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EAST STROUDSBURG – Freshman Joey Kratochvil won an overtime decision against returning national qualifier Evan Link at 133 pounds, highlighting East Stroudsburg University's 26-12 dual setback to No. 8-ranked Pitt-Johnstown in PSAC wrestling on Tuesday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

The match featured four bouts with nationally-ranked wrestlers and seven bouts with regionally-ranked wrestlers as the Warriors posted four wins by decision – from Kratochvil at 133, redshirt sophomore Eric Howey at 157, No. 8-ranked redshirt senior Braden Turner at 165 and sophomore Tyson Searer at 197.

Kratochvil went four additional minutes beyond the standard seven in his bout with UPJ sophomore Evan Link, an NCAA Division II qualifier a year ago. After going to sudden victory tied 3-3, both wrestlers had escapes in their multiple 30-second tiebreaker periods, with Kratochvil holding a 24-second riding time advantage when it was all done – for a 5-5 RT:tb2 win by decision.

Link had a takedown in the second period, followed by an immediate escape from Kratochvil, for a 2-1 lead through two periods. A caution point midway through the third brought Kratochvil even at 2-2, and he escaped with 37 seconds left for a 3-2 advantage. Link's riding time advantage of 1:25 gave him the additional point for a 3-3 score after three periods.

At 157, Howey jumped out to a 6-0 advantage after one period and 8-1 margin after two periods, holding on for a 12-7 decision over redshirt freshman Sam Molina.

Turner, a two-time national qualifier and 2012 All-American, finished the night with a 3-1 decision over redshirt freshman John Blankenship at 165. It was scoreless through two periods before Turner gained two near-fall points plus the riding time point to put the match away.

The night started at 174 pounds, with UPJ leading 7-0 through two bouts.

Searer got ESU on the board at 197 with a 4-0 decision over junior Zak Newton in one of two bouts between regionally-ranked wrestlers in Searer (#2) and Newton (#6). Searer, a returning national qualifier, had a reversal with 40 seconds left in the second period, and a takedown 30 seconds into the third period.

In the other big regional bout at 184 pounds, UPJ's Travis McKillop (#2 in DII, #1 in region), a two-time All-American, won a 9-1 major decision over redshirt junior Luke DeLuise of ESU. DeLuise was coming off the 184-pound title at the Doug Parker Invitational at Springfield (Mass.) College on Saturday.

In all, UPJ won five bouts on the mat and No. 7-ranked Josh Duplin won by forfeit at 285. No. 7-ranked Dave Fogle won an 8-0 major decision over ESU freshman Connor Maliff at 125, and No. 6 Dave Cawley,  pinned freshman Ray Nicosia in the first period. Fogle and Cawley have both earned All-America status in their careers at UPJ.

The Warriors are 1-1 in dual action, winning 31-9 at American International in their opener last Friday. UPJ improves to 3-1 on the season.

ESU is idle the rest of this week and heads to the PSAC Championships at Edinboro in its next action on Saturday, December 7.


#8 Pitt-Johnstown 26, ESU 12
174 – Gary Lantz (UPJ) dec. Joey Fogle, 6-0 ... UPJ leads 3-0
184 – #2 Travis McKillop (UPJ) maj. dec. Luke DeLuise, 9-1 ... UPJ leads 7-0
197 – Tyson Searer (ESU) dec. Zak Newton, 4-0 ... UPJ leads 7-3
285 – #8 Josh Duplin (UPJ) wins by forfeit ... UPJ leads 13-3
125 – #7 Dave Fogle (UPJ) maj. dec. Connor Maliff, 8-0... UPJ leads 17-3
133 – Joey Kratochvil (ESU) dec. Evan Link, 5-5 RT:tb2 ... UPJ leads 17-6
141 – Luke Palamides (UPJ) dec. Joseph Hoy, 8-3 ... UPJ leads 20-6
149 – #6 Dave Cawley (UPJ) pinned Ray Nicosia, 2:16 ... UPJ leads 26-6
157 – Eric Howey (ESU) dec. Sam Molina, 12-7... UPJ leads 26-9
165 – #8 Braden Turner (ESU) dec. John Blankenship, 3-1 ... UPJ wins 26-12


SR1 Rankings:
125 - Fogle (UPJ) #2
133 - Link (UPJ) #5
149 - Cawley (UPJ) #1
165 - Turner (ESU) #1 at 157
174 - Lantz (UPJ) #3 at 165
184 - DeLuise (ESU) #5, McKillop (UPJ) #1
197 - Searer (ESU) #2, Newton (UPJ) #6
285 - Duplin (UPJ) #3