MANHEIM, Pa. (April 9, 2020) – Seven members of the Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team were named All-Americans, the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) announced Tuesday evening.
Senior
Troy Stanich, junior
Brett Kaliner and sophomore
Michael Dooley each landed on the NWCA's First Team, while freshman
Kyle Slendorn, senior
Dylan Van Sickell and graduate student
Thomas Poklikuha were named to the organization's Second Team. Sophomore
Akhil Vega was named a Third Team All-American to round out Stevens' recognition. Each year, All-America status is determined by an individual's achievement in the national championship tournament, however, this year's championship was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The All-America honors were based on each wrestler's overall body of work throughout the season, including the regional tournaments.
"These athletes deserve to be recognized for their outstanding work during the 2019-20 season," said Lonnie Morris, NWCA Division III President. "I am proud of the NWCA Division III leadership group working so diligently to review the candidates and for developing a meaningful process for recognizing this elite group of young men."
The All-America recognition for Stanich and Kaliner is the third of their respective distinguished careers, while Dooley, Slendorn, Van Sickell, Poklikuha and Vega each earn their first career honor. Six of the seven were also named Scholar All-Americans by the NWCA last month.
"Since the shutdown, coaches across the country have been working to rectify the cancelation of the national tournament for the athletes," commented head wrestling coach
Joe Favia. "This honor will not fill the void that was created, but it is recognition that will forever mark an unforgettable national tournament experience."
"In my mind, this team has already achieved the highest accolades they could ever earn," Favia continued. "These All-America teams will give some guys closure, and for some, they have already found closure. I am as proud now as I have ever been for this team. Great things are ahead for each of them."
"I appreciate the NWCA DIII leadership group putting this proposal together and seeing it through,' added assistant coach
Anthony Bonaventura. "This is a unique situation, but I am proud of the work each of the seven national qualifiers put in throughout the season to position themselves for success on the national stage. This recognition is well deserved and was earned through their consistent performance throughout the entire season."
Stanich posted a 26-2 record in his final season of collegiate competition and totaled 152 wins over his four-year career. A four-time NCAA qualifier, Stanich concluded his career as a three-time All-American and a three-time regional champion. The Succasunna, New Jersey native captured three Centennial Conference individual titles and one in the Middle Atlantic Conference and was named the MAC's Wrestler of the Year on March 18. Stanich also became just the second wrestler in program history to earn an NCAA year-end award when he finished atop the NCAA's Most Dominant Wrestler standings. The nation's top-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds represented the program at the prestigious Ken Kraft Midlands Championships.
Kaliner entered the national championship ranked second at 149 after posting a 26-3 record, with 15 pins, three majors and eight tech falls. Each of the West Chester, Pennsylvania native's victories this season came with bonus points. Kaliner, who finished third in the Most Dominant Wrestler standings, amassed his 100th career victory at the regional tournament en route to earning Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Southeast Regional Championship. The 149-pounder also captured a MAC Individual title and joined Stanich in representing the program at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships.
Dooley was set to compete in his second national championship tournament, although his first at 197. The second-year wrestler posted a 25-2 record and captured an individual title at both the MAC Championship and at regionals, while also taking first at the season-opening Washington and Jefferson Invitational. Dooley scored five pins, to go along with six majors, which tied for second on the team. The Hillsborough, New Jersey native also added four tech falls to post 15 bonus-point victories.
Slendorn posted a 20-3 record in his first on the mats, earning individual titles at both the conference and regional level en route to capturing the conference's Rookie of the Year Award. The Howell, New Jersey native counted 12 pins among his 20 wins, to go along with one major and one tech fall to accumulate 14 bonus-point victories.
Set for his third national championship tournament, Van Sickell compiled a 23-4 record in his final season on Castle Point. A three-time conference champion, the Little Silver, New Jersey native concluded his career with 126 victories and placed at the regional tournament in each of his four seasons on Castle Point. Of his 23 wins this season, Van Sickell scored 10 pins and led the team with seven majors to total 17 bonus-point victories.
Poklikuha concluded his season with a 22-4 record and was set for his second national championship. The West Creek, New Jersey native compiled 116 wins in his career and was a two-time conference champion, with titles in both the MAC and the Centennial, while also capturing one regional title. This season, "Pok" earned four pins, to go along with six majors and seven tech falls, to total 17 bonus-point victories. His seven tech falls ranked second on the team.
Vega reached his first national championship after finishing third at 125 pounds at the Southeast Regional Championship. The Cuppertino, California native also placed third at the MAC Championship posted a 12-10 record over his second season on Castle Point and totaled one pin and a pair of majors and tech falls to finish with five bonus-point victories.
Click
here for the NWCA's official announcement.
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