COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College wrestling team fell 33-13 to Division I opponent Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday evening from Helfferich Hall.

 
With the loss, the Bears fall to 1-2 on the season in dual meets meanwhile the Diplomats improved to 2-2 overall. Dante Monaco, Shawn Marchesano, and Jake Ahmad each secured victories for Ursinus in the meet.

 
"Our guys wrestled well tonight", Associate Head Coach Anthony Terlizzi said. "We are obviously never satisfied with a loss, but our effort and energy were excellent. When you take three of eight matches off a D1 opponent you have be happy as a coach. These guys work their butts off and it's showing, I am super proud of this team and the way they show up every singe day. It makes our job as coaches must easier."

 
The Diplomats grabbed the momentum early in the dual meet as Franklin & Marshall's Mason Leiphart secured a 21-3 technical fall over Ursinus' Terry Adams. Leiphart collected the tech fall behind some early takedowns and two four-point tilts in route to the victory. F&M's Aidan O'Shea followed suit recording an 11-0 major decision over first-year Michael Adams to push the Diplomats lead to 9-0.

 
At 141lbs, senior Romeo Rodriguez dropped a close 4-0 decision to F&M's Pat Phillips. Rodriguez fell behind early after a takedown as Phillips later extended his lead to three with an escape in the second period. In the third period, Rodriguez nearly scored on a shot attempt, but Phillips collected the decision giving Franklin & Marshall a 12-0 lead.

 
At 149lbs Monaco ignited the Helfferich Hall crowd early in the first period as he connected on a six-point move, throwing his opponent to his back. As Franklin & Marshall's Avery Clarke attempted a takedown Monaco swiftly caught him and his used his momentum for the takedown and four near fall points. After an escape late in the period, Monaco reversed Clark in the early stages of the second to increase his lead to six. The junior captured an 8-3 decision to cut the Bears match deficit to nine.

 
One of the two Bears' forfeits came at 157lbs as Nick Alvarez collected the victory for the Diplomats. Marchesano answered for the Bears at 165lbs delivering a 12-3 major decision over F&M's RJ Moore. After a takedown from Moore with under a minute remaining in the first period, Marchesano delivered a reversal near the edge of mat to make the score 2-2 at the end of the period. The senior choose bottom and quickly escaped within ten seconds and held a 3-2 advantage. Later in the period after Moore was denied on a shot attempt, Marchesano used an "ankle pick" for a takedown and a 5-2 lead heading into the final stanza. Moore choose neutral to open the period and in the early moments he attempted a single leg takedown, Marchesano countered and received a takedown and later used a tilt for four near fall point in route to the major decision.

 
The Diplomats answered with back-to-back victories at 174 and 184lbs as Noah Cox earned a 9-2 decision over junior Jackson Brandt (174) and James Conway collected a fall over Connor Fritsch (184). Franklin and Marshall's John Crawford recorded a forfeit at 197lbs giving the Diplomats a 33-6 lead heading into the final bout at 285lbs. Senior Jake Ahmad collected the opening takedown with a snap down and spun behind F&M's Tyler O'Boyle for an early 2-0 lead. Ahmad collected the fall at the 1:27 mark of the opening period as he performed a half turning O'Boyle to his back.
 
 
The Bears will return to action on Sunday, December 11th as they host Elmira College for a dual meet starting at 1pm.