Complete Results

Millersville, Pa. - Entering the Friday's 197-pound match, the Millersville wrestling team needed a victory to top local rival Franklin & Marshall retain the Rupp Cup. Sophomore Raymond Bennett delivered, scoring a pinfall and lifting the Marauders to a 23-18 dual win in front of a vocal crowd in Pucillo Gymnasium.

The win not only kept the Rupp Cup in Millersville's possession for a fifth-straight year, it also clinched Millersville's first winning record since 2004-05 at 9-8. F&M dropped to 5-12 with the loss.

The score stood at 17-12 in Millersville's favor entering the 197-pound bout between Bennett and Colin Ely. But with Millersville surrendering a forfeit and six points at heavyweight, Millersville's hopes hinged on Bennett.

Ely started quickly, scoring three takedowns and a nearfall to build his lead to 9-2. But in a scramble, Bennett picked up two points on a reversal and then three back points to cut the deficit to 9-7 just before the first period buzzer.

Bennett chose bottom position to start the second period and quick reversal and three-point nearfall put Bennett in the lead 12-9. The high-paced action continued in the third with Bennett hitting a takedown and finishing with the match-clinching pin at the 5:29 mark.

As expected from a rivalry, several the matches came down to the wire.

Millersville's Desmond Moore accepted a forfeit at 125 to put Millersville up 6-0. But F&M's 133-pound Steve Sabreen struck back. Millersville's Sean Reed led 1-0 late in the third period and had riding time in his favor, but an illegal hold tied the match and Sabreen scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to earn a 3-2 decision.

F&M used a 7-2 decision by Frank Higgins at 141 to tie the match at 6-6.

At 149, Mike Greck and Al Gianforti battled through two tiebreakers before Greck came out with a 3-2 decision. In the first period of the second tiebreaker, Greck earned an escape to keep the match tied at 2-2. Greck then rode out Gianforti for 30 seconds in the second period for the win.

#J.J. Lester# earned a dominant 16-1 tech fall at 157 for the Marauders, and Jeremy Brooks notched his 28th win of the season with a convincing 11-4 decision at 165. F&M picked up three points with a 14-9 decision at 184 just before Bennett closed the door on the Diplomats.

In attendance Friday evening was the Rupp Cup trophy's namesake, Dr. Theodore Rupp. Rupp graduated from Franklin & Marshall in 1935 after serving as the school's coach for several years and a tour of duty in World War II, came to Millersville and started the wrestling program in 1946. He compiled a 71-18-2 record over 11 seasons and helped the team to a pair of PSAC Championships.

Also, Millersville honored its four seniors prior to the match. John Andel, Josh Evans, John Heleniak and Brent Huffman were all four-year members of the squad.

Millersville returns to action at the NCAA East Region Championships in Boiling Springs, N.C., on March
7.