Anibal Nieves, who earned All-America accolades at East Stroudsburg University in 1989 and later competed internationally for Puerto Rico in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, enters his eighth season as ESU's men's wrestling head coach in 2026-27.
Missing a couple of pivotal starters in 2024-25, ESU bounced back as its starting lineup returned to form in 2025-26. The Warriors hit their stride in early December as they defeated Millersville for the first time since 2020, securing the win in the final match. In the first five weeks of the season, the Warriors earned two PSAC Athlete of the Week awards, as Ajay Hiller and Austin Noe got off to strong starts. As the season wound down, Luke Ciampa picked up more and more recognition, earning a 12th-place ranking in the 184-pound weight class ahead of the regional championships. There, he finished in second place, picking up his 100th career win, making him the fourth wrestler in program history to reach the century mark. Ciampa closed his career by earning a spot in the NCAA Championships and making the All-PSAC Second Team.
In 2023-24, ESU totaled three podium finishers at the Super Region I Championships, including freshman Layton Schmick (285), who took third to become the program's first NCAA Division II qualifier at 285 pounds and sixth under Nieves. Schmick delivered one of the best freshman campaigns in program history as he was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Super Region I Rookie of the Year, Third Team All-PSAC, and a two-time PSAC Athlete of the Week after going 30-4 overall and 9-1 in duals. Ranked as high as No. 12 by the NWCA in his weight class, Schmick notched the first 30-win season by an ESU wrestler since 2004-05. The Warriors concluded the year 6-5 overall and 2-5 in the PSAC, which included defeating Seton Hill on Senior Day for the first time since February 2, 2014.Â
In 2022-23, the Warriors hosted the NCAA Division II Super Region I Tournament and had four podium finishers, including freshman Brady Carter (125), who took third and qualified for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. Carter became the program's first NCAA qualifier at 125 pounds and fifth under Nieves. Also earning top-eight finishes for the Warriors were Luke Ciampa (4th -165 pounds), Ajay Hiller (4th - 197 pounds), and Josh Leidig (5th - 184 pounds). Behind a trio of first-place finishers and 11 other wrestlers placing in the top six, the Warriors finished atop the team standings at the Albion Invitational on November 20.ESU finished the season 5-7 overall and 2-5 in the PSAC, which included defeating Kutztown in their final dual for the first time since February 18, 2014.
After missing the 2020-21 season due to COVID-19, the Warriors returned to the mat in 2021-22 by earning a trio of sixth-place finishes at the NCAA Division II Super Region I Tournament, which included Luke Ciampa (165 pounds), Sczar Charles (174 pounds), and Josh Leidig (184 pounds).
Despite not being able to wrestle for a National Championship in 2020, the Warriors had a pair of wrestlers garner All-America status as Mike Raccioppi and Elliot Riddick were honored by the NWCA for their accomplishments throughout the season.Â
Raccioppi, who spent the majority of the season as the No. 1 overall-ranked wrestler in DII at 174 pounds, earned his second All-America recognition. He would become the seventh wrestler in program history to earn the award multiple times and finished the season with a 22-1 overall record.Â
Riddick, who captured ESU's first Super Region 1 title since 2013, earned his first All-America recognition for the Warriors. The 24th All-American in program history, Riddick was the first 184-pound wrestler to receive the award for ESU since Shane Mallory in 2010. He finished the season ranked 11th in DII at 184 pounds to go along with a 16-1 overall record.
The duo helped ESU record its best finish as a team at the NCAA Super Region 1 Tournament since finishing sixth out of 12 teams in 2013-14. The Warriors tallied 52.5 points to finish fifth, while Pitt-Johnstown notched 147.5 points to win the regional championship. This is the first time that ESU has had multiple All-America selections in the same season since Ed Ebewo and Braden Turner accomplished the feat in 2012.
In 2019, ESU had a pair of wrestlers (Dylan Nace and Mike Raccioppi) qualify for the NCAA DII Wrestling Championships. Raccioppi would become the 23rd All-American in program history after finishing third at 174 pounds.Â
Nieves, a Division I national qualifier at 134 pounds in 1988 and 1989 who placed sixth nationally during his senior season, brings over 15 years of head coaching experience to ESU. Most recently, he has served as head women’s and assistant men’s coach at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Mass., for the past six seasons.
Prior to his position at Springfield Tech, Nieves was the head men’s coach at Division III Western New England for five years. He previously led American International’s Division II men’s program from 1994 to 2003 and was honored as the DII East Regional Coach of the Year in 2000.
Nieves has coached 11 All-Americans at the Division II level. His student-athletes’ academic success has stood out as well, with Nieves leading a total of 20 NCAA Scholar All-Americans at his previous programs.
At Springfield Tech, he led nine NCWA Women’s All-Americans, including four national champions, and he was named NWCA Women’s Coach of the Year in 2017.
Nieves had a 62-13-5 record in two seasons at ESU, notching one fall, 11 technical falls, and 15 major decisions, and had a 22-3-5 mark in duals. He was also an NJCAA national champion at SUNY Delhi in 1985-86, capturing the title at 134 pounds.
Following his career at ESU, he competed for Puerto Rico in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games, earning a 10th-place finish at 62 kilograms at the 1992 Barcelona Games. A nine-time national champion in Puerto Rico, he also took home silver medals at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games.
Nieves remains active internationally, serving as the wrestling coach for Haiti at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He additionally worked as a trainer for two-time U.S. Olympian Elena Pirozhkova, who was the women’s World Champion at 63 kilograms in 2012.
