LEXINGTON, Va. (February 9, 2018) – No. 17 Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling travels to Washington and Lee University for the 2018 Centennial Conference Championship. The Ducks will look to become just the third team in conference history to win four straight Centennial Championships. Ursinus College was the first program to pull off the feat from 2003-07 and the United States Merchant Marine Academy followed from 2008-11.
The Ducks recently clinched their third straight dual match championship, amassing a perfect 7-0 record in conference duals. On the year, Stevens went 13-3 in dual meets and finished the year on an eight-dual winning streak.
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Seedings
Stevens received five No. 1 overall seeds, to lead all programs. No. 1
Troy Stanich (133), No. 3
Brett Kaliner (141),
Dylan Van Sickell (149), No. 4
Zach Wilhelm (157) and
Thomas Poklikuha (165) each received the top seed in their respective weight classes.
Joey Borai earned the second seed at 125 pounds.
History
The Ducks have totaled 26 individual championships during the program's tenure in the Centennial conference, ranking fifth all-time. Ursinus leads all Centennial Conference schools with 56 individual champions and 11 team championships. Four Stevens wrestlers have collected the championship's Outstanding Wrestler Award, including sophomore
Troy Stanich and head coach
Joe Favia, who accomplished the feat in 2017 and 2012, respectively. Alumnus Brandon MacWhinnie is one of two wrestlers to win consecutive OW awards.
Season Tidbits
The Ducks finished in third place or higher in three events: Ithaca Invitational (1st), Star City Open (2nd) and Matman Invitational (3rd). Senior
Zach Wilhelm led the team with 32 victories, setting both the program's record, and the Centennial Conference, record for career wins. Twenty of Wilhelm's victories came via bonus points.
Stanich, recently named the seventh-Most Dominant Wrestler in Division III, concluded the regular season with a perfect 27-0 record, and has only lost once during his two seasons on Castle Point. Twenty-three of the Roxbury, New Jersey native's wins have come via bonus point and Stanich leads the team with 11 pins.
Van Sickell and Borai each placed third on the team with 26 victories, while Kaliner follows with 25. Van Sickell led the team with 10 major decision victories, while finished third on the team with three technical falls.
Poklikuha returned to the lineup against Ursinus (Jan. 28) and has posted four straight victories. On the year, the junior is 13-1 with three pins.
Three different Ducks have garnered Centennial Wrestler of the Week honors. Wilhelm received the weekly recognition on Nov. 20 after winning the 157-pound title at the Star City Open. Kaliner shared the weekly award on Dec. 4 after earning the Outstanding Wrestler Award at the New Standard Invitational, and Stanich earned his second career Wrestler of the Week honor after winning the 133-pound title at the prestigious Matman Invitational.
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