DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (January 16, 2010) – A short-handed Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling squad gave fifth-ranked Delaware Valley College all it could handle on Saturday afternoon in Doylestown, Pa. The Ducks held the lead going into the final bout but fell just short in losing 23-21 to the team that had beaten previous No. 1 University of Wisconsin – La Crosse a week ago. The Ducks (1-5 overall) won five of the 10 bouts but Del Val won the final match of the day at 285 lbs. to secure the victory.
Technically, Duck sophomore 125-pounder Brad Warren won by forfeit at 125 lbs. in the final match of the day but it was Delaware Valley freshman 285-pounder J.D. Zitone (Montague, N.J.) pinned freshman Brian Schmalz with 28 seconds left in the first period to lift the Aggies to a 23-21 victory over the visitors from Hoboken.
The match started at 133 lbs. and Delaware Valley won the first three bouts to take a 13-0 lead heading into the 157-lb. weight class. Senior captain Charles Favia earned a 10-3 decision over sophomore Rob Fecanin (Rutherford, N.J.) to get the Ducks on the board. Freshman Will Sharkey won by fall at 165 lbs. to make it 13-9 Del Val, and sophomore Joe Favia, wrestling at 174 lbs. for the first time this season, won an incredible overtime decision, 3-2, over junior Dan Dadino (Franklin Square, N.Y.) to make it a one-point match (13-12).
The Aggies got a major decision at 184 to go up 17-12, but senior Ernie Guaimano (Hillsborough, N.J.) took a 7-3 decision at 197 to essentially put the Ducks on top heading into the final bout because of the forfeit at 125 lbs. However, that lead was not enough and Zitone got the win by fall to seal the DVC win.
Stevens will return to the mat on January 20 when it hosts Hunter College at 7 p.m. in Walker Gymnasium. A webcast of the dual will be available at www.PennAtlantic.com/main.php.
DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 23, STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 21
133: Eric McCann (DVC) by technical fall over Ryan Neugebauer, 18-2; 4:17 (5-0 DVC)
141: Zak Andrews (DVC) by technical fall over Kyle Brisson, 18-2; 5:43 (10-0 DVC)
149: Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC) by decision over Ryan Bridge, 7-4 (13-0 DVC)
157: Charles Favia (S) by decision over Rob Fecanin, 10-3 (13-3 DVC)
165: Will Sharkey (S) by fall over Michael Chiappetta, 4:20 (13-9 DVC)
174: Joe Favia (S) by decision over Dan Daddino, 3-2 TB2 (13-12 DVC)
184: Martin Porter (DVC) by major decision over Vincent Termini, 17-6 (17-12 DVC)
197: Ernie Guaimano (S) by decision over Jake Phillips, 7-3 (17-15 DVC)
285: J.D. Zitone (DVC) by fall over Brian Schwalz, 2:32 (23-15 DVC)
125: Brad Warren (S) by forfeit (23-21)
