Ducks Wrestling Preps for 2011-12 Season
Thursday, October 20, 2011
HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 17, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team officially begins its season on November 6, when the Ducks host Bridgewater State University and Rhode Island College at 1 p.m. In 2010-11, Stevens finished the 2010-11 season ranked No. 23 nationally by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and racked up a school-record 14 wins, surpassing the previous best mark of 12 set back in 2008-09.
As a team in the classroom, the Ducks recorded their highest finish in school history in the NWCA Academic Standings, placing third in the nation with a 3.551 grade-point average.
On the mat, Stevens finished third overall in the Centennial Conference Championships with 60.5 team points.
Head Coach Mike Clayton returns a core group of student-athletes that combined for a 91-34 record last season, one was an All-American for the second straight season, the first time in program history that a Stevens’ wrestler has achieved that accolade.
The All-American, senior Ryan Bridge (Galloway, N.J.), ranked sixth last season in the final individual polls on February 8 going into the NCAA tournament in the 141-pound weight class, posted a 13-3 record and came in seventh place at the NCAAs. Junior Ryan Dormann (Mickleton, N.J.) was nearly unbeatable in 2011, tallied a 36-5 mark and was ranked No.10 going into the championships at 174 pounds. Both student-athletes will look to stand on top of the podium at NCAAs this season.
Junior Jason Nowakoski (Jackson, N.J.) returns after picking up six victories at 184 last season and was also recognized by the Centennial’s Sportsmanship Team. Another junior, Joey Favia (Brick, N.J.) will be looked upon for some experience after sitting out 2010 and wrestling for the Hawkeye Club in Iowa. As a member of the squad in 2008-09, Favia posted a 27-10 record.
"This will be the first time in our school's history where three of our returning wrestlers will start the season ranked in the top 8 nationally, in their respective weight classes.” said Clayton. “We will need our other strong returning wrestlers and top newcomers to fight hard to put us in a solid position all season.”
Two sophomore grapplers, Andrew Boehm (Granville, Ohio) and CJ Castera (Mt. Arlington, N.J.), will be looked upon to build off successful freshmen campaigns for the Ducks. Boehm wrestled to a 17-13 overall record, while Castera was an impressive 25-13.
Also returning to the mat on Castle Point in 2011-12 are: the lone senior Bridge, juniors Azizbek Babkhanov (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Joey Matarazzo (Whitehouse Station, N.J.), Ryan Neugebauer (Baldwin, N.Y.), Ryan Owens (Fallston, Md.), Brian Schmalz (Colts Neck, N.J.), and Will Sharkey (Westminster, Md.), sophomores Greg Chrin (Easton, Pa.), Cody Curtiss (Frisco, Texas), Michael DiLiello (Islip Terrance, N.Y.), James Holden (Staten Island, N.Y.), Alex Moreno (Tenafly, N.J.), and Frank Pestana (North Bergen, N.J.).
A number of freshmen will be joining the squad this season and will bring depth to many different weight classes. Those newcomers include: Conner Bass (Westhampton, N.Y.), Zach Bass (Westhampton, N.Y.), Jonathan Endrikat (Stockholm, N.J.), Chris Florek (Mendham, N.J.), Anthony Geiger (South Amboy, N.J.), Tyler Maher (Raleigh, N.C.), Damian Murberg (Hillsdale, N.J.), Jake Odell (South Windsor, Conn.), Mike Otsuka (Upper Saddle River, N.J.), Mike Polizzi (Montville, N.J.) and Dave Santos (Brick, N.J.).
Helping out Clayton this season as coaches for the Ducks are Damian Logan, Pete Galea, David Maiorana andTom Trieloff. Logan, now in his second season as the head assistant coach, was a two-time All-American at NCAA Division I University of Michigan, and before arriving at Stevens, spent two years on the coaching staff at the University of Pennsylvania where he coached Matt Valenti to a NCAA Division I title.
Galea (Second Season), Maiorana (Third Season) and Trieloff (First Season), will round out the coaching staff on Castle Point. Galea was a two-time All-American at perennial powerhouse Iowa State University. Maiorana competed at Division II Ashland University and was also a two-time All-American. Trieloff comes to Hoboken after honing his wrestling skills as a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he was a two-time Academic All-American and previously was a head assistant at Jamestown College.
"I'm very excited to announce that we are returning one of the top coaching staffs in all of college wrestling.” stated Clayton. “We have three, two time All-Americans as well as the addition this year of Tom Trieloff. Tom was a two time academic All-American in Wisconsin. Our coaches not only understand the level of wrestling we want to achieve but they all support the academic and career goals of our student-athletes.” Clayton expressed.
Over the past five seasons, Stevens has built a progressively tougher schedule each year. This season is no exception, as the Ducks have four teams on the schedule that finished ranked in the top-13 in the nation. The schedule also includes three invitationals and the North/South Duals.
After the home-opening tri-match on November 6, the Ducks will travel to Ewing, N.J. on the 8th and take on the Lions of The College of New Jersey for an all day event in the team’s local rivalry match. In the final poll of the 2011 season, TCNJ was ranked No. 10 nationally.
As the New Year begins, the Ducks will compete in the North/South Duals, and then will take a trip to the Midwest in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on the 14th as they participate in the Matman Invitational, hosted by Cornell College. Cornell finished last season as the No. 15 team in the country. Stevens will face tough competition from No.1 Wartburg College, No. 3 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, No. 4 Augsburg College, No. 5 Coe College, No. 20 University of Dubuque, No. 27 Loras College and No. 30 Luther College.
Clayton is looking forward to the opportunity to wrestle in Iowa and face some of the toughest competition in the country. "This trip back to my home state is an important piece of the puzzle as we continue to build both our strength of schedule. We'll know after this trip where our team sets among the top programs in the country."
Conference action begins for the Ducks on the 21st of January in Lexington, Va., when they compete against host Washington & Lee University and McDaniel College. On the 28th, Stevens has another Centennial tri-match showdown between Ursinus College and Muhlenberg College. February 12th, the third and final conference tri-match will begin at noon at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Gettysburg College will also be present at the match. The final conference match of the season will take place on the 15th in a showdown on Castle Point against USMMA, the ninth-best team in the country at 7:30 p.m.
In key non-conference action, Stevens takes on the Aggies of Delaware Valley College at 7:30 p.m. on January 27, who ended last season as the 13th best school in the country. Also, an Upstate New York trip is slated on February 3 at No. 2 Ithaca College for the first match of the month.
The Centennial Conference Championships will be held on February 25 in Collegeville, Pa. at Muhlenberg.