YORK, Pa. (February 24, 2023) – Nine members of the ninth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling remain alive through the first day of competition at the 2023 NCAA Southeast Regional Championship, hosted by York College of Pennsylvania at its M&T Bank Field House. 

Of the nine Ducks that advanced to tomorrow's championship rounds, junior Luke Hoerle, first-year Nico Diaz, senior Kyle Slendorn, senior Hunter Gutierrez, first-year Ryan Smith, junior Stefan Major, senior Frank Medina and graduate student Michael Dooley all remain alive in the championship bracket, while sophomore Harrison Hinojosa is still in contention in the consolation bracket. The top-three placers in each of the 10 weight classes advance to the NCAA Division III National Championships Mar. 10-11 in Roanoke, Virginia. 

Each of the nine advancing Ducks were seeded inside the top-four in their respective weight classes. Slendorn earned the top overall seed at 141, while Gutierrez and Major were seeded first at 149 and 174, respectively. 

As a team, the Ducks have amassed 93 points to sit atop the 21-team standings after the first day of competition. Stevens is in search of its third straight regional title. 

Hoerle, seeded second at 125, opened his tournament with a 9-5 decision victory over Lycoming's Kaden Majcher. The Westfield, New Jersey native then advanced to the semifinals with a hard-fought 6-5 victory over seventh-seeded Mac Cafurello of Roanoke with the riding time point boosting Hoerle to victory. The Ducks' 125-pounder takes on third-seeded (and national #12) Mason Barrett of Alvernia in the semifinal round.

In his first regional tournament, Diaz, who is seeded second at 133, began his day with a 15-6 major over King's Cole Anderson. The Woodbridge, New Jersey native then moved on to Saturday's semifinals with a 6-1 decision victory over seventh-seeded Hunter Swedish of Washington and Jefferson. Diaz meets third-seeded Jack Bauer of Wilkes in the semifinals. 

Slendorn continued his dominant senior season with three pins to bring his season total to a team-leading 17. The Ramtown, New Jersey native began his day with a third-period pin of York's Bryan Diaz. Slendorn then pinned Thiel's Hunter Martz in the second period and capped his day with a first-period fall over eighth-seeded Levi Englman of Ferrum. Slendorn, who has won his last 18 bouts, meets fourth-seeded Mark Samuel of Roanoke in the semifinals. The four top seeds remain alive in the championship bracket.

Gutierrez began his day with a second-period pin of Shenandoah's Christian Johnson-Hunte. The Lacey Township, New Jersey native advanced to the semifinals with a 15-0 tech fall over eighth-seeded Elijah Blackwell of Southern Virginia. Gutierrez takes on unseeded Peyton Hearn from Thiel to kick off Saturday's competition.

Smith, the third seed at 157, advanced to the semifinals in his first regional tournament. The Brick, New Jersey native began his day with a third-period pin of King's College's Bret Murphy. Smith then earned a narrow 3-1 decision over multi-time national qualifier Garret Cornell from Messiah. Smith scored an early takedown in the first period and then added the riding time point to cement the victory. He'll take on second-seeded, and 10th-ranked, Jesse Alvarado in the semifinals. All four of the top seeds in the weight class are alive in the championship bracket.

Major, meanwhile, began his tournament with a first-period pin of Alvernia's Gavin Hollingsworth. Major advanced to the semifinals with a 15-3 major over York's Jared Townsend for his third win of the season over the Spartans' 174-pounder. Major takes on fourth-seeded Kade Kravits of King's in the semifinal round. Each of the top four seeds at 174 remain alive in the championship side of the bracket.

Medina, the second seed at 184, also began his tournament in a big way with a first-period pin of Gettysburg's Russell Canova. He then advanced to Saturday's semifinals with a 5-0 shutout of seventh-seeded Connor Wrobleski of King's. Medina, who has won his last five matches, takes on Alvernia's second-seeded Isaac Kassis in the semifinals.

Dooley is the final Duck alive on the championship side of the bracket. The Hillsborough, New Jersey product, who is ranked fourth at heavyweight, began his tournament with a pin of Southern Virginia's Igor Lakicevic as the clock expired at the end of the second period. Dooley advanced to the semifinals with a hard-fought 3-2 decision victory over fifth-seeded Matt Majoy of Washington & Lee. Dooley's takedown in the final minute secured the victory. Dooley meets eighth-seeded Austin Williams of Delaware Valley in Saturday's semifinals. 

Hinojosa remains alive in the consolation bracket at 165, where the winner of the third-place bout will also qualify for nationals. Hinojosa dropped a 4-2 decision to Wilkes' James Geiger before winning three straight matches to advance through the bracket. The Haddon Township, New Jersey native began his run with a third-period pin of Penn State-Behrend's Matt Posego before scoring four takedowns of Lycoming's Chase Chapman in a 10-7 decision win. To wrap up his day, Hinojosa avenged his earlier defeat by Geiger with a third-period pin of Wilkes' 165-pounder. He'll meet sixth-seeded Jacob Cherry Saturday.

Sophomore Brendan Newbury dropped two matches at 197 to bow out of the tournament. 

Up Next: The final day of competition begins at 10 a.m. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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