Photo Gallery

EAST STROUDSBURG - Sophomore Tyler Richardson upset nationally-ranked Jalal Paige at 197 pounds, but Shippensburg edged East Stroudsburg University for a 20-16 victory in PSAC wrestling on Tuesday night at Koehler Fieldhouse.

Both schools won five bouts, but Shippensburg won by fall at 141 pounds and had two major decisions to post three bonus point wins.

Richardson (9-6) rallied from a first-period deficit for an 8-6 decision over Paige, a returning national qualifier ranked No. 7 in Division II and No. 1 in Super Region 1.

Richardson trailed 4-2 after the first period and 6-5 through two periods after a Paige reversal, followed by a Richardson two-point near fall and a stalling warning on the Ship grappler. He held a 51-second riding time advantage after two periods.

In the third, Richardson scored his only takedown with 1:01 remaining, then rode out Paige for an 8-6 decision including the riding time point.

ESU won four of the last five bouts, including the final three, but was unable to overcome a 17-3 deficit through the first half of the dual.

Sophomore Connor Maliff (6-6) won an 8-5 decision over Dante Steffenino at 125, getting a three-point near fall in the first period and a late takedown to seal it in the third.

Ship won the next four bouts, including three by bonus points. At 133, Mike Hafer used the riding time point for a 3-2 decision over redshirt sophomore Marius Kola.

Ship's Cameron Throckmorton (141), a 2013 national qualifier ranked No. 3 in the region, pinned redshirt freshman Eric Januszkiewicz in 2:35 for a 9-3 advantage.

Shippensburg won by major decision at 149 (Colin Ochs 11-3 over redshirt junior Eric Howey) and 157 (Mark Lentz 8-0 over redshirt freshman Ardis Smith) for a 17-3 lead.

ESU got back on the board at 165 with a thrilling 8-7 victory by redshirt sophomore Matt Wax, who opened up a 4-0 lead with a significant riding time advantage through two periods. Ship's Brett Pastore rallied with three takedowns in a 50-second stretch to pull within 7-6 and an ESU stalling point tied it at 7-7 with 10 seconds left, but Wax won by virtue of riding time ( 2:03).

Ship's Hunter Fenk won a 4-1 decision over redshirt junior Dan Ingulli at 174 with a first-period takedown, a third-period escape and the riding time point.

At 184, ESU redshirt senior Luke DeLuise (6-5) posted an 11-2 major decision over Kyle Taylor on the strength of four takedowns, including two in the second period.

After Richardson's win over Paige at 197, senior Tyson Searer (12-7) ended the night with a 5-0 decision over Francis Slover at 285 pounds. Searer had a takedown midway through the first period and a reversal in the second, plus the riding time point.

Searer improves to 47-28 in his career at ESU and 26-7 in duals, including a 4-1 dual record this season.

Richardson entered the night ranked No. 4 in Super Region 1 and posted his first-ever win over a nationally-ranked wrestler.

ESU falls to 2-4 (0-2 PSAC), while Shippensburg improves to 1-6 (1-2 PSAC).

The Warriors travel to West Liberty (W.V.) for regional dual action on Saturday, facing Ohio Valley and the host Hilltoppers.


Shippensburg 20, ESU 16
125 - Connor Maliff (ESU) dec. Dante Steffenino, 8-5 ... ESU leads, 3-0
133 - Mike Hafer (Ship) dec. Marius Kola, 3-2 ... Tied, 3-3
141 - Cameron Throckmorton (Ship) pinned Eric Januszkiewicz, 2:35 ... Ship leads, 9-3
149 - Colin Ochs (Ship) maj. dec. Eric Howey, 11-3 ... Ship leads, 13-3
157 - Mark Lentz (Ship) maj. dec. Ardis Smith, 8-0 ... Ship leads, 17-3
165 - Matt Wax (ESU) dec. Brett Pastore, 8-7 ... Ship leads, 17-6
174 - Hunter Fenk (Ship) dec. Dan Ingulli, 4-1 ... Ship leads, 20-6
184 - Luke DeLuise (ESU) maj. dec. Kyle Taylor, 11-2 ... Ship leads, 20-10
197 - Tyler Richardson (ESU) dec. #7 Jalal Paige, 8-6 ... Ship leads, 20-13
285 - Tyson Searer (ESU) dec. Francis Slover, 5-0 ... Ship wins, 20-16

SR1 rankings:
141 - #3 Throckmorton (Ship)
184 - #5 DeLuise (ESU)
197 - #1 Paige (Ship), #4 Richardson (ESU)