ANNVILLE, Pa. (March 15, 2023) – First-year Ryan Smith and head coach Joe Favia of the Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team were each honored by the Middle Atlantic Conference as the league announced its major awards. 

Smith was tabbed MAC Rookie of the Year, while Favia was named Coach of the Year as Stevens won two of the conference's three major individual awards. Alvernia's Matt Lackman was tabbed Wrestler of the Year to round out the individual accolades. The awards are nominated and voted on by the eight conference wrestling coaches.

Smith won the NCAA Southeast Region title after finishing second place at the MAC Championship. The first-year wrestler earned his way to the second day of the NCAA Championship to earn his first All-America honor. Smith finished with a 24-9 record, including a 2-3 dual record. The Brick, New Jersey product scored three pins and one major and notched his fastest pin of the year (2:08) in his first collegiate match, topping Waynesburg's Kyle Hinerman. 

Favia received his third straight Coach of the Year honor after piloting the Ducks to a third straight MAC crown, extending the Ducks' streak of consecutive conference titles to eight, dating back to the program's tenure in the Centennial Conference. The Ducks had five conference champions, five regional champions and four All-Americans. Additionally, the Ducks posted a 10-4 mark in duals, marking the squad's highest win total since 2018-19. Favia's third straight MAC Coach of the Year award also moved his streak to eight after earning five straight Coach of the Year awards from the Centennial Conference. 

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