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EAST STROUDSBURG – Returning national qualifiers Braden Turner and Brendan McKeown continued their preparations for the upcoming Super Region 1 Championships with a pair of victories, but East Stroudsburg University fell to Delaware Valley, 31-13, in the Warriors' final home dual of the 2012-13 season on Thursday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Delaware Valley, ranked No. 8 in Division III, won five of the nine bouts that were wrestled. The Aggies won the only match-up of nationally-ranked wrestlers at 197 pounds, where DVC sophomore Aaron Karns, ranked #4 in the NWCA DIII poll, had a 4-0 decision over ESU freshman Tyson Searer, ranked #5 in the NWCA DII poll.

Karns rode out the second period, picked up an escape early in the third and had a takedown in the final five seconds with Searer looking for a final shot to score. Searer falls to 14-7 on the season and had won eight of his last nine bouts, including six straight.

Turner, ranked #6 at 157, won a 9-0 major decision over James Dugan, opening with a takedown and three back points in the first period. A reigning All-American, Turner improved to 15-5 with nine wins in his last 10 bouts.

McKeown won his 10th straight match, and the 50th of his career, with a 5-0 decision over Dallas Winston at 174 pounds. McKeown had takedowns in the first and third periods, plus the riding time point, to run his record to 14-1 on the season. He has a career record of 50-29 and a 24-12 record in duals.

Sophomore Joseph Hoy opened the scoring for the Warriors at 141 pounds, earning a 15-8 decision over Dale Fava. Hoy had three takedowns in the third period, plus two back points, to break the match open.

Redshirt sophomore Luke DeLuise picked up the other win at 184 with a 9-2 decision over Connor Gabriel. DeLuise is now 12-8 on the season and 9-4 in duals with a team-high seven pins.

Delaware Valley had two pins, from Connor Kirkegard at 125 and Nick Della Fera at 165. Emmanual Ajagbe, ranked #4 in Division III, won by forfeit at 149.

In exhibition action, senior Tony Vorndran won a 1-0 decision over Alec Horan at 165, riding out the second period and gaining an escape with 20 seconds left in the third. Senior Will Esposito dropped a 6-1 decision to Christopher Yocum at 184.

Seniors Vorndran, Esposito, Joe Blaes (285) and McKeown were all recognized before the match. Blaes fell by injury default in 6:17 after going ahead early in the third period. McKeown has a year of eligibility remaining from a redshirt season.

ESU has two more matches on its dual schedule, at Gannon on Saturday and Kutztown next Tuesday. The Warriors will head back to Kutztown on February 22-23 for the Super Region 1 Championships.


Delaware Valley 31, ESU 13
125 - Connor Kirkegard (DVC) pinned Anthony Marino, 2:22
133 - Pat Davis (DVC) maj. dec. Devin Holmes, 8-0
141 - Joseph Hoy (ESU) dec. Dale Fava, 15-8
149 - Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC) wins by forfeit
157 - #6 Braden Turner (ESU) maj. dec. James Dugan, 9-0
165 - Nick Della Fera (DVC) pinned Nate Silverthorn, 4:17
174 - Brendan McKeown (ESU) dec. Dallas Winston, 5-0
184 - Luke DeLuise (ESU) dec. Connor Gabriel, 9-2
197 - Aaron Karns (DVC) dec. #5 Tyson Searer, 4-0
285 - Mike Boardman (DVC) injury default over Joe Blaes, 6:17

Exhibitions
165 - Tony Vorndran (ESU) dec. Alec Horan, 1-0
184 - Christopher Yocum (DVC) dec. Will Esposito, 6-1

National Rankings (ESU DII, Delaware Valley DIII)
149 - Ajagbe #4 NWCA/D3Wrestle.com
157 - Turner #6 NWCA DII
197 - Searer #5 NWCA DII; Karns #3 D3Wrestle.com, #4 NWCA DIII