EAST STROUDSBURG (PA) – Delaware Valley College, ranked eighth in Division III, improved to 8-2 on the season with Thursday evening's 31-13 triumph at Division II East Stroudsburg University.

The Aggies now owns a 6-2 advantage in the series with their higher division foe. The Warriors fell to 6-9 in dual meets on the year.

Delaware Valley registered points in six weights with two pins, a major decision, an injury default and a forfeit. Connor Kirkegard got the nod at 125 pounds and the freshman improved to 19-9 on the year as he dropped Anthony Marino with 38 seconds left in the opening period (2:22). It gave the Aggies six points and a lead that they would never relinquish.

Pat Davis, the second of five freshmen in the lineup, increased the Delaware Valley lead to 10-0 as he blanked Devin Holmes, 8-0, for a major decision at 133. The win improved Davis to 11-11 on the year.

East Stroudsburg took two of the next three weights as Joseph Hoy posted a 15-8 decision over Dale Fava at 141 and nationally-ranked and returning All-American Braden Turner earned a 9-0 decision over James Dugan at 157 pounds. The Aggies picked up six points at 149 as fourth-ranked Emmanuel Ajagbe was awarded a forfeit, the senior's 25th win of the year against just two losses.

Freshman Nick Della Fera gave Delaware Valley a 22-7 lead as he dropped Nate Silvethorn in 4:17. The pin was Della Fera's second of the year and it upped his season record to 19-14.

The Warriors had back-to-back decisions at 174 and 184 pounds to make it a 22-13 contest. At 174, regionally-ranked and 2012 national qualifier Brendan McKeown tallied a 5-0 victory over Dallas Winston. Luke DeLuise followed with a 9-2 win over Connor Gabriel at 184.

However, Delaware Valley's Aaron Karns followed with the biggest win of the night as the fourth-ranked Division III wrestler at 197 notched a 5-0 blanking over Tyson Searer. Searer entered the evening ranked fifth in Division II. For Karns, it was his 23rd victory in 26 tries this season.

Heavyweight Mike Boardman (13-9) then ended the match by being awarded an injury default victory over Joe Blaes with 43 seconds left in the bout.

The Aggies return to action on Friday evening (7:00 p.m.) when they host Elizabethtown College.


DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 31, EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY 13
125 -  Connor Kirkegard (DelVal) by fall over Anthony Marino, 2:22 (6-0 DelVal)
133 -  Pat Davis (DelVal) by major decision over Devin Holmrs, 8-0 (10-0 DelVal) 
141 -   Joseph Hoy (ESU) by decision over Dale Fava, 15-8 (10-3 DelVal)  
149 -  Emmanuel Ajagbe (DelVal) by forfeit (16-3 DelVal)
157 -  Braden Turner (ESU) by major decision over James Dugan, 9-0 (16-7 DelVal) 
165 -  Nick Della Fera (DelVal) by fall over Nate Silverthorn, 4:17 (22-7 DelVal)
174 -  Brendan McKeown (ESU) by decision over Dallas Winston, 5-0 (22-10 DelVal)
184 -  Luke DeLuise (ESU) by decision over Connor Gabriel, 9-2 (22-13 DelVal)
197 -   Aaron Karns (DelVal) by decision over Tyson Searer, 5-0 (25-13 DelVal)
285 -  Mike Boardman (DelVal) by injury default over Joe Blaes, 6:17 (31-13 DelVal)
Exhibition (165): Tony Vorndan (ESU) by decision over Alec Horan, 1-0
Exhibition (184): Christopher Yocum (DelVal) by decision over Will Esposito, 6-1