YORK, Pa. (February 25, 2023) – First-year Nico Diaz, senior Hunter Gutierrez, first-year Ryan Smith, junior Stefan Major and graduate student Michael Dooley were each crowned regional champions as No. 9 Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling captured its third straight Southeast Regional title Saturday at the M&T Bank Field House. 

Junior Luke Hoerle finished third at 125 and senior Kyle Slendorn finished second at 141 as the Ducks will send seven wrestlers to the NCAA Division III National Championships to match a program record.

The regional titles were the first for Diaz, Smith and Gutierrez, while Major and Dooley each captured their second. 

As a team, Stevens amassed 181 points over the two-day event, which was hosted by York College of Pennsylvania, to finish atop the 21-team standings and claim the program's third straight regional title. Stevens finished 36.5 points ahead of second-place Alvernia, who totaled 144.5 points. Washington & Lee finished third with 109 points, with York (97) and Wilkes (87.5) rounding out the top five. Lycoming's Gable Crebs won the award for the most falls, while Greensboro's Josh Wilson took home Outstanding Wrestler honors. Washington & Lee swept the coaching accolades as Alex Radsky was named the region's Staff Person of the Year and Nathan Shearer was named Coach of the Year to round out the individual awards.

"The effort that was shown this weekend by our 10 wrestlers was amazing to watch," head coach Joe Favia said. "Win or lose, the product that was put on the mat this weekend was something this program should be proud of and that starts with Harrison who rattled off five victories in row after dropping his opening match to wrestle all the way back to the bronze medal match. This team fought from start to finish and they finished on top. Our staff couldn't be prouder." 

"Sending seven wrestlers to Roanoke is a powerful statement, but our mission isn't over," Favia continued. "We are focused on finishing strong by taking an army to Virginia to battle for the national title."

In his first match of the day, Diaz met third-seeded Jack Bauer of Wilkes and after the two 133-pounders were deadlocked at 1 after three periods, Diaz scored a four-point near-fall in the first sudden-victory period to advance to the championship match and secure his place at nationals. In the final, Diaz was awarded the win after nationally-ranked, and top-seeded, Dalton Rohrbaugh of York withdrew from the tournament as a medical forfeit.

Gutierrez earned his first regional crown in dominant fashion. The Lacey Township, New Jersey native posted consecutive first-period pins to finish atop the 149-pound bracket. First, Gutierrez pinned fourth-seeded Peyton Hearn of Thiel in 98 seconds before capping his tournament with a pin of second-seeded Hai Siu in 2:32. Gutierrez won all four of his matches in the tournament with bonus points, finishing with three pins and a tech fall. 

Smith, meanwhile, faced a tall task in his first match of the day, taking on second-seeded, and national No. 10, Jesse Alvarado. Smith built a 4-2 lead through two periods and used a four-point near-fall with 25 seconds left in the match to secure the 8-3 decision win. In the 157-pound championship bout, Smith took on fourth-seeded Jason Rezac of Alvernia, who scored an 11-3 major of the bracket's top seed to reach the finals. In the championship, Smith built a 5-1 lead through two periods and then earned the riding time point to secure a 6-3 victory. 

Major captured his second straight regional title at 174 pounds. In his semifinal match, Major pinned King's College's Kade Kravits as time expired in the first period. Then in the final, Major reversed out of the bottom position at the start of the third period to secure two crucial points in a 5-4 victory over second-seeded Colby Morris of Waynesburg.

Dooley, the fourth seed at heavyweight, earned two hard-fought decision wins to capture the regional title. First, the Hillsborough, New Jersey native held a 2-0 lead over Delaware Valley's Austin Williams entering the final period. Williams was whistled for his third stall to push Dooley's advantage to three. Williams scored a takedown with 32 seconds left in the match, but Dooley quickly escaped to provide the final 4-2 margin of victory. In the final, Dooley faced Greensboro's sixth-seeded Brandon Williams. Neither wrestler scored a point through the first two periods. Dooley broke through with an escape from the bottom position and then earned the riding time point (which was built earlier in the match) to earn the 2-0 shutout victory. 

Slendorn will compete for a national title for the third straight year after finishing second at 141. The Ramtown, New Jersey native began his day with a 16-5 major over fourth-seeded Mark Samuel of Roanoke. Leading 7-5 at the start of the third period, Slendorn amassed nine points in the final period to secure the victory. Slendorn fell to Wilson, the bracket's second seed in the championship match.

Hoerle advanced to the national tournament for the first time after defeating top-seeded, and 11th-ranked Riley Parker of Washington & Lee in the third-place match via a 12-4 major decision. The Westfield, New Jersey native scored six points in the final 15 seconds of the opening period to build an early lead. Hoerle then had a reversal and a takedown in the final minute of the second period to push the lead to 10. Hoerle fell into the consolation bracket via a narrow 3-2 decision to Averett's Mason Barrett, but Hoerle quickly bounced back with a 6-4 decision over York's Jared Kuhns, his third win over the nationally-ranked Kuhns this season.

After dropping his first match at 165 Friday, sophomore Harrison Hinojosa won three straight matches, including avenging his earlier setback, to remain in contention for a spot at nationals. Hinojosa began his day with a 6-5 decision over sixth-seeded Jacob Cherry of Roanoke, scoring three points in the final period to earn the victory. The Haddon Township, New Jersey native then won his fifth straight match with an exciting 14-10 victory over fourth-seeded Anthony Taylor of Averett. Hinojosa built a 10-5 advantage through two periods, but Taylor cut the deficit to a single point with a takedown with 40 seconds left. Hinojosa escaped with 22 seconds left and with Taylor trying to knot the match and force extra time, it was Hinojosa that had the final say, scoring a takedown in the final seconds to earn his fifth straight win. In the third-place match against third-seeded Zach Needles of Messiah, Hinojosa had the first points of the match with a takedown, but a Needles escape in both the first, and second, periods had the wrestlers even heading into the final period. Starting in the neutral position, Needles scored a takedown with 74 seconds remaining. Hinojosa escaped with 24 seconds left, but was unable to score and dropped a hard-fought 4-3 decision.

Senior Medina dropped a narrow 3-1 decision to Alvernia's Isaac Kassis in the semifinals to fall into the consolation bracket. The Millington, New Jersey product quickly bounced back with an 8-0 major over Wilkes' Hunter Lowe to reach the 184-pound third-place match, where he faced the bracket's top seed, and seventh-ranked Mahlic Sallah of Roanoke. Sallah scored a takedown in the final minute of the first period and held a 3-1 lead entering the final period. Medina escaped from the bottom position to trim the margin to one, but Sallah scored a takedown with 56 seconds left to take a 5-2 lead. Medina quickly escaped but was unable to score over the final 30 seconds and fell via a 5-3 margin.

Up Next: The seven national qualifiers head to Roanoke, Virginia for the NCAA Division III national championships, which are set to begin at 11 a.m. on Mar. 10. The appropriate links will be posted to StevensDucks.com once available.

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