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 20-17 in favor of Stevens to 23-17 in favor of Lycoming. The release below is in its original format and does not reflect the final score of 23-17.
HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 7, 2008) – Leading 17-10 after seven bouts, freshman Justin Galati scored a 5-2 decision over junior Bryan Kopesky (Phillipsburg, N.J.) to help the Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team get a 20-17 upset of 25th-ranked Lycoming College on Thursday night at the Walker Gymnasium in Hoboken, N.J. With the win, the Ducks got their first victory against a ranked opponent in the history of the program. They also went to 8-2 overall on the year. As for the Warriors, they dropped to 9-6.
After freshman Noel Faison (Virginia Beach, Va.) pinned sophomore Kyle Brisson at 125 lbs. to open up the dual, junior Mark Bistis responded with a solid 6-5 win against freshman Andrew Lewis (Wyalusing, Pa.) in the 133-lb. weight class. Lewis collected four points in the third period on a takedown, escape, caution and riding time point but it wasn't enough as Bistis got an early escape to secure the decision.
At 141, junior Pat Conrad defeated sophomore Jonathan Estable (Mount Joy, Pa.), 4-2, while sophomore Leo Dormann earned a 7-1 victory over freshman Michael Maurer (Towanda, Pa.) to give Stevens its first lead of the night (9-6).
Sophomore Charles Favia downed freshman Zachary Ewbank (Dillsburg, Pa.), 7-3, in the 157-lb. weight class to grab a six-point advantage. However, sophomore Chris Dahlmeier (Felton, Pa.) cut the deficit to four for Lycoming with a 12-1 major of junior Jordan Chacon at 165 lbs.
In the 174-lb. competition, senior and fourth-ranked Brandon MacWhinnie got a vital five points for the Ducks with a 16-0 technical fall against sophomore Justin Waycaster (Watsontown, Pa.). MacWhinnie tallied 10 points in the first period off of a trio of three-point near falls as well as a takedown to start the rout. At 184, Galati took down Kopesky twice in the third period to notch a 20-10 lead for Stevens. The result also locked up the win for the hosts.
Freshman James Ray barred any major comeback in the 197-lb. weight class as he held senior Troy Hansen (Westtown, N.Y.) to four team points with a major decision (10-0). Lastly, at heavyweight, senior Matt Miller (Muncy, Pa.) was bumped up a weight to try and score a fall to get a tie. Although Miller won, sophomore James Roarty only let him have three team points as the scoreboard read 7-0 at the end of the match.
“Every match regardless of who won or lost was big,” said Head Coach Mike Clayton. “Everyone did the job that they had to do for us to pick up our first victory against a ranked opponent.”
The Ducks return to action this Saturday when they head to Kings Point, N.Y. for the United States Merchant Marine Academy Quadrangular. They will face Centennial Conference opponents Gettysburg College and Johns Hopkins University to wrap up league action for the season. The first meet is scheduled to get underway at noon.
Stevens vs. Lycoming Results – February 7, 2008
125: Noel Faison (LC) def. Kyle Brisson (SIT) by fall (0:53)
133: Mark Bistis (SIT) def. Andrew Lewis (LC), 6-5
141: Pat Conrad (SIT) def. Jonathan Estable (LC), 4-2
149: Leo Dormann (SIT) def. Michael Maurer (LC), 7-1
157: Charles Favia (SIT) def. Zach Ewbank (LC), 7-3
165: Chris Dahlmeier (LC) def. Jordan Chacon (SIT), 12-1
174: Brandon MacWhinnie (SIT) def. Justin Waycaster (LC), 16-0 TF4:48
184: Justin Galati (SIT) def. Bryan Kopesky (LC), 5-2 (Match was later changed to DQ)
197: Troy Hansen (LC) def. James Ray (SIT), 10-0
285: Matt Miller (LC) def. James Roarty (SIT), 7-0
