EWING, N.J. (February 13, 2021) – Sophomore Kyle Slendorn joined senior Brett Kaliner and junior Michael Dooley in earning wins, but No. 11 Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling fell to The College of New Jersey 24-16 Saturday afternoon in non-conference dual at Packer Hall. 

First-year Nick Boggiano earned his first collegiate victory for the Ducks, who won four of the nine contested matches in the dual, in falling to 0-2. TCNJ won six matches on the day, including a forfeit win at heavyweight to improve to 2-0. 

"Improvements were made from our last dual, just not enough to collect a win today," said head coach Joe Favia. "We have a young roster and there is a big learning curve. The guys are eager to make adjustments and have another crack at TCNJ on Wednesday.

TCNJ opened the dual with a pair of decision victories. First-year Andrew Finateri dropped an 11-6 score to Nick Denora at 125, while classmate Luke Hoerle fell to second-ranked Jake Giordano at 133 by a score of 6-1.

The Ducks earned wins in the next three bouts to jump in front on the dual scoreboard 10-6. Eighth-ranked Kyle Slendorn began the run with a major decision over Domenic Difrancescantonio in the 141-pound bout by a score of 17-8.

Kaliner, ranked second at 149 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association and first by D3Wrestle, scored his second pin in as many matches, stopping the Lions' Robert Dinger in the opening period. 

After Kaliner's pin gave Stevens its first lead of the day, Boggiano extended the Ducks' advantage to 13-6 with a 7-4 decision at 157. 

The Lions would rally with three straight bonus-point victories in the middleweights before Dooley, ranked third by the NWCA at 197, scored a 5-2 decision over fifth-ranked Quinn Haddad for Stevens' final points of the day. Dooley jumped out to a 4-1 advantage after the first period and then controlled Haddad over the final two to earn his second win of the season.

The teams also took to the mats for nine exhibition matches, where Stevens earned an additional five victories. Junior Joseph Schneider earned a win in his season debut with a major over Thomas Stigliano, while Hoerle collected his first collegiate win with a major over the Lions' Larry Melchionda. Sophomores Pasquale Vizzoni (149) and Jonah Schechtman (165) also posted victories while Martsinovsky pinned Brett McGrath in the second period for his first career win to round out the Ducks' day. The tenth exhibition match of the day featured a heavyweight matchup of TCNJ wrestlers that saw Dylan D'Amore earn a hard-fought 4-3 decision in the second sudden-victory period over Peter Wersinger.

Junior Nico Ziccardi also made his season debut with matches at 184 and 197.

Dual Box Score
Final Score: No. 13 The College of New Jersey 24; No. 11 Stevens: 16
125: Nick Denora (T) won by decision over Andrew Finateri (S), 11-6; TCNJ leads 3-0
133: #2 Jake Giordano (T) won by decision over Luke Hoerle (S), 6-1; TCNJ leads 6-0
141: #8 Kyle Slendorn (S) won by major decision over Domenic Difrancescantonio (T), 17-8; TCNJ leads 6-4
149: #2 Brett Kaliner (S) pinned Robert Dinger (T), 2:33; Stevens leads 10-6
157: Nick Boggiano (S) won by decision over David Santiago (T), 7-4; Stevens leads 13-6
165: Matthew Sacco (T) won by major decision over Jarrett Weir (S), 11-2; Stevens leads 13-10
174: Reid Colella (T) won by major decision over Joel Martsinovsky (S), 15-5; TCNJ leads 14-13
184: Thomas Anderson (T) won by major decision over Nico Ziccardi (S), 14-5; TCNJ leads 18-13
197: #3 Michael Dooley (S) won by decision over #5 Quinn Haddad (T), 5-2; TCNJ leads 18-16
HWT: Thomas Marretta (T) won by forfeit; TCNJ wins 24-16

Exhibitions
165: Joe Schneider (S) won by major decision over Thomas Stigliano (T), 14-4
HWT: Dylan D'Amore (T) won by decision over Peter Wersinger (T), 4-3 (SV:2)
133: Luke Hoerle (S) won by major decision over Larry Melchionda (T), 12-1
141: Domenic Difrancescantonio (T) won by decision over Trevor Mastorio (S), 6-4
141: Joseph Fiordaliso (T) pinned Will Fernandez (S), 3:28
149: Pasquale Vizzoni (S) pinned Thomas Dinger (T), 1:50
165: Jonah Schechtman (S) won by decision over Nick Golden (T), 3-2
184: Joel Martsinsovsky (S) pinned Brett MacMath (T), 4:04
197: Kal-El Corbitt (T) won by decision over Nico Ziccardi (S). 8-2
165: Thomas Stigliano (T) won by decision over James Snyder (S), 7-4

Up Next: The teams close out their home-and-home series Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. inside the friendly confines of Canavan Arena. It will be the first meeting between Stevens and TCNJ in Hoboken since Nov. 9, 2016. 

Please note that all event times, dates and opponents are subject to change and fans remain prohibited from attending Stevens' home athletic events. 

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