HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 31, 2018)  – No. 4 Zach Wilhelm's one-point decision victory over No. 8 Raymond Jazikoff at 157 pounds led No. 17 Stevens Institute of Technology Wrestling over New York University, 27-12, Wednesday evening in a non-conference dual match before a spirited crowd at Canavan Arena.

Stevens won its sixth straight dual to improve to 11-3 on the year. NYU fell for just the second time in its last seven duals to fall to 11-7. The spirited crowd was filled with wrestling alumni, welcomed back to campus as part of Alumni Night at Canavan Arena.

"The team showed grit tonight," commented head coach Joe Favia. "Each match they fought to our points on the board, no matter the score. That's the philosophy we preach and they executed tonight in a big way."

"It is always a heated rivalry [between Stevens and NYU] and we thank our alumni and fans for coming out to support our wrestlers," Favia continued. "[There's] nothing more motivating than competing for your fans and supporters."

Before a bout was contested, junior Joey Borai picked up his 24th win of the season via forfeit. With the night's final outcome no longer in doubt after freshman Colin Myles gamely battled at 197 pounds before ultimately suffering a 6-2 decision to Jack La Corte, freshman Joseph Moreno also won via forfeit at 285 pounds. Junior Thomas Poklikuha added six points to the team score with a victory via injury default at 165 pounds. The combined 18 points proved to be the difference in the match, because neither team was able to earn any other bonus-point victories over the course of the evening.

Stanich, the nation's top wrestler at 133 pounds, extended his unbeaten streak with a 10-3 decision victory over Matt Noble. Freshman Brett Kaliner, ranked fourth in the country by both the National Wrestling Coaches Association and D3Wrestle.com extended the lead to 12 with an 8-2 decision over Will Crisco. No. 6 Evan Drill put NYU on the scoreboard with a hard-fought 12-6 decision over sophomore Dylan Van Sickell.

In the most anticipated bout of the night, Wilhelm and Jazikoff did not disappoint the crowd in a bout contested between a pair of top-10 grapplers. Despite a serious threat from the NYU wrestler over the match's final 30 seconds, Wilhelm held on for an 8-7 decision to earn his 30th win of the year.

NYU added three points with a decision victory at 174 pounds and added three more at 184 to close within 21-9. Senior Ryan Jachim was able to earn multiple points late in the final period to turn a potential major decision loss into just a decision setback, forcing NYU to need pins in the final two bouts to force a tie, which Myles was able to prevent at 197, leading to the final-bout forfeiture.  

Box Score
125# - Joey Borai (SIT) via forfeit; Stevens leading 6-0
133# - No. 1 Troy Stanich (SIT) over Matt Noble (NYU) (Dec. 10-3); Stevens leading 9-0
141# - No. 4 Brett Kaliner (SIT) over Will Crisco (NYU) (Dec. 8-2); Stevens leading 12-0
149# - No. 6 Evan Drill (NYU) over Dylan Van Sickell (SIT) (Dec. 12-6); Stevens leading 12-3
157# - No. 4 Zach Wilhelm (SIT) over No. 8 Raymond Jazikoff (NYU) (Dec. 8-7); Stevens leading 15-3    
165# - Thomas Poklikuha (SIT) over Blaise Benderoth (NYU) (Injury Default); Stevens leading 21-3
174# - Maykel Dolorit (NYU) over Josh Smith (SIT) (Dec. 12-6); Stevens leading 21-6
184# - Jackson Kligerman (NYU) over Ryan Jachim (SIT) (Dec. 13-9); Stevens leading 21-9
197# - Jack La Corte (NYU) over Colin Myles (SIT) (Dec. 6-2); Stevens leading 21-12
285# - Joseph Moreno (SIT) via forfeit; Stevens leading 27-12
 
Final Score: No. 17 Stevens: 27; NYU: 12
Rankings are NWCA

Up Next: No. 17 Stevens heads to Westminster, Maryland to wrap up the 2017-18 regular season with a pair of Centennial Conference duals with Washington and Lee University and Johns Hopkins University. The event is being held on the campus of McDaniel College. 

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics         
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
Snapchat: ducks_athletics
#AllRise