PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Feb. 13, 2016) - On Saturday, the LIU Post wrestling team split a pair of matches at the Johnson and Wales University Tri-Match at the Wildcat Center.

The Pioneers (9-11) defeated University of Southern Maine, 27-15, before falling to host Johnson and Wales in the nightcap, 24-16.

Match #1: LIU Post 27, Southern Maine 15
Tied 9-9 after five bouts, LIU Post won the next four weight classes to breeze to the victory.

Sophomore Ed Ramirez, Jr. (Massapequa, N.Y.) gave the Pioneers the lead for good at 165, pinning Matthew Wheeler (Troy, Maine) in the opening minute of the match (0:57).

Senior Juan Carlos Diaz (Plainview, N.Y.) and sophomore Ronnie King (Islip, N.Y.) won via respective 6-2 and 3-1 decisions at the 174- and 184-lb. disciplines.

Lastly, at 197, sophomore Jake Horton (Medford, N.Y.) earned his first pinfall of the season, besting Mark Slusher (York, Maine) in 1:44.

Match #2: LIU Post 16, Johnson and Wales 24
LIU Post and Johnson and Wales played a tightly-contested dual, until the Wildcats pulled away in the latter stages of the contest.

In the 133-lb. weight class, sophomore Joe Calderone (Huntington Station, N.Y.) majored Joe Ferinde (Nutley, N.J.), 15-1, to tie the match at 4-4.

Three bouts later, red-shirt sophomore Jackson Mordente (Farmingville, N.Y.) pinned Thomas Grippi (Bedford Hills, N.Y.) in 1:51 at 157, which then closed the gap to 11-10.

Johnson and Wales held on for the win though, as it took three of the final five matches. At 197, Khamri Thomas (Windsor Locks, Conn.) edged Horton by a 5-1 score to seal it for the Wildcats.

Head Coach Joe Patrovich and the Pioneers return to the mat Thursday (Feb. 18), when they close out their 2015-16 home slate with a tri-match against New York University and the College of Mount Saint Vincent at 5 p.m. at the Pratt Recreation Center in Brookville, N.Y.

LIU Post 27, Southern Maine 15
125: Joe Paterno (LIU) def. Casey Abshire (USM), 14-7
133: Joe Calderone (LIU) won via forfeit
141: Brandon Weir (USM) def. Vinny Turano (LIU), 5-0
149: Daniel Del Gallo (USM) def. T.J. Fabian (LIU), 6-3
157: C.J. Luth (USM) def. Jackson Mordente (LIU), 7-4
165: Ed Ramirez, Jr. (LIU) def. Matthew Wheeler (USM) via pinfall (0:57)
174: Juan Carlos Diaz (LIU) def. Aaron Weiss (USM), 6-2
184: Ronnie King (LIU) def. Jeffrey Fuller (USM), 3-1
197: Jake Horton (LIU) def. Mark Slusher (USM) via pinfall (1:44)
285: Mike Risti (USM) def. Monair McDonald (LIU) via pinfall (8:54 - TB-1)

LIU Post 16, Johnson and Wales 24
125: Bobby Jordan (JWU) def. Joe Paterno (LIU) via major decision, 15-2
133: Joe Calderone (LIU) def. Joseph Ferinde (JWU) via major decision, 15-1
141: Justin Colon (JWU) def. Vinny Turano (LIU) via major decision, 11-1
149: Joey Gaccione (JWU) def. Matt Langan (LIU), 6-1
157: Jackson Mordente (LIU) def. Thomas Grippi (JWU) via pinfall (1:13)
165: Michael Gargano (JWU) def. Ed Ramirez, Jr. (LIU) via pinfall (4:32)
174: Stephen Jarrell (JWU) def. Juan Carlos Diaz (LIU) via major decision, 11-2
184: Ronnie King (LIU) def. Dae'Sean Brown (JWU), 3-2
197: Khamri Thomas (JWU) def. Jake Horton (LIU), 5-1
285: James Louison (LIU) def. Jonah Aurelio (JWU), 5-3