NOTE: At the conclusion of this match, it was determined that Stevens was disqualified at 184 lbs. As such, the total team score changed from 20-18 in favor of Stevens to 21-20 in favor of Elizabethtown. The release below is in its original format and does not reflect the final score of 21-20.
HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 12, 2008) - Two days after putting the first dual-meet win of the year under its belt, the Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team returned to the mat on Saturday afternoon, and picked up its second consecutive win against Elizabethtown College, 20-18. With the victory, the Ducks moved to an overall record of 2-1, while the Blue Jays fell to 4-6.
The deciding factor in the match was the bout at heavyweight between sophomore James Roarty and sophomore Tim Katzaman (Wyomissing, Pa.). With Stevens trailing by a score of 18-17, Roarty and Katzaman were tied at 1-1 after three periods. In the first ride-out session, Katzaman escaped to give Elizabethtown a 2-1 lead. However, in the second ride-out period, Roarty was handed a penalty point because Katzaman was locking hands and then received the game-winning point for an escape.
The Blue Jays jumped out to an early 6-0 advantage at 125 lbs. as freshman Marty Harnish (Marietta, Pa.) pinned sophomore Kyle Brisson in a time of 5:35. Junior Mark Bistis came back at 133 with four points as he scored a 14-1 major decision over freshman Jarrod Cawley (Fleetwood, Pa.). while junior Pat Conrad notched a 7-3 win against sophomore Drew Winegar (Chatsworth, N.J.) in the 141-lb. competition to go ahead 7-6.
Then, Elizabethtown sophomore Bud Croswell (Newark, Del.) held off sophomore Leo Dormann by a 7-5 score at 149 to give the Blue Jays a 9-7 lead. Stevens answered the call by winning the next three matches to grab hold of an eight-point advantage (17-9). Sophomore Charles Favia slightly defeated junior Jereme Heisey (Manheim, Pa.), 4-3, at 157 lbs. Freshman Bobby Bishop downed sophomore Mike Lussier (Cherry Hill, N.J.) 10-5 in the 165-lb. contest, and senior Brandon MacWhinnie majored (10-1) sophomore Paul Connor (Tabernacle, N.J.) at 174 for his team-high eighth of the year.
At the time, the Blue Jays rallied with victories at 184 and 197 lbs. to take back the lead at 18-17. First-year Josh Cook (Gardners, Pa.) beat freshman Justin Galati by a 6-5 decision at 184. while sophomore Deron Sharp (Millville, N.J.) pinned sophomore Ernie Guaimano at 197 in a time of 6:27.
"After the match was over, I told the guys to immediately get in the shower." Head Coach Mike Clayton said. "We didn't want anyone to change their mind. It was that close of a contest."
The Ducks return to action next Saturday when they travel to Lexington, Va. for a quad at Washington & Lee University. Stevens will take on the host Generals as well as the Green Terror of McDaniel College. Action is scheduled to get underway at noon.
Stevens vs. Elizabethtown Results – January 12, 2008
125 lbs. – Marty Harnish (EC) def. Kyle Brisson (SIT) by fall (5:35)
133 lbs. – Mark Bistis (SIT) def. Jarrod Cawley (EC), 14-1
141 lbs. – Pat Conrad (SIT) def. Drew Winegar (EC), 7-3
149 lbs. – Bud Croswell (EC) def. Leo Dormann (SIT), 7-5
157 lbs. – Charles Favia (SIT) def. Jereme Heisey (EC), 4-3
165 lbs. – Bobby Bishop (SIT) def. Mike Lussier (EC), 10-5
174 lbs. – Brandon MacWhinnie (SIT) def. Paul Connor (EC), 10-1
184 lbs. – Josh Cook (EC) def. Justin Galati (SIT), 6-5 (Match was later changed to DQ)
197 lbs. – Deron Sharp (EC) def. Ernie Guaimano (SIT) by fall (6:27)
285 lbs. – James Roarty (SIT) def. Tim Katzaman (EC), 3-2 (OT)
