ERIE, Pa. (Jan. 27, 2017) - The LIU Post wrestling team has been slotted at No. 7 in the initial NCAA Division II Super Region I rankings, released Thursday.

The Pioneers, who are just three wins away from besting last season's win total, had five of their grapplers ranked at their individual weight class.

Senior T.J. Fabian (Wading River, N.Y.) led the way at No. 2 in the 149-lb. poll, trailing only Wheeling Jesuit's Dom Nania. He currently leads the green and gold with five falls on the season, two of which came against regional foes Seton Hill and East Stroudsburg. Fabian has also won seven of his last nine bouts, after opening the year at 3-2.

Meanwhile, freshman Anthony Sparacio (North Babylon, N.Y.) placed fifth at the 133-lb. weight class. Sparacio, the team's leader in victories (15), has made a statement in his collegiate debut. Since moving up a weight from 125, Sparacio has lost only one match. That opponent was Duke's Cole Baumgartner in a 2-1 overtime decision.

Senior Vinny Turano (Wantagh, N.Y.) and junior James Louison (Hauppauge, N.Y.) ranked seventh at the 141- and 285-lb. weight classes, respectively. Turano has a pair of technical falls to his credit this year, while Louison boasts a 5-3 record with three falls.

Lastly, red-shirt junior Jackson Mordente (Farmingville, N.Y.) was at No. 8 in the 157-lb. poll. He is 4-3 in his last seven bouts, including two major decisions and one fall.

Head Coach Joe Patrovich and his LIU Post squad are back in action Sunday (Jan. 29), when they grapple at the USC Wildcat Open, hosted by Johnson & Wales University at 9:30 a.m. in Providence, R.I.