WR1-9-02

ESU-Rutgers Wrestling

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Marc Bauknecht (285) won a decision and Shawn Smith (184) narrowly missed scoring a major upset, but those were East Stroudsburg University's only highlights in a 30-3 wrestling loss to Rutgers Wednesday night.

Bauknecht defeated Frank Sabatino, 6-2, with takedowns in the second and third periods, an escape and a riding time point. He raised his record to 6-5.

Smith took nationally-ranked Tom Tanis to overtime before losing on a takedown, 7-5. The ESU junior jumped to a 5-0 lead in the first period on a takedown and a three point near fall. Tanis, ranked 19th in the latest InterMat national poll, rallied with four points in the third period to tie the score and send the match to sudden victory.

The match marked the ESU debut of transfer Brandon Mihalko (165), a former PIAA state runner-up from Liberty High School. He lost to Bryon Lauer, 6-2.

The Warriors had one other lineup change with T.J. Cuff moving in at 133 pounds to replace Kevin Rake from Pocono Mountain High School, who has dropped off the team. Cuff bowed to Andrew Tilles, 7-3.

The loss left the Warriors with a 2-3 record. The team will play host to five schools - VMI, James Madison, American, Maryland and Binghamton, for the first Warrior Duals Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Koehler Fieldhouse. Rutgers is now 1-4.

Rutgers 30, ESU 3

125 - Andrew Urhlass (Rut) def. Jon Clouser, 14-3

133 - Andrew Tilles (Rut) dec. T.J. Cuff, 7-3

141 - Jon Rodriquez (Rut) dec. Josh Thompson, 7-5

149 - Greg Austin (Rut) won by technical fall over Keith Kleckner, 17-1, 6:54

157 - Chris Ressa (Rut) dec. Ryan Ross, 4-1

165 - Bryon Lauer (Rut) dec. Brandon Mihalko, 6-2

177 - Justin Haskins (Rutgers) dec. Dan Roy, 6-3

184 - Tom Tanis (Rut) dec. Shawn Smith, 7-5 OT

#197 - Ryan McGrath (Rut) dec. Andrew Sheaffer, 6-0

285 - Marc Bauknecht (ES) dec. Frank Sabatino, 6-2

#match started at 197 pounds