EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University wrestlers Chris Birchler and Sean Carr are both sixth in the latest EIWA rankings released on Monday.

Birchler has an 18-5 record at 285 pounds and a 1-1 record against EIWA wrestlers who are ranked ahead of him, including a 5-3 decision over Army's Nathan Thobaben (EIWA No. 3) in a dual at Koehler Fieldhouse on Dec. 5. The sophomore was pinned with 14 seconds left in the second period by top-ranked Ed Prendergast of Navy, who is ranked third nationally by InterMat.

Birchler gave up an escape early in the second period and nearly had a takedown with 30 seconds left before Prendergast took Birchler to the mat and eventually got the fall. Birchler's record this year includes third-place finishes at both the ESU Open and the Wilkes Open.

Carr, a senior, is 17-6 at the very competitive 141-pound weight class. His wins include a 7-4 decision against Army's Matt Kyler, currently the top-ranked 141-pounder in the EIWA. He dropped a 17-3 decision to Harvard's Corey Jantzen (EIWA No. 5) at the ESU Open on Nov. 17.

Carr is 8-1 in his last nine matches, including a 5-1 performance to place third at the Wilkes Open. He has won his last three matches in dual competition and has a 6-3 dual record this season.

The EIWA will receive 47 bids to the NCAA Tournament this year, trailing only the Big 10 among national conferences. The top four wrestlers at each weight class, along with seven wild cards, will advance to nationals in March in St. Louis. The EIWA Championships will be held March 8-9 at Franklin & Marshall.