HOBOKEN, N.J. – The 15^th-ranked Ithaca College wrestling team hit the road on Friday night when it made the trip to North Jersey to face eighth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology in a matchup of old regional rivals. It was Ithaca that set the tone early against the talented nationally-ranked Ducks, jumping out to an early lead and carrying it throughout in a comfortable 29-12 dual meet victory. The win improved IC's record to 2-2 in duals on the young season.
 
Ithaca never trailed in Friday's match against a Stevens outfit that continues to boast some of the top talent in the country with several nationally-ranked grapplers among its dual lineup. IC won the first three bouts of the evening to race out to a double-digit advantage. The Ducks were unable to dig out of the early hole, as IC captured seven of the 10 bouts on the evening, which included three straight wins at 174-, 184- and 197-pounds to clinch the dual.
 
The Bombers success began right from the jump, as sophomore Logan Ninos delivered the Bombers an early 4-0 edge with a 10-1 major decision over Stevens' 125-pounder Akhil Vega. The bout was closer than the final score would indicate; however, Ninos was able to tilt Vega for four near-fall points to break things open in what would ultimately result in not only the win, but a bonus point as well.
 
The 133-pound bout was quite entertaining. IC rookie Travis Jones got the nod in the lineup this evening and showed off his array of offensive moves in an 11-5 decision against Stevens' Kyle Slendorn. It was the Ducks' man who connected on a couple shots early and displayed a solid ride to build an early lead. The bout flipped on its head during the second period, as Jones was able to win out on a scramble and turn Slendorn to his back for four near-fall points to jump ahead 6-4. The Bombers first-year talent controlled action from that point forward in building his lead into the comfortable 11-5 decision win.
 
The 141-pound matchup had the possibility for a another anticipated battled between nationally-ranked grapplers in the Ithaca's senior Ben Brisman and Stevens' Troy Stanich. The matchup did not come to fruition, as Stevens opted to scratch their ranked man in favor of Hunter Gutierrez. Brisman made short work of his inexperienced counterpart, rolling to a 15-3 major decision to build Ithaca's lead to 11-0.
 
Stevens returned the favor in the 149-pound bout, as the Ducks top-ranked grappler Brett Kaliner squared off against IC rookie Matthew Beyer. Ithaca's man flashed some bright spots during the bout, nearly connecting on a few shots, but Kaliner's quality proved just too much for the IC rookie. It looked as though Beyer might be able to limit the damage to just a major decision, but Kaliner was able to bring Beyer to his back at the edge of the match for a late pin with just 47-seconds left in the third period.
 
Perhaps the most entertaining bout of the evening came at 157-pounds between two evenly-matched competitors in Ithaca's Sam Schneider against Dylan Van Sickell. The bout was all Van Sickell early, as the Ducks wrestler connected on a few early takedowns and provided a stern ride to build the ride-time advantage. Schneider came roaring back in the second period to pull ahead by a narrow margin to setup an exciting final frame. Schneider conceded an early takedown in the final period, but again showed his grit in the clutch to mount a comeback. Schneider connected on a single-leg with under 30-seconds left and completed the ride-out to earn a exhausting and exhilarating 11-10 decision.
 
The 165-pound followed the same script, but in the opposite direction as Stevens' Thomas Poklikuha took home the win in the lone battle between ranked grapplers on the night during Ithaca's Austin Whitney's season debut. Whitney earned a couple takedowns during the opening period, but was unable to sustain the momentum as the match continued. Poklikuha notched a couple third-period takedowns to earn the 12-8 decision over Whitney.
 
The Bombers took control of the match over the next two weight-classes. Junior Alec Corrao got the nod in the 174-pound matchup and quickly asserted himself against Stevens' Nico Ziccardi. Corrao emerged out of the first-period with a narrow advantage, but made the score irrelevant midway through the second period. Corrao tossed Ziccardi to his back and locked in the fall 50-seconds into the middle period to break open the team score at 20-9.
 
The ensuing bout followed a similar script as 10^th-ranked Eze Chukwuezi also notched a second-period pin of Stevens' Robert Gennat. Both grapplers connected on takedowns during the opening period, Chukwuezi pulling in Gennat for two-points right before the horn to take a 5-3 lead to the second. Chukwuezi showcased his strength advantage in the second period, ripping Gennat to the mat for two and then locking in a pin to clinch the match with a 26-9 lead.
 
Steven Rice capped Ithaca's win ledger on the night. Bumping up to fill the 197-pound slot, Rice controlled the match from the outset, rolling past Bruce Parola for a 9-2 decision victory. Stevens' nationally-ranked 197-pounder Michael Dooley bumped up to face Ithaca's Dalton Elias in the final bout of the evening. The Ducks man scored the lone takedown in what would be a tight 3-2 decision, holding off a couple furious shots by Elias in the final minute.
 
Adrian Rosario-Beato also competed in an exhibition bout on the evening. Competing in front of a large contingent of friends and family, Rosario-Beato battled hard, but ultimately fell in an 11-2 major decision to Stevens' Nick Ciraulo.
 
Ithaca will be back in action on Sunday, November 24, when the squad heads to Oswego State for the 2019 New York State Collegiate Championships. Action is slated to begin at 8:00 a.m.
 
No. 15 Ithaca 29 – No. 8 Stevens 12
125 LB: Logan Ninos (IC) def. Akhil Vega (STEVENS) | MD: 10-1
133 LB: Travis Jones (IC) def. Kyle Slendorn (STEVENS) | DEC: 11-5
141 LB: #8/6 Ben Brisman (IC) def. Hunter Gutierrez (STEVENS) | MD: 15-3
149 LB: #1/1 Brett Kaliner (STEVENS) def. Matthew Beyer (IC) | FALL: 6:13
157 LB: Sam Schneider (IC) def. Dylan Van Sickell (STEVENS) | DEC: 11-10
165 LB: #8/6 Thomas Poklikuha (STEVENS) def. #6 Austin Whitney (ITHACA) | DEC: 12-8
174 LB: Alec Corrao (IC) def. Nico Ziccardi (STEVENS) | FALL: 3:50
184 LB: #10 Eze Chukwuezi (IC) def. Robert Gennat (STEVENS) | FALL: 4:15
197 LB: Steven Rice (IC) def. Bruce Parola (STEVENS) | DEC: 9-2
HWT: #9/10 Michael Dooley (STEVENS) def. Dalton Elias (IC) | DEC: 3-2
EX: Nick Ciraulo (STEVENS) def. Adrian Rosario-Beato (IC) | MD: 11-2