Diplomats Pin Princeton & South Dakota State to Finish Third at Virginia Duals

by Sports Information
1/14/06

HAMPTON, VA – Justin Herbert (Fr., New Milford, PA/Blue Ridge) went 2-0 at 165 lbs. to lead the Franklin & Marshall College wrestling team over Princeton University and South Dakota State University to finish third at the 2006 Virginia Duals.

In the consolation final, F&M downed South Dakota 23-18 to place third. The Diplomats jumped out to an early lead in the match as Doug Ritchey (Fr., Curryville, PA/Central) and Trent Dixon (Sr., Baltimore, MD/Eastern Technical) received forfeits at 125 and 133 lbs., respectively. The lead grew to 15-0 as Chris Kelly (Fr., Pittstown, NJ/Delaware Valley) earned a 7-4 decision over Derek Pirner at 141 lbs. before Nick Herboldt took a 10-7 decision at 149 lbs. and Andy Everson won by pin fall at 157 lbs. to trim the lead to 15-9. Herbert downed Brad Gregory 20-4 for a technical fall at 165 lbs. to push the margin to 20-9 before Travis Gottschalk and RP Norley (Sr., Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) earned decisions at 174 and 184 lbs., respectively.

Trailing 23-12, the Jackrabitts were unable to overcome the Diplomats’ lead as South Dakota managed decisions at 197 lbs. and heavyweight, but came up six points shy of a comeback victory.

The match marked the first meeting between F&M and South Dakota State in wrestling as the Diplomats improved to 605-471-21 in the program’s history.

Franklin & Marshall advanced to the consolation final by downing Princeton University 19-17 in the semifinals.

Ritchey, Andrew Smith (So., Annapolis, MD/Annapolis), Herbert, Norley and Shawn Coughlin (Sr., Berkley Heights, NJ/Governor Livingston) took decisions at 125, 157, 165, 184 and heavyweight, while Al Gianforti (Fr., Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy) recorded a 13-4 major decision at 149 to account for Franklin & Marshall’s points in the match.

The victory improves F&M to 17-25-1 all-time against the Tigers as Franklin & Marshall previously defeated Princeton 20-14 on December 7 in Lancaster.

Franklin & Marshall (6-3) will continue the season on January 24 at Elizabethtown College with Gettysburg College. Match time is set for 7:00 p.m.

Franklin & Marshall 19, Princeton 17
125 - Doug Ritchey (F&M) DEC Robert Benitez (P), 9-3
133 - Dan Scotton (P) FALL Trent Dixon (F&M), 6:30
141 - Eric Marcotulli (P) DEC Chris Kelly (F&M), 4-1
149 - Al Gianforti (F&M) MAJOR Andrew Sichel (P), 13-4
157 - Andrew Smith (F&M) DEC Jesse Palermo (P), 8-3
165 - Justin Herbert (F&M) DEC Marty Everin (P), 10-6
174 - Matt DeNichilo (P) DEC James Schulz (F&M), 7-1
184 - RP Norley (F&M) DEC Logan Lowe (P), 8-1
197 - Jake Butler (P) TECH FALL Nico Somers (F&M), 17-1 (7:00)
HWT - Shawn Coughlin (F&M) DEC Ian Roncoroni (P), 3-2

Franklin & Marshall 23, South Dakota State 18
125 - Doug Ritchey (F&M) FORFEIT
133 - Trent Dixon (F&M) FORFEIT
141 - Chris Kelly (F&M) DEC Derek Pirner (SD), 4-1
149 - Nick Herboldt (SD) DEC Al Gianforti (F&M), 10-7
157 - Andy Everson (SD) FALL Andrew Smith (F&M), 1:02
165 - Justin Herbert (F&M) TECH FALL Brad Gregory (SD), 20-4 (6:50)
174 - Travis Gottschalk (SD) DEC James Schulz (F&M), 7-3
184 - RP Norley (F&M) DEC Levi Krehmeyer (SD), 5-1
197 - Cody Nehl (SD) DEC Nico Somers (F&M), 3-1
HWT - Jason Stirpling (SD) DEC Shawn Coughlin (F&M), 3-2