COMPLETE RESULTS

KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The 19th-ranked LIU Post wrestling team earned its first two dual match victories of the season when it defeated Nassau Community College and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at the Mariner Duals inside James W. Liebertz Gymnasium on Sunday, Dec. 9.
 
Graduate student Joe Calderone earned two victories in his season debut, compiling 29 points during his two bouts. Senior Dan Arkow and freshman Dan Shafran also earned two wins each, with each recording one pinfall on the day.
 
LIU Post 31, Nassau C.C. 13:
 
The Pioneers opened the day against Nassau Community College with a 31-13 victory against the Lions. After suffering two defeats at 125 and 133 to begin the match, Calderone gave LIU Post its first points with a 9-5 decision against Anthony Sobotker to cut the deficit to 9-3. The win sparked a big run by the Green and Gold which included victories by freshman Anthony Dushaj and Ed Ramirez, Jr. to help LIU Post take a 16-9 advantage after the 165-pound bout.
 
Arkow continued the run of victories, pinning Tyler Lynde at the 5:35 mark of the bout before junior Dan McClure followed with a pinfall of Maurico Hernandez just 2:13 into the 184-pound bout to clinch the victory for the Pioneers. Freshman Dan Shafran earned the final victory of the match for LIU Post, earning a 9-6 decision against Tahirant Ozturk to help the Pioneers to a 31-13 victory for their first dual win of the season.
 
LIU Post 25, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 21
 
LIU Post jumped out to a 6-0 start with a forfeit victory at 125, but Merchant Marine leveled the scoring quickly with a pinfall victory just 60 seconds into the 133-pound bout. Calderone earned a huge victory at 141, garnering a technical fall win, 16-1 against Daniel May. Freshman Chris Gomez followed suit with an 18-3 technical fall victory at 149 to put LIU Post ahead 16-6 in the match.
 
Following consecutive decision victories by the Mariners, Arkow earned a tough-fought 4-1 decision win against Kurtis Hahn to push the Pioneers back ahead by seven points (19-12). Shafran clinched the victory for the Green and Gold at 197 when he pinned Foster Wade 2:59 into the bout, putting the Pioneers ahead by 10 points (25-15) with one bout remaining. Merchant Marine garnered six points with a pinfall victory in the final bout, but it was not enough as the Pioneers secured victories in both dual matches on the day.
 
Up Next:
 
The Pioneers will wrestle inside the Pratt Recreation Center for the first time this season when they take on nationally-ranked Kutztown University and East Stroudsburg University on Saturday, Dec. 15 beginning at 12:00 p.m.