PROVIDENCE, R.I. (January 28, 2023) – Senior Kyle Slendorn extended his winning streak to 12, but No. 12 Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling fell to No. 2 Johnson & Wales University Saturday in a dual match at the Wildcat Center. 

Sophomore Harrison Hinojosa and junior Stefan Major also had victories for the Ducks, who won three of the 10 matches in dropping to 7-4 on the year. 

Five nationally-ranked wrestlers had victories for Johnson & Wales, who improved to 26-3-1 on the year. The Wildcats have won nine straight duals and improved to 2-1 all-time against the Ducks. Saturday's dual marked the first meeting between the programs in Providence. 

The dual began at 133, where the Wildcats' Nicholas Torres pinned junior Andrew Finateri to put the home team up 6-0. The early lead would hold up as the teams would split the next six bouts - all of which were won by decision. 

Slendorn, ranked third by both the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and D3Wrestle, put Stevens on the board with a 6-4 victory over Victor Perlleshi. The victory improved the Ramtown, New Jersey native's season record to 17-2. 

In the first of two matches featuring a pair of nationally-ranked grapplers, No. 2/2 Hayden Brown held off No. 7/5 Hunter Gutierrez via a highly competitive 3-2 decision. A spirited 12-7 decision at 157 pushed Johnson & Wales' lead to 12-3 before the Ducks claimed the next two bouts to pull within 12-9. First, Hinojosa posted a 3-2 victory of his own at 165, defeating Patrick Wisniewski. Major, ranked fifth at 174 by the NWCA and sixth by D3Wrestle, followed with an 8-4 decision over Scott DeFex for his sixth straight win.

Unfortunately, Major's victory at 174 would be the final one of the night for the Ducks as the Wildcats won the last four bouts of the night, three of which came with bonus points, to secure the dual victory. No. 7/9 Ryan DeVivo topped senior Frank Medina by decision at 184 and #13 Dylan Harr scored a major decision over Max Ruiz to push the margin to 19-9. With the ultimate outcome of the dual still up in the air, No. 7/9 Liridon Leka won by major decision over graduate student Michael Dooley for the dual-clinching victory.

In the final match of the evening, the consensus No. 1 wrestler at 125, Joziah Fry topped junior Luke Hoerle via a 14-4 major decision. 

No. 2 Johnson & Wales 27, No. 12 Stevens 9 
133: Nicholas Torres (JWU) pinned Andrew Finateri (SIT), 1:39; JWU leading 6-0
141: #3/3 Kyle Slendorn (SIT) won by decision over Victor Perlleshi (JWU), 6-4; JWU leading 6-3
149: #2/2 Hayden Brown (JWU) won by decision over #7/4 Hunter Gutierrez (SIT), 3-2; JWU leading 9-3
157: Matthew Garcia (JWU) won by decision over Ryan Smith (SIT), 12-7; JWU leading 12-3
165: Harrison Hinojosa (SIT) won by decision over Patrick Wisniewski (JWU), 3-2; JWU leading 12-6
174: #5/6 Stefan Major (SIT) won by decision over Scott DeFex (JWU), 8-4; JWU leading 12-9
184: #7/9 Ryan DeVivo (JWU) won by decision over Frank Medina (SIT), 8-4; JWU leading 15-9
197: #13 Dylan Harr (JWU) won by major decision over Max Ruiz (SIT), 14-3; JWU leading 19-9
285: #7/9 Liridon Leka (JWU) won by major decision over Michael Dooley (SIT), 15-1; JWU leading 23-9
125: #1/1 Joziah Fry (JWU) won by major decision over #2/5 Luke Hoerle (SIT), 14-4; JWU leading 27-9

Up Next: No. 12 Wrestling remains in Providence for the Johnson & Wales Open on Jan. 29.

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