EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. (Jan. 9, 2016) - The LIU Post wrestling team competed in two close duals Saturday, splitting against West Liberty University and East Stroudsburg University at ESU's Koehler Fieldhouse.

The Pioneers (6-9) grappled to a hard-fought 24-19 loss to West Liberty (3-6), before earning a 28-12 win over East Stroudsburg (5-2) in the nightcap.

Match #1: LIU Post 19, West Liberty 24
Trailing 6-0 after the first bout, LIU Post scored back-to-back technical falls at the 133- and 141-lb. weight classes to take a 10-6 lead in the contest.

Sophomore Joe Calderone (Huntington Station, N.Y.) and junior Vinny Turano (Wantagh, N.Y.) individually teched Jonathan Spence (Salt Rock, W. Va.) and Josh Cornell (Chester, W. Va.) to put the Pioneers ahead. Freshman T.J. Fabian (Wading River, N.Y.) then added a 12-5 win versus Cole Nace (Ashville, Ohio) at 149, extending the green and gold's advantage to 13-6.

However, the Hilltoppers won the next five matches, four via decision, to pull away from the Pioneers. In the 197-lb. bout, Nathan Dawson (Follansbee, W. Va.) edged sophomore Jake Horton (Medford, N.Y.), 4-3, to secure the win for West Liberty.

Match #2: LIU Post 28, East Stroudsburg 12
Despite falling behind 3-0 at the onset of the match, LIU Post won five of the next six bouts to rally to a 22-6 lead.

Calderone (6:00) and Turano (5:08) again teched their opponents, both of which came in the third period. Fabian and sophomore Ed Ramirez, Jr. (Massapequa, N.Y.) respectively pulled out three-point wins at 149 and 165, making it a 16-6 match.

Freshman Dan Arkow (Merrick, N.Y.) put the decision out of reach with a pin of Joe Welk (Kirkwood, Pa.) in 4:10 at the 174-lb. weight class.

Head Coach Joe Patrovich and the Pioneers return to the mat Friday (Jan. 15), when they wrestle Roger Williams University and Daniel Webster College at the Daniel Webster Tri-Match at noon in Nashua, N.H.

LIU Post 19, West Liberty 24
125: Zach Brown (WLU) def. Tyler Walsh (LIU) via pinfall (6:42)
133: Joe Calderone (LIU) def. Jonathan Spence (WLU) via technical fall, 15-0 (5:41)
141: Vinny Turano (LIU) def. Josh Cornell (WLU) via technical fall, 18-3 (5:00)
149: T.J. Fabian (LIU) def. Cole Nace (WLU), 12-5
157: David Schlieper (WLU) def. Jackson Mordente (LIU), 8-3
165: DeMadre Turner (WLU) def. Ed Ramirez, Jr. (LIU), 7-5
174: Erik VandenBossche (WLU) def. Dan Arkow (LIU), 11-5
184: Daniel Carpenter (WLU) def. Logan McGinn (LIU) via pinfall (5:38)
197: Nathan Dawson (WLU) def. Jake Horton (LIU), 4-3
285: Monair McDonald (LIU) won by forfeit

LIU Post 28, East Stroudsburg 12
125: Collyn Dorney (ESU) def. Tyler Walsh (LIU), 12-7
133: Joe Calderone (LIU) def. Connor Maliff (ESU) via technical fall, 16-0 (6:00)
141: Vinny Turano (LIU) def. Marius Kola (ESU) via technical fall, 16-0 (5:08)
149: T.J. Fabian (LIU) def. Blake Cohen, 6-3
157: Joey Kratochvil (ESU) def. Jackson Mordente, 4-3
165: Ed Ramirez (LIU) def. Josh Deutel, 7-4
174: Dan Arkow (LIU) def. Joe Welk via pinfall (4:10)
184: Tyler Richardson (ESU) def. Ronnie King, 3-1
197: Justin Walker (ESU) def. Jake Horton, 6-4
285: Monair McDonald (LIU) won by forfeit