DOYLESTOWN – Redshirt senior Thad Frick and redshirt sophomore Braden Turner both won their 20th matches of the season and Frick and redshirt sophomore Brendan McKeown both had successful returns from injury, but Delaware Valley escaped with a 22-21 dual win over East Stroudsburg University on Friday night.

The Aggies got all 22 points from their four seniors with three pins and a major decision to hold on against the Warriors, who won the other six bouts, two by bonus points.

Delaware Valley led throughout, with ESU closing within a single point after the bouts at 174 and 285 pounds. The Warriors would have won on criteria by winning the majority of the matches if they were able to tie the score.

Redshirt senior Adam Hluschak gave ESU its first victory of the night with a 17-1 technical fall at 141 pounds, improving to 26-6 on the season with nine straight wins and 13 in his last 14 matches. Hluschak recorded his third technical fall of the season and the 11th among his 76 career victories.

Delaware Valley answered back with a pin from Zak Andrews, ranked No. 2 in Division III at 149 pounds. ESU redshirt senior Andrew Ritchie was tied with Andrews, 2-2, through the first period before Andrews recorded the fall in 3:25 to put the Aggies ahead, 16-5.

ESU won five of the final six bouts, beginning with a 4-2 decision by Turner at 157. The transfer from Rutgers improved to 20-11 in his first season at ESU.

Frick notched his 20th win moments later with a 7-6 decision at 165. A finalist at the PSAC Championships in December, Frick goes to 20-6 on the year for his second 20-win season as a Warrior. He was 25-13 two years ago before missing much of last season due to injury. Frick was on the mat for the first time since a 3-2 decision over Shippensburg's Luke Etters (174) two weeks ago and wrestled just his sixth match since December.

McKeown made his first appearance since going 1-1 with a medical forfeit at the PSAC Championships on December 10 and recorded a 13-0 major decision at 174. McKeown wrestled just his 11th match of the season, improving to 6-5, after going 18-17 a year ago.

Delaware Valley extended its slim 16-15 lead with a pin from Kyle Tufts at 184, putting the Aggies in front 22-15 going into the final two bouts.

At 197, ESU redshirt senior Ed Ebewo, ranked No. 7 in Division II, won by a 10-4 decision over Chris James. Redshirt junior Joe Blaes registered a 3-2 decision at 285 to end the night for the Warriors.

ESU put its top four returning wrestlers entering the season – Hluschak, Frick, McKeown and Ebewo – on the mat in the same dual for the first time since battling nationally-ranked Pitt-Johnstown in a 25-15 loss on December 7.

The Warriors have a quick turnaround for their next dual as they head to Springfield, Massachusetts to take on American International on Saturday at 4 p.m.


Delaware Valley 22, ESU 21
125 – Charlie Frankel (DVC) pinned Zach Jones, 0:47; DVC leads 6-0
133 – Eric McCann (DVC) maj. dec. Chris Davis, 14-6; DVC 10-0
141 – Adam Hluschak (ESU) tech. fall James DeLillo, 17-1 (6:43); DVC leads 10-5
149 – Zak Andrews (DVC) pinned Andrew Ritchie, 3:25; DVC leads 16-5
157 – Braden Turner (ESU) dec. Emmanual Ajagbe, 4-2; DVC leads 16-8
165 – Thad Frick (ESU) dec. Donald Smith, 7-6; DVC leads 16-11
174 – Brendan McKeown (ESU) maj. dec. Alec Horan, 13-0; DVC leads 16-15
184 – Kyle Tufts (DVC) pinned Will Esposito, 2:21; DVC leads 22-15
197 – #7 Ed Ebewo (ESU) dec. Chris James, 10-4; DVC leads 22-18
285 – Joe Blaes (ESU) dec. Mike Boardman, 3-2; DVC wins 22-21