Cap, Gown, Eye Black

SALEM, Va. - Franklin & Marshall's Class of 2009 is complete. The final eight seniors accepted their diplomas from President John Fry about an hour after winning their second NCAA Division III Championship in three years.  Soaked in sweat, painted in eye black, and one with a cut under her nose, the Diplomats collected their sheepskins in front of friends and family.

"When we did this last year, I said ‘We'll be back here with a different result,'" Fry said to a standing ovation.

After watching their classmates graduate via webcast over breakfast on Saturday, Diplomats' seniors Lindsay Evans-Leary, Devi Hensch, Chelsea Meerbach, Sarah Meisenberg, Sarah Nyman, Jen Pritchard, Alison Solomon, and Shannon Summers were the stars of the show Sunday evening. President Fry and Kent Trachte, Dean of the College, travelled to Salem to watch F&M defeat Salisbury 11-10 in overtime of the NCAA Championship, and honor one of the most accomplished groups of senior athletes in F&M's storied tradition.

"I think when you have your 50^th anniversary you'll be talking about this game. It was a great game," Fry told the seniors. "I think it was the greatest Division III championship game in history."

The Diplomats' seniors piled up an overall record of 76-8 and a record of 37-1 in games against Centennial Conference opponents. The group has posted a record of 42-1 on their home field and owns just about all of the major season and career statistical records tracked.