my time here at F&M, which really gives me hard proof that we are making major strides as a program under the tutelage of Coach Rogers.”

Though early in the season, expectations are already running high for the team. Coach Greenberg has reverted to a reliable and simplistic approach, which he hopes will guide the team in a steady upward trend to its apex at the E.I.W.A Championships.

“We’re going to put the best 10 guys out on the mat,” Greenberg said. “One of the things we have this year that we haven’t had in past years is depth. They [the team] just need to do what they know how to do, and fix the mistakes we’ve made in the past. “That’s all we’re really looking for; to improve every time we step on the mat and not make mistakes we’ve made before. These are just tests along the way—the final exam is at E.I.W.A.’s.

F&M has a trio of road matches this weekend beginning with Brown University on Saturday Dec. 8, followed by Boston University and concluding on Sunday with Sacred Heart.  

Two-Time Florida State Champion Chuckie Kerkesner eyeing NCAA Nationals

On the street, Chuckie Kerkesner’s size is enough to turn heads and intimidate nearly anyone.

On the mat, he’s the smallest wrestler in his weight class—by a long shot.

While many wrestlers struggle to remain just below the threshold of their weight class, Kerkesner is aiming for the complete opposite effect. As one of just two F&M wrestlers in the 285-pound slot, Kerkesner’s leaner physique costs him a 60-pound disadvantage against his opponents.

Unfortunately for his opponents, Kerkesner’s heart, determination, and assiduity for all things wrestling makes up for the absent weight, posing a threat against anyone he faces on the mat.

“Wrestling is pretty much the only sport I’ve done,” Kerkesner said. “I pretty much focus only on wrestling.”

Judging from Kerkesner’s impressive wrestling resume, his tactics and methods have been beyond successful, earning him back-to-back state titles, a Cypress Lake high school record of 156 career wins, and a more than memorable undefeated (44-0) senior season.  

Kerkesner’s career began when he was in the 2^nd grade, shortly after his uncles introduced the sport to him. His affinity for wrestling was immediately acknowledged, and it became clear that the Florida native had both the physical and mental capacity to become a champion wrestler.

“It’s one of the toughest sports that there are, and not many people in the world can really succeed at it,” Kerkesner said.

As a 220-pound wrestler in a 285-pound weight class, Kerkesner certainly hasn’t been making things easier for the freshman.

“I’m like 60 pounds underweight right now,” Kerkesner said. “It’s kind of hard with my weight, so the guys [opponents] are able to throw me around easier. It does let me be a little quicker than the other guys, but still it’s kind of tough having to give up that much weight.”

Even with his disadvantage, Kerkesner has managed to post a 7-5 record at F&M thus far, and is showing potential for the rest of the season and years ahead.

“I think I’ve been doing pretty well in my matches,” Kerkesner said. “Right now, I’m only around 220, but I want to be around 240, 250 by the end of the season, and put on a little more muscle also.”

In high school, wrestling was innate to Kerkesner, as he captured second place in the state of Florida at the 189-pound class his sophomore year, followed by two state titles at 215 and 220-pounds his junior and senior seasons, respectively. As a freshman on the varsity team and a captain three out of his four years at Cypress Lake, Kerkesner grew accustomed to playing the role of team leader early on, and his main hindrance was always himself. At F&M, Kerkesner has enjoyed the luxury of having such supportive and motivating teammates and coaches.

 His favorite part of F&M wrestling: “just being able to spend time with the team and getting to know everyone, making new friends.”

The two-time state champ has been driven by the returning wrestlers on the team, who continue inspiring him to do better, while motivating him to challenge himself, and anyone he squares up against on the mat, including fellow team members  

Lacking motivation has never been a problem Kerkesner has had to worry about. Only a few weeks into the 2012-13 season, Kerkesner is already eyeing a spot for himself at the NCAA National Championships. Before his graduation, he aspires to earn all-America honors.

“For my entire career I’d probably like to become an all-American,” said Kerkesner. “I’d like to have a winning record—for this year, I’d probably say make it to nationals, maybe qualify for nationals.”

While the young wrestler faces a long road to qualifying for the National Championships, his indefatigable passion and zeal for the sport will propel him towards success, and perhaps this March, Kerkesner will find himself in Des Moines, Iowa, achieving his goals and competing at the most elite wrestling tournament in the NCAA. 

Townsend Overcomes Adversity, Eager to Give Back to Family, Team, & Community

During his sophomore year of high school, Sharron Townsend ’16 was on the verge of being cut from his school’s wrestling team. He lacked the passion, determination and zeal that is a necessary characteristic of every successful athlete.

Townsend’s apathy towards wrestling would prove transient, and just one year later he completed a memorable 35-5 season. He was named team captain his junior year, and it was then that he resolved to get 100 wins, and become the wrestler he was destined to be.

But becoming a champion caliber wrestler wasn’t all that Townsend set out to accomplish. Growing up in adverse conditions, Townsend now looks back proudly upon his accomplishments, and has proven his ability to overcome those adversities by being the first member of his family to attend college. The Camden, NJ native grew up fatherless, and his mother had the responsibility of Sharron’s five siblings. When the time came to attend high school, Townsend left his hometown of Camden, and enrolled as a boarding student at Milton Hershey.

At Milton Hershey, he excelled athletically, as a three-sport athlete all four years of high school, and exemplified the highest degree of leadership, spending his spare time helping others in any way he could.

Townsend earned a number of accolades, and his academic and athletic successes were nationally recognized. His senior year, Townsend was honored with one of the most selective athletic awards in Pennsylvania, the John Travers Award. In addition, Townsend was the Class Vice President for the National Honor Society, and was the winner of Steve Harvey's Dreamers Academy National Contest. To supplement his success, Townsend capped off his high school career as one of Milton Hershey’s all-time best wrestlers, recording 111 career wins—second most in school history.

Though the prospect of wrestling at the NCAA Division I level at a top tier academic institution was appealing, it was the connection that Townsend found between himself and F&M’s wrestling coaches that led him to Lancaster. During the recruiting process, F&M head coach Mike Rogers remained in constant contact with Townsend, checking up on him, attending matches and practices, and just being a friend.

“The beliefs that the coaches had that I also believed in inspired me to come here,” Townsend said. “It’s easy to go D. II or D. III, but knowing that I’m doing it at this level, I wanted to test myself and see where I land within the best of the best. I came to college, set a lot of goals for wrestling, and unfortunately right now I’m injured, but with the coaching staff and other wrestlers, I know I can, and I’m just hoping for the best.”

As a student, Townsend volunteered at the local homeless shelter in Harrisburg, heading groups that assisted with cooking and cleaning. During the summers, he shared his love of wrestling with elementary school students, whom he believes were able to teach him as much as he taught them.  

“I knew the little kids were looking up to me and it was something that kept me motivated,” Townsend said. “It taught me self-discipline, hard work, and how to go after whatever you want.”

Townsend also spent his Sunday mornings working with the junior chapel, where he taught elementary age youth how to connect with God in creative ways such as various arts.

Ever since his childhood, Townsend learned never to take anything for granted, and to help those in need in any way he knew how. Growing up, Townsend relied on the support his mother provided him, and things were never easy as one of six kids in his family and no father. Wrestling provided a fun and competitive outlet, but Townsend always had his sights set on something bigger. He wanted to give back. Townsend dreamed of attending university in order to obtain an education so that one day, he’d be able to thank his mother for all she’d done for him. Today, Townsend is doing just that, and the wrestling program is the buttress that will be there for the freshman every step of the way.

“I knew Franklin & Marshall was a great school academically, and there aren’t too many schools D III size with a D I program,” Townsend said. “I know that when I graduate from here [F&M], I’m going to set myself up for great things and one day be able to give back to my mom like she gave to me.”

Though his wrestling goals were put on hold for this season following a meniscus tear in the team’s first match of the season, Townsend has remained a diligent student, altruistic individual, and true team player, certain that upon his return, he will pick up right where he left off.

Coaching in a Quote...

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but to reveal to him his own."
   
~Benjamin Disraeli

The Annual Win Pool is BAAACK!!!

It's time for the WIN POOL...Last year we raised close to $10,000 for our wrestlers and program through the win pool. Please feel free to email me your pledges at mattg197@gmail.com, or post them on here with a way to contact you...happy win pooling! GO Dips!

The Win Pool:

Last year, I introduced the “Win Pool” as a new, competitive and fun way to get our alums, families, fans and community more involved in F&M Wrestling. We are very pleased with how successful the turnout was and how much support we received. In one year we raised close to $10,000. We are going to be promoting the Win Pool again this year in hopes to continue to expand our fan base. This promotion is also a great way to give our wrestlers extra motivation to pull out those close matches and get the win. Anyone who is interested in getting involved will be asked to make a pledge, a dollar amount, per individual win that the team will earn throughout the dual meet season and if you are feeling confident, into the post season! A successful Win Pool will help to raise money for the program so that we can keep up with all of the growth we have experienced over the past year. Happy pledging and thank you in advance for your support!

Nearing 500!!!

Our Facebook page is nearing 500 members!!!  Please join here so you can get updates, articles, videos and much more throughout the season.

Coach G's Blue & White Intra Squad Match Recap

Blue & White Results

133lbs:

At the 133lbs match, returning sophomore starter Robert Ruiz of CT took on freshman Scott Stevens of PA. Ruiz built a commanding 6-3 lead off of an assortment of takedowns in the first period with Stevens scoring escapes.  The second period began on the mat for Ruiz who quickly reversed Stevens and built up some more riding time.  Stevens was finally able to get an escape only to give up one more take down to end the period down 10-5.  In the third period Stevens got a quick escape and fought Ruiz hard on their feet but did surrender a final takedown to end the match 12-7 in favor of Ruiz.

141lbs:

Returning NCAA qualifier Rick Durso picked up where he left off defeating freshman Brandon Giovanetti 15-4 in what was a solid showing for the true freshman from Ridgewood, NJ.  Durso paired multiple takedowns with solid defense and a tough top game, which he used to turn Giovanetti multiple times to earn the major decision.

157lbs:

In one of the closest matches of the day, lone senior and returning 4yr starter Eric Norgard took on newcomer and local standout Rob King of Garden Spot, PA.  After a scoreless first period, Norgard rode King out the entire 2^nd.  After an early escape in the third period the two deadlocked on their feet until Norgard scored a last second takedown, showing that experience is always worth something in the sport of wrestling.

165lbs:

In another battle of old school vs. new school Colin Lahiff a junior from Massachusetts tool on Colin Gironda a freshman from Long Island, NY.  The match was a battle of hand fighting and half shots through the first period ending in a 0-0 tie.  Lahiff chose bottom to start the 2^nd and earned an escape to take the lead 1-0.  With under a minute to go in the 2^nd Gironda got in on a nice single leg shot, finishing it for 2 on the edge of the mat.  A restart would help Gironda earn a riding time advantage but Lahiff was able to manage a last second escape at the end of the period, which would later prove costly for Gironda.  In the 3^rd Gironda chose bottom and Lahiff was able to burn off any riding time advantage the rookie had earned in the second period.  With less than a minute to go and the match tied at 2-2, Lahiff cut the freshman loose giving GIronda a 3-2 lead and putting himself in a make or break situation.  If he did not score a takedown he would have given the match to Gironda on the free escape but if his plan worked out he would have made the right decision to bring things back onto their feet.  The two locked up in the middle of the mat as the clock ticked down from :20s.  :19, :18, :17, BOOM!!! Lahiff dropped into a low leg single and Gironda quickly scrambled to tie up the veteran grappler.  :10, :09, :08, Lahiff secured the other leg of Gironda and the referee signaled for the takedown. “TWOOOOO!!!!” :04, :03, :02, :01 match over! Lahiff wins 4-3 with a last second takedown in what will undoubtedly be the start of a long rivalry between these two find grapplers.

174lbs:

At 174lbs sophomore, Adam Schroeder of NJ wrestled Sophomore Brad Bailey of PA in the final round of the 174lbs weight class.  Earlier in the day Bailey had defeated freshman, Ekow Eshun of NYC, 10-0.  The first period started with Schroeder securing a quick 2pt takedown and 2pt near fall on Bailey.  A game Bailey would come back with his own reversal to end the first period on top but down 4-2 in the scoring.  In the 2^nd, Bailey chose bottom and Schroeder quickly locked up a ¼ nelson and secured the only fall of the day.

184/197lbs:

184lbs Sophomore Paul Alessandrini wrestled 197lbs sophomore Isaiah Cromwell in an exhibition match between these two weights.  The match started out with a lot of hand fighting, as both wrestlers were looking for upper body ties.  Cromwell was able to transition an underhook to a double leg takedown for two points before the two wrestlers rolled out of bounds.  On the restart, Alessandrini got a quick escape, but before he could settle into a rhythm Cromwell hit another shot to a takedown to end the period.  Both wrestlers exchanged ride outs in the 2^nd and 3^rd periods, resulting in Cromwell winning the match 4-1.

285lbs:

In a match of the big boys, returning 285lbs starter Alex Henry, a sophomore, took on a much smaller 230lbs freshman and 2x FL state champ Chuckie Kerkesner.  The match was the most exciting of the day with the larger and more experienced Henry coming out on fire with a quick double leg takedown.  Kerkesner was able to make it back to his feet for the escape and after some good hand fighting from the freshman, Henry was warned for stalling to end the first period.  In the 2^nd, Kerkesner earned another escape only to give up another double leg takedown to the massive Henry.  After a quick escape followed by some pummeling Henry secured his third and final takedown of the match.  With more than a minute left on the clock, Kerkesner earned his escape and quickly dropped into a sweep single on the hard charging Henry.  Kerkesner secured the takedown near the out of bounds and started to build up riding time as the period came to a close. Henry was able to earn an escape before the buzzer and both men entered the 3^rd period with Henry up 7-5.  In the third period Henry chose down and quickly got to his feet for the 1pt escape and the 8-5 lead.  As the 3^rd period wound down, Kerkesner saw his opening and dropped into another one of his slick sweep shots, turning the corner before Henry could counter.  Kerkesner secured his two points for the takedown and was able to hold onto the top position and ride out Henry for the remainder of the period earning the riding time point necessary to send the match into overtime tied 8-8.    In the sudden victory over time period the young wrestler from Florida showed a lot of fight against the bigger and more experienced Henry, hand fighting and wearing Henry down, forcing him into a bad shot to which Kerkesner countered for the takedown and win 10-8.  We look for BIG things to come out of these two fine wrestlers and they will both contribute to the success of the team this season!