Feb. 15, 2008

LANCASTER, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall won four of the seven bouts contested Friday evening to hand Route 30 rival Gettysburg a 32-16 loss at the Mayser Center. Back-to-back pins by Justin Herbert and Dan Canfield at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively, put the Diplomats (6-8) out of the Bullets' reach (2-13). The 12-point spurt secured F&M its 57th win in the 65 meetings with Gettysburg.

F&M led 17-10 entering the 174-pound bout. Herbert (23-2) immediately jumped on D.J. Neri (3-15) and worked out to a 15-3 lead late in the first period. It appeared he was going to pick up his third technical fall of the season with the referee counting back points as he stuck Neri with eight seconds left in the first. The pin was Herbert's 14th of the season and 12th in the first period. It also gave the hosts a 23-10 lead.

Canfield (5-12) followed suit, picking up his first collegiate pin in the next bout. He decked Drew Wolenter (1-23) at 3:45. Canfield's pin sealed the win for F&M.

The Diplomats surrendered six points at 197 pounds, one of three forfeits on the evening. Gettysburg gave up points at 125 and 157 pounds.

While Canfield got his first pin of the season, transfer Chris Bair (1-1) got his first win in a Diplomat singlet. Bair recorded an 18-1 tech fall at 133-pounds, giving F&M an early 11-0 lead.

The Bullets' responded by taking three of the next four weight classes, including the night's most intriguing bout at 149 pounds. The Bullets' Matt Shank (29-6) defeated Al Gianforti (10-10) 3-2 with a late third period takedown. Each wrestler had an escape point on the board following the first period, but Shank went ahead inside of a minute. Gianforti got free with nearly 30 seconds on the clock, but was unable to solve Shank. Gettysburg's Patrick Doherty (20-9) ran his winning streak to 12 bouts at 165 pounds, 7-2 win over Andrew Smith (6-11).

Nico Somers (11-11) won his third straight bout at heavyweight to close out the evening. His 3-1 decision of Bobby Christopher (23-17) came on the strength of a first period takedown with nine seconds showing on the clock, and a third period escape.

Franklin & Marshall returns to action next Friday night, wrapping up the regular season with cross-town rival, Millersville.

Franklin & Marshall 32, Gettysburg 16
125: Jake Bucha (F) by forfeit
133: Chris Bair (F) tech. fall Jack Bostrom (G), 18-1 (6:51)
141: Ray Cottiers (G) by maj. dec. Akio Aida (F), 11-2
149: Matt Shank (G) dec. Al Gianforti (F), 3-2
157: Anthony Bongarzone (F) by forfeit
165: Patrick Doherty (G) dec. Andrew Smith (F), 7-2
174: Justin Herbert (F) pinned D.J. Neri (G), 2:52
184: Dan Canfield (F) pinned Drew Wolenter (G), 3:45
197: Ben Cutrell (G) by forfeit
285: Nico Somers (F) dec. Bobby Christopher (G), 3-1