KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Senior Tyler Richardson and graduate student John Pellegrino posted two victories apiece, with Richardson completing a 4-0 weekend with four falls, to lead East Stroudsburg University to a split of its two contests on Saturday morning at the Kutztown Duals.

The Warriors (4-9) won 7 of 9 contested bouts to defeat Minot State by a 26-15 final in the opener. ESU then fell 40-12 to No. 23 Tiffin to conclude the tournament.

Richardson, currently ranked No. 6 in Super Region I at 184 pounds, improved his season record to 19-7 (12-1 in duals) with his four victories this weekend. He is 7-1 since Jan. 8, with six of his seven wins coming via fall.

The Warriors return to action on Friday with a 7 p.m. road contest at Gannon.


Match 1: ESU vs. Minot State

ESU earned victories in four of the first five bouts against the Beavers (2-10), with Pellegrino (125 pounds), senior Connor Maliff (133), redshirt sophomore Dylan Nace (141) and redshirt sophomore Blake Cohen (157) all adding three points towards the team total.

After a forfeit at 165 leveled the dual up at 12-12, redshirt senior Joe Welk put the Warriors ahead for good with an 18-0 technical fall triumph at 174 over Frank Straka. Welk earned his first win since Nov. 19 after missing two months due to injury; he is now 3-3 on the year with two tech falls.

Richardson pinned Minot State's Keegan Berry in 3:13 to up the margin to 23-12, and senior Brandon Steele clinched the dual with his third win in as many bouts at 197, topping Briley Crissler by a 9-2 decision.

The seven contested bout victories were the most for ESU in any dual so far this season.


ESU 26, Minot State 15
125 – #11 John Pellegrino (ESU) def. William Horton-Hayden via decision, 7-4 … ESU leads, 3-0
133 – Connor Maliff (ESU) def. Michael Rangel via SV-1, 7-1 … ESU leads, 6-0
141 – #8 Dylan Nace (ESU) def. Jered Sublet via decision, 6-0 … ESU leads, 9-0
149 – Cody Haugen (MIN) def. Pierre Liciaga via fall, 2:50 … ESU leads, 9-6
157 – Blake Cohen (ESU) def. Shane Sheppard via decision, 5-3 … ESU leads, 12-6
165 – Parker Osterman (MIN) won via forfeit … Tied, 12-12
174 – Joe Welk (ESU) def. Frank Straka via tech. fall, 18-0 … ESU leads, 17-12
184 – Tyler Richardson (ESU) def. Keegan Berry via fall, 3:13 … ESU leads, 23-12
197 – Brandon Steele (ESU) def. Briley Crissler via decision, 9-2 … ESU leads, 26-12
285 – Jacob Belland (MIN) def. Daniel Makagon via decision, 4-2 … ESU wins, 26-15

Super Region I Rankings
125 - #4 Pellegrino (ESU)
141 - #2 Nace (ESU)
184 - #6 Richardson (ESU)


Match 2: ESU vs. #23 Tiffin

Pellegrino earned his second major decision victory of the year to get ESU's second dual of the morning underway, as he handled Tiffin's Landon Elliot by a 12-1 final. Pellegrino, currently ranked No. 11 in Division II, has a 7-1 record at 125 since making his season debut on Jan. 8.

Two nationally-ranked wrestlers faced off at 141, with No. 9 Trey Grine edging No. 8 Nace by a 5-3 decision. With the defeat, Nace is now 22-1 lifetime in duals competing at 141 (24-2 overall).

Richardson's second pin of the day came in 4:55 against Hayden Bronne at 184. The Brick, N.J., native has 27 victories out of his­­­­ 56 lifetime wins at ESU.

Five of the eight contested bouts were decided via fall, and bonus points were handed out in six contests.


#23 Tiffin 42, ESU 10
125 –  #11 John Pellegrino (ESU) def. Landon Elliot via maj. decision, 12-1 … ESU leads, 4-0
133 – Hunter Langeloh (TIF) def. Francesco Palagruto via fall, 4:20 … Tiffin leads, 6-4
141 – #9 Trey Grine (TIF) def. #8 Dylan Nace via decision, 5-3 … Tiffin leads, 9-4
149 – Michael Screptock (TIF) def. Pierre Liciaga via fall, 3:40 … Tiffin leads, 15-4
157 – Richard Screptock (TIF) def. Blake Cohen via decision, 7-3 … Tiffin leads, 18-4
165 – Beau Minnick (TIF) won via forfeit … Tiffin leads, 24-4
174 – Chase Boyd (TIF) won via forfeit … Tiffin leads, 30-4
184 – Tyler Richardson (ESU) def. Hayden Bronne via fall, 4:55 … Tiffin leads, 30-10
197 – #12 Kevin Christman (TIF) def. Brandon Steele via fall, 1:38 … Tiffin leads, 36-10
285 – Caleb Fry (TIF) def. Daniel Makagon via fall, 0:25 … Tiffin wins, 42-10

Super Region II Rankings (Tiffin)
141 - #2 Grine
149 - #4 Screptock
174 - #7 Boyd
197 - #4 Christman