ERIE – Redshirt sophomore Dylan Nace and senior Tyler Richardson each earned major decision victories, while seniors Connor Maliff and Joey Kratochvil added wins via decision for East Stroudsburg University in a 29-14 defeat at Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon.

The Lakers (9-3, 4-0 PSAC), who are ranked tied for seventh in the latest NWCA DII national poll, won their fifth-consecutive dual. The Warriors (4-11, 1-3 PSAC) won 4 of 8 contested bouts for the second time in as many days, and they nearly added a fifth victory at 125 pounds.

A pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers faced off at 125, with graduate student John Pellegrino (No. 11) taking on No. 1 Willie Bohince, a three-time NCAA DII qualifier who finished as the national runner-up last spring. Pellegrino trailed 8-1 midway through the third period before mounting a furious comeback to force overtime. Bohince, though, ultimately prevailed by a 9-8 final after earning an escape in the first 30-second tiebreaker.

That win gave Mercyhurst a 12-0 edge through the first three bouts. Maliff got ESU on the board with a 3-2 triumph over Jeff Sisk at 133. The Brick, N.J., native faced a 1-0 deficit entering the third period, but he earned two points with a last-minute takedown and clinched the win with the riding time point.

Nace followed that effort with a 16-4 major decision over Joel Bowers at 141. He earned his 10th bonus point win on the year (fifth major decision) and improved his season record to 21-4.

After a tech fall win for Mercyhurst at 149, Kratochvil topped Cole Gavin by a 6-3 decision at 157. He is now 6-5 in duals this season, with victories in four of his last six bouts dating back to Jan. 8.

The Lakers clinched the dual with forfeits at 165 and 174. Richardson rounded out the competition with his first major decision of the season, as he bested Nick Konyk by a 9-0 margin at 184. Richardson is 20-8 in 2016-17, with bonus point triumphs in 15 of those 20 victories. He is 13-2 in duals on the year.

The Warriors will be back at Koehler Fieldhouse for their next two duals, beginning with a 7 p.m. contest against Wheeling Jesuit next Friday night.


#T-7 Mercyhurst 29, ESU 14
197 – Wes Phipps (HURST) def. Brandon Steele via decision, 13-6 … Mercyhurst leads, 3-0
285 – #8 Andy Welton (HURST) def. Daniel Makagon via fall, 0:34 … Mercyhurst leads, 9-0
125 –  #1 Willie Bohince (HURST) def. #11 John Pellegrino via TB-1, 9-8 … Mercyhurst leads, 12-0
133 – Connor Maliff (ESU) def. Jeff Sisk via decision, 3-2 … Mercyhurst leads, 12-3
141 – #8 Dylan Nace (ESU) def. Joel Bowers via major decision, 16-4 … Mercyhurst leads, 12-7
149 – Logan Grass (HURST) def. Blake Cohen via tech. fall, 15-0 … Mercyhurst leads, 17-7
157 – Joey Kratochvil (ESU) def. Cole Gavin via decision, 6-3 … Mercyhurst leads, 17-10
165 – #1 Francis Mizia (HURST) won via forfeit … Mercyhurst leads, 23-10
174 – Kevin Holman (HURST) won via forfeit … Mercyhurst leads, 29-10
184 – Tyler Richardson (ESU) def. Nick Konyk via major decision, 9-0 … Mercyhurst wins, 29-14

Super Region I Rankings
125 - #1 Bohince (HURST) #4 Pellegrino (ESU)
141 - #2 Nace (ESU)
157 - #5 Kratochvil (ESU)
165 - #1 Mizia (HURST)
184 - #6 Richardson (ESU)
197 - #3 Phipps (HURST)
285 - #1 Welton (HURST)