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EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University won seven bouts on the mat, including five by bonus points, to post a 37-6 win over American International in the Warriors' dual opener on Friday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

ESU, which had seven first-year starters in the lineup, got pins from a pair of newcomers in freshman Devin Holmes (133) and redshirt sophomore Luke DeLuise (184). Redshirt junior Brendan McKeown, ranked No. 6 in the DII NWCA poll, had a technical fall at 174 and redshirt freshman Colin Martucci (165) and freshman Tyson Searer (197) both won by major decision.

ESU led 12-0 through the first two bouts as sophomore Nick Kaiser won by forfeit at 125, followed by Holmes' first-period pin of Cody Cardinale at 133. AIC won the next two bouts – Andrew Lischke had a 3-2 decision over sophomore Joseph Hoy and Chris Hoffman, ranked fourth in the region, had an 11-4 decision over freshman Nate Silverthorn – but the Warriors won the final six bouts to finish the night.

Redshirt junior Braden Turner, ranked No. 4 and a returning All-American at 157 pounds, won a 9-4 decision over Brandon Walsh. Martucci followed with a 12-2 major decision of Zach VanEss at 165, and McKeown, another returning national qualifier, had a 19-4 technical fall over Michael Schultz at 174.

DeLuise, a transfer from Division I Bloomsburg, pinned Sheldon Rhoden in 3:28 in his first dual action in Division II at 184. Searer posted a 9-0 major of Iarik Loschinin at 197, and redshirt senior Joe Blaes ended the night with a 3-2 (OT) decision over Andrew Paredes.

ESU is back on the mat on Tuesday at Pitt-Johnstown, ranked No. 11 in the NWCA Division II poll and second in Super Region 1. The Warriors are ranked No. 20 nationally and ninth in the Basford regional poll.


ESU 37, AIC 6
125 - Nick Kaiser (ESU), wins by forfeit; ESU leads 6-0
133 - Devin Holmes (ESU) pinned Cody Cardinale, 2:15; ESU leads 12-0
141 - Andrew Lischke (AIC) dec. Joseph Hoy, 3-2; ESU leads 12-3
149 - Chris Hoffman (AIC) dec. Nate Silverthorn, 11-4; ESU leads 12-6
157 - #4 Braden Turner (ESU) dec. Brandon Walsh, 9-4; ESU leads 15-6
165 - Colin Martucci (ESU) maj. dec. Zach VanEss, 12-2; ESU leads 19-6
174 - #6 Brendan McKeown (ESU) tech. fall Michael Schultz, 19-4; ESU leads 24-6
184 - Luke DeLuise (ESU) pinned Sheldon Rhoden, 3:28; ESU leads 30-6
197 - Tyson Searer (ESU) maj. dec. Iarik Loshchinin, 9-0; ESU leads 34-6
285 - Joe Blaes (ESU) dec. Andrew Paredes, 3-2 (OT); ESU wins 37-6

Super Region 1 rankings:
149 - Hoffman (AIC) #4
157 - Turner (ESU) #2
174 - McKeown (ESU) #2
184 - DeLuise (ESU) #7