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Triumph, trials for ESU wrestling; men's basketball looks to make noise

east stroudsburg university athletics
·7 min read

Editor's Note: Notes from ESU provides a recap of sports events and is compiled of reports provided by East Stroudsburg University. Read more about ESU Athletics online at esuwarriors.com.

Preview: ESU men's basketball looks to make noise in 2022-23

The East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team is set to begin its 95th season of competition at the 2022-23 season this weekend at the Bowie State Tip-off Classic against Fayetteville State and the tournament-host Bulldogs. ESU opened the season against Fayetteville State on Friday.

The Schedule: After the Bowie State Tip-Off Classic, ESU heads home to Koehler Fieldhouse for five consecutive home games against D'Youville (Nov. 20), Bridgeport (Nov. 27), Clarion (Dec. 2) and Pitt-Johnstown (Dec. 3) and Molloy (Dec. 7). The Warriors then head to west to Seton Hill (Dec. 18) and California (Pa.) (Dec. 19). ESU closes the calendar year at home against Slippery Rock on Dec. 30.

ESU jumps into the PSAC East schedule on Jan. 4 at Shippensburg, before home contests against Mansfield and Bloomsburg. The first matchup of the top-two seeds in the PSAC East a season ago will take place at Millersville against the Marauders on Jan. 14, as ESU closes the first half of the conference schedule against Shepherd (away, Jan. 18), West Chester (home, Ja. 21), Kutztown and Lock Haven (home Jan. 25).

The Warriors travel to preseason third-ranked and PSAC West favorite IUP on Jan. 28, before the final eight PSAC East opponents to close the regular season.

A wall in Koehler Fieldhouse reads "ESU" for East Stroudsburg University.
A wall in Koehler Fieldhouse reads "ESU" for East Stroudsburg University.

The Coach: ESU head coach Jeff Wilson begins his 20th season at the helm of his alma mater, entering the season with a career record of 358-188. He looks to guide ESU to his seventh NCAA Tournament and his fourth PSAC title this season. He enters the season ranked seventh all-time in the PSAC in wins and second among active coaches, trailing just Joe Lombardi at IUP (367). Wilson is on pace to move up to fifth place in the PSAC wins leaderboard, needing 13 wins to surpass Dick Delaney for fourth-place on the list. Wilson is joined on the coaching staff by second-year assistant Sean Hanna, graduate assistant Kyle Pope (2nd season), and assistants Eric Rigg (2nd season) and Shawn Thornton (7th season).

Preseason Rankings: Expectations are high for ESU, with the Warriors earning seven of eight possible first-place votes in the PSAC East Preseason Poll to earn the top spot. Additionally, the Division II Sports Information Directors Association (D2SIDA) announced that ESU was picked sixth in the Preseason Atlantic Region Poll.

Returners: ESU returns 15 of 18 members from the 2021-22 squad that posted a 19-8 record. PSAC East Athlete of the Year Carlos Pepin (14.9 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 56.3 FG%, 1.9 spg) and All-PSAC East Second Team selection Lakeem McAliley (14.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) are players to watch after producing all-conference honors in the frontcourt. At guard, Justin Paz looks to continue his presence offensively and defensively, averaging 11.8 points, 4.0 assists and 1.35 steals per contest. Paz had a successful season shooting from long-distance, converting triples at a .407 clip and led the team with 55 treys. Marc Rodriguez also returns as a starter after averaging 11.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 2021-22. ESU provides strong depth with experienced players in Mike Millsip, Davon Lee, Mike Ramos, Zach Sabol, David Duda Jr. and Zion Darby.

Newcomers: ESU welcomes three new additions, including a pair of freshmen in Nasir Griffin and Tyshawn Trail, along with Rider transfer Jaelen McGlone. Griffin, an All-Philadelphia Catholic League 6-8 forward from West Catholic, averaged 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the 20-plus win Burrs as a senior. Trail, a guard from Queens, was a two-time team MVP for John Bowne High, leading the Wildcats to a pair of PSACL AA Queens Borough Championships … he averaged 18 points and six rebounds, before spending last season at Woodstock Academy.

McGlone appeared in 31 career games at Rider averaging 2.3 points in an average of 7.3 minutes per game. The athletic 6-4 guard from Cheltenham looks to make an immediate impact as a Warrior. He showed a glimpse of his athleticism after winning the Warrior Madness Dunk Contest in October.

Of interest:East Stroudsburg University alumna Kathy Flores to be inducted into Rugby Hall of Fame

Women's wrestling drops road dual at Lock Haven

After building a 14-5 lead, the No. 14 East Stroudsburg University women's wrestling team could not hang on to the advantage, falling to No. 19 Lock Haven, 28-20, on Thursday night inside Thomas Fieldhouse.

The Warriors fall to 1-2 in duals, with both losses coming against nationally-ranked foes. The Bald Eagles (1-0) begin the campaign with a win in its first dual of the season.

Notables

  • The Warriors picked up a tech fall win at 116 to build a 9-5 lead and added an additional five points with an LHU forfeit at 123 to grab a 14-10 lead.

  • Lock Haven began to build momentum on the scoreboard with Lily Sherer's pin at 130 against No. 3 Mia Macaluso. The Bald Eagles earned victories in four consecutive matches at 136, 143 and 155, with ESU earning a forfeit at 170 to end the four-match skid. LHU led a 23-20 lead through nine matches.

  • ESU entered the final match down three points and needed a tech fall or pin for the victory, but LHU's Trinity Monaghan pinned Shola Cascen at the 5:40 mark to secure the match for Lock Haven.

How it happened

  • 101: Haley Delia (ESU) wins by forfeit / ESU 5-0

  • 109: Kaelani Shufeldt (LHU) wins by forfeit / 5-5

  • 116: Emily Klein (ESU) def. Madison Packer (LHU) by tech fall / 10-0 (3:33) / ESU 9-5

  • 123: Sofia Macaluso (ESU) wins by forfeit / ESU 14-5

  • 130: Lily Sherer (LHU) def. #3 Mia Macaluso (ESU) by pin / (1:35) / ESU 14-10

  • 136: Madison Matta (LHU) def. Grace Kaczanowski by decision (ESU) / 5-0 / ESU 15-13

  • 143: Grace Stem (LHU) wins by forfeit / LHU 18-15

  • 155: Jessica Johnson (LHU) pinned Zoe Gress (ESU) / (1:17) / LHU 23-15

  • 170: Sophia Lombardo (ESU) wins by forfeit / LHU 23-20

  • 191: Trinity Monaghan (LHU) def. Shola Cascen (ESU) by pin / (5:40) / LHU 28-20

Up Next: The Warriors are idle until Nov. 20, when ESU heads to Michigan for the Albion Invitational.

Men's wrestling tops Scranton 36-9

The East Stroudsburg University men's wrestling team won its third consecutive dual after defeating Scranton, 36-9, on Wednesday night since the John Long Center.
The East Stroudsburg University men's wrestling team won its third consecutive dual after defeating Scranton, 36-9, on Wednesday night since the John Long Center.

The East Stroudsburg University men's wrestling team won its third consecutive dual after defeating Scranton, 36-9, on Wednesday night since the John Long Center.

The Warriors avenge their loss to the Royals from a season ago and open the campaign 3-0 for the first time since 2002-03.

Notables

  • Sophomore Josh Jasionowicz improves to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in duals after earing a 11-5 decision over Justin Schifter at 125 pounds

  • Kelvin Rodriguez-Molina earned his third fall of the season after the sophomore pinned Matthew DiGennaro in 1:32 at 133 pounds

  • At 141 pounds, Jack Dardia grinded out a 3-1 decision over Skeb Nasir and Eric Falleni helped push ESU's lead to 17-0 with a tech. fall against Kenneth Langenmayr at 149 pounds

  • Luke Ciampa got ESU back on track as the sophomore had a 10-0 major decision at 165 pounds versus Jeremiah Oakes, making the score 21-3

  • The Warriors closed out the match strong as Davis Lee (184 pounds) and Ajay Hiller (197 pounds) recorded pins at their respective weight classes

  • Junior Matthew Richardson bumped up to 285 pounds, producing a 5-3 decision over Hunter Marhan to secure a 36-9 victory for ESU

How it happened

  • 125: osh Jasionowicz (ESU) dec. Justin Schifter (SCR), 11-5 (ESU, 3-0)

  • 133: Kelvin Rodriguez-Molina (ESU) pinned Matthew DiGennaro (SCR), 1:32 (ESU 9-0)

  • 141: Jack Dardia (ESU) dec. Shkeb Nadir (SCR), 3-1 (ESU, 12-0)

  • 149: Eric Falleni (ESU) tech. fall Kenneth Langenmayr (SCR), 17-2 (6:19) (ESU, 17-0)

  • 157: Daniel Kosinski (SCR) dec. Bryce Parenti (ESU), 8-6 (ESU, 17-3)

  • 165: Luke Ciampa (ESU) maj. dec. Jeremiah Oakes (SCR), 10-0 (ESU, 21-3)

  • 174: Will Laughlin (SCR) pinned Robert Burke (ESU), 4:41 (ESU, 21-9)

  • 184: Davis Lee (ESU) pinned Ryan Bihasa-Lenahan (SCR), 1:28 (ESU, 27-9)

  • 197: Ajay Hiller (ESU) pinned Joseph Cosgrove (SCR), 1:22 (ESU, 33-9)

  • HWT: Matthew Richardson (ESU) dec. Hunter Marhan (SCR), 5-3 (ESU 36-9)

Up Next: ESU opens PSAC action on Nov. 19 when the Warriors welcome Pitt-Johnstown to Koehler Fieldhouse at 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: East Stroudsburg University highlights Warriors Wrestling, men's bball