HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. - East Stroudsburg University won four of the final six bouts, but Centenary came away with a 28-12 win in non-conference wrestling on Friday night in New Jersey.

The Warriors got victories from their top four wrestlers, but Centenary, ranked No. 6 in Division III, won the first four bouts and also got wins at 165 (#9 Owen Vernon) and 285 (#2 J.D. Zitone).

ESU redshirt junior Braden Turner (157), ranked No. 6 in Division II, won the only bout between nationally-ranked wrestlers with a 3-2 decision over Centenary's Chris Burdge, ranked No. 2 in Division III.  Both were All-Americans in their respective divisions a year ago.

After a scoreless first period, Turner rode out the second and gained an early escape in the third before Burdge had the bout's only takedown in the final 30 seconds. Turner rallied for the escape and used the riding time point to improve to 14-5 on the season, with eight wins in his last nine matches.

The Warriors also knocked off a nationally-ranked Cyclone at 174, where redshirt junior Brendan McKeown improved to 13-1 on the season with an 8-5 decision over No. 3-ranked Kevin Dufresne. McKeown dominated early, with two takedowns in the first period and another in the second, before Dufresne narrowed the margin with a takedown and two back points near the end of the third.

At 184, redshirt sophomore Luke DeLuise ran his record to 11-8 with a 7-3 decision over Khalid Shakir. DeLuise is 7-2 since the start of January including four pins, a major decision and an injury default.

No. 5-ranked freshman Tyson Searer (197) won his sixth straight match with a 5-1 decision over Brandon Hull, getting an escape in the second and back points after starting on top in the third to create his separation. Searer is 14-6 on the season, and 13-3 against non-Division I competition.

The Warriors face another top Division III program on Thursday, February 7 when they host No. 8 Delaware Valley at 7 p.m. at Koehler Fieldhouse. The match will be televised on Blue Ridge TV-13.


Centenary 28, ESU 12
125 - Erick Orellana (CC) pinned Anthony Marino, 5:53
133 - Zachary Huxford (CC) pinned Devin Holmes, 2:08
141 - Corey Vernon (CC) maj. dec. Joseph Hoy, 13-2
149 - Craig Montgomery (CC) dec. Joe Welk, 8-2
157 - #6 Braden Turner (ESU) dec. #2 (DIII) Chris Burdge, 3-2
165 - #9 (DIII) Owen Vernon (CC) dec. Nate Silverthorn, 4-1
174 - Brendan McKeown (ESU) dec. #3 (DIII) Kevin Dufresne, 8-5
184 - Luke DeLuise (ESU) dec. Khalid Shakir, 7-3
197 - #5 Tyson Searer dec. Brandon Hull, 5-1
285 - #2 (DIII) J.D. Zitone (CC) pinned Joe Blaes, 1:06

Rankings: Centenary #6 (DIII)
Records: Centenary 8-3, ESU 6-8