YORK, Pa. (December 3, 2016) – Stevens Institute of Technology freshman wrestler Troy Stanich won the title at 133, while sophomore Thomas Poklikuha won at 157 to lead the Ducks to a third-place finish at the York New Standard Invitational. 

The 16-team field featured 10 opponents who are currently ranked in the top-25 nationally. Ithaca finished first ahead of second-place Roger Williams, and Poklikuha was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. 

WEIGHT CLASS CHAMPIONS
No. 2 Stanich opened his day with a 1:17 fall, before a major in round two catapulted the Stevens rookie to the quarterfinal round. Stanich picked up his second fall of the day once there in 5:45 over Bryan Pflanz of Elizabethtown, followed by a 12-0 major over Johnson & Wales' Jay Albis. 

Stanich completed his day with a 4-1 win over No. 4 Ryan Flynn of York, sealing the weight-class title. 

No. 7 Poklikuha won 6-0 in the opener at 157, followed by a pair of falls in 2:04 and 3:52 to reach the quarterfinals. Poklikuha won 11-2 once there, before his third fall of the day in the semi catapulted the Jersey native into the final. 

Poklikuha completed his perfect day there, topping No. 8 Ty Herzog 6-3 to win the weight class.

KEY PERFORMANCES
A first round bye put senior Rob Murray into the round of 16 where he won by decision. A major in in the quarters put the veteran into the semi where he fell to Brockport's Jonathan Haas in tight 4-3 decision. 

Murray rebounded with a decision win in the consolation, before falling in the third-place match to No. 9 Robert Jordan.

Freshman Dylan Van Sickell won by fall in 2:41 to open his day at 141, followed by a 3-2 decision in the round of 16. Van Sickell dropped his next match 4-2 in the quarters, but rebounded with a pair of decision wins in the consolation bracket before falling in the semifinal. 

No. 5 junior Zach Wilhelm won by major 18-7 in the opener before a 4-0 decision win in the round of 16. Wilhelm continued his streak with a 10-0 major in the quarters, but fell in the semi to No. 4 Sam Schneider, 11-5. Wilhelm won once more in the consolation semi before falling in the third-place match.

A first round bye for No. 6 junior A.J. Kowal preceded a 54-second pin in the round of 16, followed by a 12-1 major over John Shorter in the quarters. Kowal fell 3-2 once there, but responded with two pins the consolation bracket to clinch third place. 

UP NEXT
Stevens will be back in action Friday night when it hosts Hunter at 7 p.m. in Hoboken in the final action before winter break.

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