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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Redshirt senior Brendan McKeown, a three-time national qualifier for the Warriors, finished his career at East Stroudsburg University in the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships on Friday in Cleveland.

McKeown, a returning All-American with a sixth-place finish last year, went 0-2 with a pair of setbacks to Jacob Begin of Southwest Minnesota State and Joe Pittman of Newberry.

He dropped a 13-2 major decision to Begin, a two-time national qualifier, after leading 2-1 through one period. Begin gained an escape with 45 seconds left in the second period, then had a takedown with seven seconds left for a 4-2 lead. He scored nine back points in the third period.

Pittman prevailed 10-8 in the first consolation round in a bout that was tied 5-5 after one period. Pittman had a reversal and two nearfall points early in the third period to lead 9-6, then McKeown had a reversal to cut it to 9-8 with 1:25 left. Pittman escaped with 42 seconds to go and there was no further scoring.

McKeown finishes the season with a 15-5 record and was ranked No. 5 in Division II entering the NCAA Championships.

He went 74-37 in his career at ESU – 6-3 as a true freshman in 2009-10, 18-17 as a redshirt freshman in 2010-11 (at 184 pounds), 12-8 in 2011-12 and 23-4 last year.

He was ESU's first three-time national qualifier since Jeremy Sluyter went to four straight Division I championships from 1997-00.

McKeown was a three-time regional finalist and the 2013 Super Region 1 champion at 174 pounds, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors after knocking off defending NCAA DII 165-pound champion Mike Williams of UNC-Pembroke in the final.

He was regional runner-up in 2012 and 2014, the first time earning an NCAA trip after missing two months due to injury. This year he missed significant time due to injury, from November 17 to January 5, before posting 12 straight wins until an 8-5 loss to Joey Davis (Notre Dame Ohio) in the regional final.

In 2013, he had a 17-match winning streak and was 20-1 entering the NCAA Championships, with his only loss coming by injury default.

McKeown's 74 career wins included a 36-12 dual record. His 10-0 dual mark this year was ESU's best since Jason Peters, currently head coach at Pittsburgh, went 17-0 in duals in 1996-97.

He had nine falls, nine technical falls and 14 major decisions for 32 bonus point wins in his career for the Warriors, which included a 38-7 mark in the last two years.

He was also an Academic All-American last year, an award that will be voted on again this spring. He is a two-time Academic All-District selection, and three-time NWCA All-Academic selection.