The Shippensburg University wrestling team fell behind early on Friday night and ultimately could not recover from the deficit, as the Raiders dropped a 21-19 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Division II dual meet to host East Stroudsburg from Koehler Fieldhouse.
 
Shippensburg (5-9, 0-3 PSAC) lost to East Stroudsburg (3-6, 1-1) for the first time since 2011, as the Raiders dropped the first three bouts via decision (five total) and also had to yield an injury default at 165 pounds.
 
SU got a pin at 149 pounds from junior Mike Springer, a forfeit win at 174 pounds, a major decision from junior Evan Ramos at 197 and a decision at heavyweight from freshman Derek Berberick.
 
Of the first three bouts – two pitted regionally-ranked wrestlers against one another. At 125 pounds, eighth-ranked John Pellegrino bested fifth-ranked sophomore Dustin Steffenino, 2-0. Third-ranked Dylan Nace edged fourth-ranked senior Karl Lightner at 141 pounds, 4-3.
 
Springer's pin at 149 pounds was the only Raider scoring through the first eight bouts other than the forfeit victory. He now leads the team with five victories by fall this season and has won five-in-a-row.
 
Ramos, ranked No. 5 in the country, rolled to a 10-2 major decision over ESU's Brandon Steele to run his season record to 16-1. It is his fourth major decision of the season. Berberick's 7-5 win at heavyweight, meanwhile, marked his third triumph in his last four bouts.
 
Shippensburg returns to action at 7 p.m. Tuesday when it hosts Elizabethtown from Heiges Field House.
 
East Stroudsburg 21, Shippensburg 19     
125: John Pellegrino (ESU) dec. Dustin Steffenino (SU), 2-0 (3-0)
133: Connor Maliff (ESU) dec. Cole Rush (SU), 11-5 (6-0)
141: #10 Dylan Nace (ESU) dec. Karl Lightner (SU), 4-3 (9-0)
149: Mike Springer (SU) pins Pierre Liciaga (ESU), 2:18 (9-6)
157: Joey Kratochvil (ESU) dec. Adam Martz (SU), 8-3 (12-6)
165: Blake Cohen (ESU) inj. def. Billy Barnes (SU) (18-6)
174: Kyle Narber (SU) wins by forfeit (18-12)
184: Tyler Richardson (ESU) dec. Hunter Fenk (SU), 1-0 (21-12)
197: #5 Evan Ramos (SU) maj. dec. Brandon Steele (ESU), 10-2 (21-16)
285: Derek Berberick (SU) dec. Daniel Makagon (ESU), 7-5 (21-19)
 
Records:
Shippensburg: 5-9, 0-3 PSAC
East Stroudsburg: 3-6, 1-1 PSAC