ERIE – Graduate student John Pellegrino earned an 11-2 major decision victory at 125 pounds to highlight four bout wins for East Stroudsburg University on Friday night, but host Gannon used two forfeits and three additional bonus point triumphs to top the Warriors by a 31-13 final.

The Golden Knights (4-2, 3-2 PSAC) have won three of their last four duals overall.

Pellegrino, ranked No. 11 in Division II, improved to 8-1 on the year with his bonus point win over Abraham Guarriello in the first bout of the evening. The Levittown, N.Y., native has won each of his past two bouts via major decisions.

After a forfeit loss at 133, ESU (4-10, 1-2 PSAC) earned back-to-back decisions to grab a 10-6 advantage. Redshirt sophomore Dylan Nace (No. 8 in DII, No. 2 in Super Region I) bested John Marotto (No. 7 SR1) by a 6-1 final at 141 and redshirt sophomore Blake Cohen used a late escape to edge Giovanni Ciotti (No. 8 SR1) by a 4-3 margin at 149.

Nace earned his 25th collegiate dual victory, improving his lifetime dual mark to 25-2. He is 20-4 overall on the year.

Gannon came out on top in five of the final six contested bouts, with senior Brandon Steele tacking on the final three points for the Warriors with an 11-6 decision over Ethan Budd at 197. Steele has won four of his last five bouts overall after going 3-1 at last weekend's Kutztown Duals.

Eight of the 10 wrestlers competing for the Golden Knights on Friday were regionally ranked, while Carmine Ciotti (No. 4 at 133) and Eric Lewandowski (No. 12 at 157) are currently recognized nationally.

ESU remains in Erie on Saturday afternoon, with the Warriors taking on Mercyhurst in a dual scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. The Lakers are tied with Findlay for the No. 7 ranking nationally in the current NWCA DII poll.


Gannon 31, ESU 13
125 – #11 John Pellegrino (ESU) def. Abraham Guarriello via major decision, 11-2 … ESU leads, 4-0
133 – #4 Carmine Ciotti (GAN) won via forfeit … Gannon leads, 6-4
141 – #8 Dylan Nace (ESU) def. John Marotto via decision, 6-1 … ESU leads, 7-6
149 – Blake Cohen (ESU) def. Giovanni Ciotti via decision, 4-3 … ESU leads, 10-6
157 – #12 Eric Lewandowski (GAN) def. Joey Kratochvil via decision, 5-2 … ESU leads, 10-9
165 – Garrett Smith (GAN) won via forfeit … Gannon leads, 15-10
174 – Jake Stratton (GAN) def. Joe Welk via inj. default … Gannon leads, 21-10
184 – Nick Costa (GAN) def. Tyler Richardson via major decision, 15-7 … Gannon leads, 25-10
197 – Brandon Steele (ESU) def. Ethan Budd via decision, 11-6 … Gannon leads, 25-13
285 – Nick Budd (GAN) def. Daniel Makagon via fall, 0:37 … Gannon wins, 31-13

Super Region I Rankings
125 - #4 Pellegrino (ESU)
133 - #1 C. Ciotti (GAN)
141 - #2 Nace (ESU), #7 Marotto (GAN)
149 - #8 G. Ciotti (GAN)
157 - #3 Lewandowski (GAN), #5 Kratochvil (ESU)
165 - #6 Smith (GAN)
174 - #3 Stratton (GAN)
184 - #4 Costa (GAN), #6 Richardson (ESU)
285 - #6 N. Budd (GAN)