Courtesy of Shippensburg Athletics

Al Miscovich, Nyiem Flucas, Owen Koch and Danny Scheib earn victories

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University wrestling team came up just short despite little to no margin for error in a dual meet loss to Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) foe East Stroudsburg on Senior Night Wednesday evening at Heiges Field House, 27-19.

Shippensburg (9-7, 1-4 PSAC) kept its chances alive with victories from graduate Al Miscovich (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant Area), redshirt-sophomore Nyiem Flucas (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), freshman Owen Koch (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville) and senior Danny Scheib (Hegins, Pa./Tri-Valley), but it was not enough to overcome having to forfeit matches at three different weight classes.

East Stroudsburg (4-6, 1-4 PSAC) stopper Ajay Hiller extinguished any hopes of Raider victory with a hard-fought 9-6 decision over Shippensburg freshman Trey Shoemaker (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) at 197 pounds. Decisions from Eric Felleni and Luke Ciampa at 149 and 165, respectively, rounded out the Warriors’ contested wins.

After forfeiting matches at 125 and 133, Miscovich got the Raiders back into the meet with a dominant 10-0 major decision win at 141. The Raiders next win, however, didn’t occur until Flucas flattened his opponent at 174 pounds.

Koch kept the door slightly ajar for a possible miracle comeback with a 3-1 decision with over ESU junior Josh Leidig at 184.

Shippensburg, down 24-13 entering the final two bouts, needed back-to-back pins – much like what happened in their last home dual meet, a 25-24 victory over Seton Hill.

But Hiller would not let it happen. The ESU sophomore smothered Shoemaker for the first two periods, building up enough of a lead to withstand a strong finish from Shippensburg’s standout freshman.

Scheib met up with an ultra-defensive foe in ESU’s Thomas Flood in the finale at 285, yet still managed to break through his opponent’s guard late in the second period to score an emphatic pin.

The Raiders began the night by winning three-of-three extra matches. Freshman 141-pounder Anthony Lavish (Fairless Hills, Pa./Conwell Egan) picked up a 3-1 decision over ESU’s Carlens Lapaix, freshman 165-pound wrestler Cole Lang (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin) won a 9-7 decision over Sergio Cespedes, and sophomore heavyweight Connor Livingston (Westminster, Md./Manchester Valley) defeated Anthony Saed 3-1 in overtime.

Miscovich, Scheib, graduate Avery Shay (New Fairfield, Ct./New Fairfield (Clarion)) and graduate Tyshawn White (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin (Clarion/Lock Haven/Glenville State)) were recognized as a part of Senior Night festivities before the match.

The Raiders return to Heiges Field House for their home finale Tuesday, February 7 against No. 9 Pitt-Johnstown. Wrestling is set for 7 p.m.

East Stroudsburg 27, Shippensburg 19

125: Brady Carter (ESU) wins by forfeit (6-0)

133: Cameron Enriquez (ESU) wins by forfeit (12-0)

141: Al Miscovich (SHIP) maj. dec. Jack Dardia (ESU), 10-0 (12-4)

149: Eric Falleni (ESU) dec. Reese Polulak (SHIP), 5-4 (15-4)

157: Jacob Gonzalez (ESU) wins by forfeit (21-4)

165: Luke Ciampa (ESU) dec. Kyler Everly (SHIP), 7-0 (24-4)

174: Nyiem Flucas (SHIP) pins Bobby Burke (ESU), 4:45 (24-10)

184: Owen Koch (SHIP) dec. Josh Leidig (ESU), 3-1 (24-13)

197: Ajay Hiller (ESU) dec. Trey Shoemaker (SHIP), 9-6 (27-13)

285: Danny Scheib (SHIP) pins Thomas Flood (ESU), 4:35 (27-19)

Extra Match (141): Anthony Lavish (SHIP) dec. Carlens Lapaix (ESU), 6-1

Extra Match (165): Cole Lang (SHIP) dec. Sergio Cespedes (ESU), 9-7

Extra Match (285): Connor Livingston (SHIP) dec. Anthony Saed (ESU), 3-1, SV1

Records:

East Stroudsburg: 4-6, 1-4

Shippensburg : 9-7. 1-4