East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania Men's Wrestling

Rivera enters his 10th year as the head wrestling coach at East Stroudsburg University in 2016-17, and has helped the Warriors make an impact both regionally and nationally after reclassifying to Division II prior to the 2009-10 season. ESU has had four All-Americans in its first seven seasons in Division II in Brendan McKeown (2013 - 174, 6th), Ed Ebewo (2012 - 197, 3rd), Braden Turner (2012 - 157, 6th) and Shane Mallory (2010 - 184, 2nd). The Warriors had two national qualifiers in 2015 in Luke DeLuise (184) and Tyler Richardson (197), who both finished in the top 12 in DII. Richardson was ranked No. 1 in the region for the second half of the season and was the regional runner-up. McKeown concluded his career in 2014 as ESU's first three-time national qualifier since 2000. In 2013, he was the Super Region 1 champion and the regional's Outstanding Wrestler, winning the 174-pound title with a 3-2 decision over Mike Williams (UNC-Pembroke), the nation's #1 ranked wrestler and the returning NCAA champion at 165. In 2013, McKeown was joined at the NCAA's by Turner at 157 and freshman Tyson Searer at 197, ESU's first freshman national qualifier at the Division II level. In 2012, ESU was 4th among Super Region 1 schools, 16th overall and first among PSAC schools in the team standings at the NCAA Championships led by All-Americans Ebewo (197) and Turner (157). Thad Frick (165) and McKeown (174) were also national qualifiers. A total of 10 wrestlers have combined for 14 NCAA Championships appearances under Rivera's leadership in the last eight years. McKeown (3x), Turner and Ebewo (both 2x) are all multiple-time national qualifiers in DII. The program has also had three Super Region 1 champions in McKeown (174) in 2013, Ebewo (197) in 2012 and Jeff Jacobs (174) in 2011. In ESU's first season in Division II in 2010, Shane Mallory was the national runner-up at 184 pounds and Adam Hluschak was the regional runner-up at 141 and finished in the top 12 at the NCAA Championships. Mallory was also a top-eight finisher in the EIWA in 2008 and placed in the top three in the PSAC at three different weight classes during his career. ESU had a 9-8 dual record, including a 5-1 record against Division II competition. In 2009, ESU's final season in Division I, Chris Birchler (285) was an NCAA qualifier and finished in the top 12 in the nation. Birchler, Thad Frick and Ed Ebewo were all top-eight finishers at the EIWA Championships. In the PSAC, five wrestlers - Frick, Mallory, Birchler, Sean Carr and Matt Swallow - have earned All-Conference honors with places in the top three under Rivera. Frick (165) was the only DII wrestler to make the final in 2011-12 and was one of five Warriors to place in the top four of the tournament, which included five DI and five DII schools. Academically, the Warriors have ranked in the top 20 in the NWCA DII team rankings for four straight years (2013-16) - 18th in 2013, 6th in 2014, 4th in 2015 and 20th in 2016. A total of 19 Warriors have been named NWCA All-Academic. McKeown was named Academic All-America in 2012 and 2013 and was a three-time Academic All-District selection. ESU has had three PSAC "Champion Scholars" with the top GPA at the PSAC Championships site in Tony Vorndran (2012-13), Joseph Hoy (2013-14) and Dan Ingulli (2014-15). Rivera was an assistant coach for the Warriors under Jason Kutz during the 2006-07 season and moved into the head coachs chair the following year. He has proven himself as a top-level coach in the wrestling room and has also demonstrated his ability as a recruiter, bringing in talented classes for the Warriors. Rivera was an NCAA qualifier at Boston University following a standout career at Stroudsburg High School. He was the teams outstanding freshman and outstanding wrestler while at Boston, and was team captain as a senior. He qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2004 and finished his career with a record of 86-30. Rivera earned his degree in Psychology from Boston in 2005 and was a recipient of the Colonial Athletic Association Commissioners Academic Award. At Stroudsburg High School, Rivera was a four-time state qualifier and set the school record with 137 career wins. He finished fifth in the state as a freshman and sophomore, eighth as a junior and fourth as a senior. He was also a two-time regional champion and was inducted to the District 11 Hall of Fame in April 2012. As a freestyle wrestler, Rivera placed eighth in the 60kg weight class at the U.S. National Freestyle Tournament in 2008. It was the first freestyle tournament in which he had competed. Rivera and his wife, Leah, were married in October 2007 and reside in Stroudsburg. Joey Rivera By the Numbers 11 wrestlers have been NCAA national qualifiers: Chris Birchler (2009, Division I - 285) Adam Hluschak (2010 - 141) Shane Mallory (2010 - 184) Jeff Jacobs (2011 - 174) Ed Ebewo (2011-12 - 197) Thad Frick (2012 - 165) Braden Turner (2012-13 - 157) Brendan McKeown (2012-14 - 174) Tyson Searer (2013 - 197) Luke DeLuise (2015 - 184) Tyler Richardson (2015 - 197) 4 All-Americans - Mallory (2nd - 2010), Ebewo (3rd - 2012), Turner (6th - 2012) and McKeown (6th - 2013) 3 Super Region 1 champions - Jacobs (2011), Ebewo (2012) and McKeown (2013) 4 Super Region 1 runner-ups - Hluschak (2010), Turner (2012), McKeown (2012, 2014) and Richardson (2015) 5 All-PSAC performers - Frick, Mallory, Birchler, Sean Carr and Matt Swallow 58-94-1 dual record (.382) in 9 seasons

Anibal Nieves, who earned All-America accolades at East Stroudsburg University in 1989 and later competed internationally for Puerto Rico in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, was announced as the interim head coach of the Warriors’ new women's wrestling program in December, 2018. Women's wrestling will began competition in 2019 as ESU's 21st intercollegiate sport. Nieves, who also serves as the head coach for ESU's men's wrestling program, has several years of successful experience coaching both genders. ESU recorded its first victory in program history on February 10, 2020 as the Warriors defeated Springfield Tech, 32-6. The Warriors also garnered their first national ranking from the NWCA in March, 2020. Cascen was one of 60 wrestlers from 14 different institutions to earn Academic All-America status.  Tatyana Ortiz would become the first All-American in program history after finishing fourth for ESU at the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships in March, 2020. Ortiz helped ESU to place 17th in the team standings as eight wrestlers represented the Warriors in Adrian, Michigan.  Shola Cascen earned the distinction of becoming the program's first Scholar All-American after being recognized for her work in the classroom by the NWCA is May, 2020.  A Division I national qualifier at 134 pounds in 1988 and 1989 who placed sixth nationally during his senior season, Nieves brings over 15 years of head coaching experience to ESU. Most recently, he has served as head women’s and assistant men’s coach at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, Mass. for the past six seasons. Nieves led nine NCWA Women’s All-Americans at Springfield Tech, including four national champions, and he was named NWCA Women’s Coach of the Year in 2017. He additionally worked as a trainer for two-time U.S. Olympian Elena Pirozhkova, who was the women’s World Champion at 63 kilograms in 2012. Prior to his position at Springfield Tech, Nieves was the head men’s coach at Division III Western New England for five years. He previously led American International’s Division II men’s program from 1994-2003 and was honored as the DII East Regional Coach of the Year in 2000. Nieves has coached 11 men's All-Americans at the Division II level. His student-athletes’ academic success has stood out as well, with Nieves leading a total of 20 NCAA Scholar All-Americans at his previous programs. Nieves had a 62-13-5 record in two seasons at ESU, notching one fall, 11 technical falls and 15 major decisions, and had a 22-3-5 mark in duals. He also was an NJCAA national champion at SUNY Delhi in 1985-86, capturing the title at 134 pounds. Following his career at ESU, he competed for Puerto Rico in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic games, earning a 10th place finish at 62 kilograms at the 1992 Barcelona Games. A nine-time national champion in Puerto Rico, he also took home silver medals at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games. Nieves remains active internationally, serving as the wrestling coach for Haiti at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.