MUHLENBERG, Pa. (January 30, 2010) – The Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team went 1-2 in a Centennial Conference quad hosted by Muhlenberg College on Saturday in Muhlenberg, Pa. The Ducks opened with a 46-6 win over the host, but fell 21-20 to Ursinus College, and 24-17 to No. 13 United States Merchant Marine Academy. Stevens was led by three wins from sophomore 141-pounder Ryan Bridge and junior 174-pounder Bobby Bishop.
Stevens 46, Muhlenberg 6
Sophomore Brad Warren put the Ducks up early with a win by forfeit at 125 lbs. Muhlenberg was able to tie things up at six apiece after a win by fall at 133 lbs., but that would be it for the Mules as the Ducks rolled the rest of the way, winning the final eight bouts.
Bridge got his fourth-straight win when he pinned sophomore Kevin Homan (Robbinsville, N.J.) at 141 lbs. to give the Ducks a 12-6 edge, and freshman Ryan Owens recorded a win by fall over freshman Matt Parker (Roxbury, N.J.) for an 18-6 lead.
After senior Charles Favia put Stevens on top 21-6 with a 7-4 decision over junior Keith Swanson (Hackettstown, N.J.) at 157, sophomore 165-pounder Joe Favia notched his 13th-consecutive victory when he pinned sophomore Patrick Gibson (East Lyme, Conn.) 47 seconds into their match.
Bishop pinned sophomore Kenneth Ludwig (Havertown, Pa.) a little more than a minute into their match at 174 to open up a 33-6 advantage, and senior Justin Galati earned six-team points with a win by forfeit at 184 lbs.
Senior Ernie Guaimano won a 6-2 decision to make it 42-6 Stevens, and senior captain James Roarty earned a 15-7 major decision over freshman Chris Galletta (Ardsley, N.Y.) for the final margin.
In total Stevens won 9-of-10 bouts and only 2-of-10 matches lasted into the third period. The win also marks the 50th career victory of head coach Mike Clayton's coaching career.
Ursinus 21, Stevens 20
Ursinus won the first two bouts at 125 and 133 to open up a 12-0 lead but the Ducks battled back. Bridge got the Ducks on the board when he earned an 11-3 major decision over senior Dan Glover (Bergenfield, N.J.) at 141 lbs. Owens dropped a decision at 149 lbs. to make it 15-4 Ursinus, but Charles Favia earned three-team points with an overtime decision over junior John Whitman (Abington, Pa.) at 157 lbs.
Joe Favia earned four points with a major decision at 165 lbs. and Bishop got a win by fall (1:09) over freshman Michael Kevlin (Manalapan, N.J.) to give the Ducks their first lead of the dual at 17-15. The Ducks dropped bouts at 184 and 197 to give Ursinus a 21-17 edge going into the heavyweights. Roarty was able to earn a decision for the Ducks but it wasn't enough as the Bears held on for a 21-20 victory.
Stevens and Ursinus split (5-5) the 10 bouts.
Merchant Marine 24, Stevens 17
The Ducks wrestled very well against Merchant Marine but were unable to make up a large early deficit. Stevens fell behind 9-0 after bouts at 125 and 133 lbs., but Bridge was able to get the Ducks on the board with a technical fall (5:32) over freshman Garrick Skubon (Charlestown, W.V.) to make it a four-point match. USMMA went up 21-5 after wins at 149,157, and 165 but Stevens battled back to make it interesting.
Bishop won his third bout of the day with a 4-1 decision over the fifth-ranked 174-pounder in the nation in Justin Diesel, Galati made it 21-14 when his opponent sophomore Erik Schott (Alliance, Ohio) was disqualified. Guaimano earned an 8-2 decision over sophomore Dan Argast (Mt. Kisco, N.Y.) to bring the Ducks within four (21-17), but junior Judd Connell (Hastings, Minn.) defeated Roarty in the final match of the day at 285 lbs. to secure the win for USMMA.
Stevens' Joe Favia had his 14-match win streak snapped by rival Vincent Renault (Plymouth, Mass.) at 165. The two battled but Renault prevailed in a 3-2 decision.
In going 1-2 in the three matches the Ducks drop to 4-8 on the season and are now 2-3 in Centennial Conference action. Stevens will return to action with a tri-match in Walker Gymnasium on February 6 beginning at 10 a.m. The Ducks will host SUNY Cortland and Middlesex County Community College.
Stevens 46, Muhlenberg 6
125 Brad Warren (S) won by forfeit (6-0)
133 Tommy Gazza (M) pinned Ryan Neugebauer, 2:55 (6-6)
141 Ryan Bridge (S) pinned Kevin Homan, 1:27 (12-6)
149 Ryan Owens (S) pinned Matt Parker, 1:03 (18-6)
157 Charles Favia (S) dec. Keith Swanson, 7-4 (21-6)
165 Joe Favia (S) pinned Patrick Gibson, 3:47 (27-6)
174 Bobby Bishop (S) pinned Kenneth Ludwig, 1:07 (33-6)
184 Justin Galati (S) won by forfeit (39-6)
197 Ernie Guaimano (S) dec. Nick Pallotta, 6-2 (42-6)
HWT James Roarty (S) maj. dec. Chris Galletta, 15-7 (46-6)
Ursinus 21, Stevens 20
125 Connor Gregory (U) pinned Brad Warren, 3:10 (0-6)
133 Alex Blank (U) pinned Frank Maselli, 2:24 (0-12)
141 Ryan Bridge (S) maj. dec. Dan Glover, 11-3 (4-12)
149 Connor McCormick (U) dec. Ryan Owens, 8-1 (4-15)
157 Charles Favia (S) dec. John Whitham, 3-1 (rideout) (7-15)
165 Joe Favia (S) maj. dec. Harris Papas, 10-2 (11-15)
174 Bobby Bishop (S) pinned Michael Kevlin, 1:09 (17-15)
184 Connor McNamara (U) dec. Justin Galati, 3-0 (17-18)
197 Nate Murren (U) dec. Ernie Guaimano, 7-1 (17-21)
HWT James Roarty (S) dec. Ed Minelli, 6-3 (20-21)
No. 13 Merchant Marine 24, Stevens 17
125 Jordan Alfaro (MM) pinned Brad Warren, 1:14 (0-6)
133 Ian Nisely (MM) dec. Frank Maselli, 11-5 (0-9)
141 Ryan Bridge (S) tech fall Garrick Skubon, 5:32 (5-9)
149 Martin Bell (MM) pinned Ryan Owens, 1:05 (5-15)
157 Dan Twito (MM) dec. Charles Favia, 4-0 (5-18)
165 Vincent Renaut (MM) dec. Joe Favia, 3-2 (5-21)
174 Bobby Bishop (S) dec. Justin Diesel, 4-1 (8-21)
184 Justin Galati (S) over Erik Schott, disqualification, 4:20 (14-21)
197 Ernie Guaimano (S) dec. Dan Argast, 8-2 (17-21)
HWT Judd Connell (MM) dec. James Roarty, 2-1 (17-24)
