Rupp Cup Explained

Franklin & Marshall College Millersville University
Affiliation Private
(liberal arts)		Public
(liberal arts)
Location Lancaster, PAMillersville, PA
Undergraduate students 2,324 7,424
School colors Blue and white Black and gold
Nickname Diplomats Marauders
Arena Mayser Gymnasium [1] Pucillo Gymnasium [2]
Head coach Mike Rogers Kerry Regner
Championship NCAA Division INCAA Division II
Conference EIWAPSAC

The Rupp Cup is a traveling trophy that is held by the winner of the annual collegiate wrestling dual meet between Franklin & Marshall College and Millersville University. The two schools, located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, are less than five miles from each other.

Though the two programs had a long history of competing against one another, the rivalry wasn't formally christened until the 2008 season with the formation of the Rupp Cup by both schools.

The rivalry is unique in that Franklin & Marshall College is a Division-III (non-scholarship) school that elects to showcase their wrestling program in Division I and Millersville is a Division-II school. As a result, Millersville competes in a lower division than Franklin & Marshall but Millersville is permitted to offer scholarships while Franklin & Marshall, as a Division-III school, is barred from offering scholarships to their wrestlers. (At the time of the formation of the Rupp Cup, both schools were 'showcasing' their wrestling programs in Division 1.)

Rivalry name

The trophy is named after Dr. Theodore H. Rupp, a 1934 graduate of Franklin and Marshall College where he was a member of the wrestling team.

Rupp founded the wrestling program at Millersville University where he led the program for twelve seasons. He also had the unique distinction of simultaneously coaching the wrestling programs at both schools during the 1948–49 season where he finished with a combined season record of 20–2. It is believed to be the only instance of a collegiate wrestling coach leading two programs in the same season.[3] He concluded his collegiate coaching career with a 76–20–2 record.

In addition to his bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall, Rupp was a Fulbright scholar with a master's degree from the Pennsylvania State University and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He went on to a long career as a faculty member at Millersville University where he taught French and served as chairmen of the language department, retiring in 1982.

In providing thanks for his many years of service in French language and culture, he was knighted and became "Chevalier dans L'Ordre des Palmes Academiques", the highest award given by the French government to a private citizen of a foreign nation.

Rupp is a member of the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame.

On February 10, 2010, Rupp died at the age of 94.[4]

Cup history

RUPP CUP HISTORY
Date Score Location Series Winning coach
align=center February 2, 2008 Millersville 31Franklin & Marshall 16Mayser Gymnasium
Lancaster, PA 		1-0 Todd Roberts (1)
align=center Feb 20, 2009 Millersville 23Franklin & Marshall 18Pucillo Gym
Millersville, PA 		2-0 Todd Roberts (2)
align=center Feb 19. 2010 Millersville 29Franklin & Marshall 16Mayser Gymnasium
Lancaster, PA 		3-0 Todd Roberts (3)
align=center Feb. 18, 2011 Franklin & Marshall22Millersville 13Pucillo Gym
Millersville, PA 		3-1 Mike Rogers (1) [5]
align=center Feb 17, 2012 Franklin & Marshall29Millersville 13Mayser Gymnasium
Lancaster, PA 		3-2Mike Rogers (2)[6]
align=center Feb 15, 2013 Franklin & Marshall 25Millersville 12Pucillo Gym
Millersville, PA 		3-3Mike Rogers (3) [7]
align=center Feb 21, 2014 Franklin & Marshall41Millersville 3Mayser Gymnasium
Lancaster, PA 		4-3Mike Rogers (4) [8]
align=center Feb 19, 2015 Franklin & Marshall24Millersville 12Pucillo Gym
Millersville, PA 		5-3Mike Rogers (5) [9]
align=center Feb 18, 2016 Franklin & Marshall 25Millersville 13Mayser Gymnasium
Lancaster, PA 		6-3Mike Rogers (6) [10]
Note: The 2011–12 season was Millersville's last season as a Division-I wrestling program. Prior to the reclassification, wrestling was the only Division-I sport at the school. Currently, all varsity sports at Millersville compete as Division-II programs.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mayser Gymnasium - Franklin & Marshall. October 3, 2016.
  2. Web site: Millersville Athletics - Facilities. October 3, 2016.
  3. Web site: F&M Academy Reunion Honors Rupp - Franklin & Marshall. October 3, 2016.
  4. Web site: Dr. Theodore H. Rupp. October 3, 2016.
  5. Web site: Diplomats Capture Rupp Cup - The Open Mat. October 3, 2016.
  6. Web site: Franklin & Marshall claims Rupp Cup with victory. October 3, 2016.
  7. Web site: Franklin & Marshall retains Rupp Cup. October 3, 2016.
  8. Web site: F&M Downs Marauders to Hang on to Rupp Cup. October 3, 2016.
  9. Web site: 2014-2015 Wrestling Schedule. October 3, 2016.
  10. Web site: 2016-2017 Wrestling Schedule. October 3, 2016.

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