BROCKPORT, N.Y. (February 23, 2019)  – Seven members of the Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team remain alive for individual championships after the first day of competition at the 2019 Mideast Regional, hosted by The College at Brockport.

Senior Joey Borai, juniors Troy Stanich and Dylan Van Sickell, sophomore Brett Kaliner and freshman Michael Dooley are still competing on the championship side of the bracket, while freshmen Akhil Vega and Robert Gennat are still in contention on the consolation side. Each of the top-three finishers advance to the NCAA Division III Championships in March.

The Ducks sit in third place out of 18 teams with 66 total points. Ithaca leads the team competition with 88 points with the College of New Jersey close behind with 81.5. Muhlenberg (63.5) and Rochester Institute of Technology (59) round out the top-five.

At 125, Vega's tournament began with a setback to Oneonta's Mikey Smith. The Cupertino, California native rebounded nicely in the consolation bracket with a 10-2 major decision over SUNY Cortland's Benjarmin Lloyd. Vega continued his run with a spirited 16-11 decision victory over Centenary's Jacy Jones. The major was the third of Vega's career and the two victories drew his season record to 15-16. Vega meets Elizabethtown's Josh McLaughlin to begin competition Sunday.

Looking to reach his first national championship tournament, Borai advanced to the semifinals in dominant fashion, posting a pair of pins and a technical fall. The Toms River, New Jersey native opened the tournament by pinning Scranton's Anthony Sortino in the first period to advance out of the preliminary round. Borai followed with his 100th career victory with a technical fall over Oswego's Anthony Ianno to reach the quarterfinals. Borai was leading 17-1 at the time of the third-period stoppage.

In the quarters, Borai earned his sixth fall of the season, pinning Brockport's Donald McCoy in the first period following a takedown. Borai meets Merchant Marine's Taylor Dial in the semifinals, with the winning advancing to not only the regional championship match, but the national tournament. Dial advanced to the semis via a tiebreaker over Ithaca's Tito Colom.

At 141, Stanich won a pair of bouts to advance to the weight class' semifinal match. The Roxbury, New Jersey native, ranked first in the nation in both national rankings, began his tournament with his 12th technical fall of the season over Elizabethtown's Nick Gonzalez. Stanich was leading 18-0 at the time of the second-period stoppage. He followed up his tech fall with an 8-3 decision over Cortland's Alex D'Angelo. The decision victory was just Stanich's fourth of the year.

As expected, Ithaca's Ben Brisman advanced through the first two rounds with a technical fall and a major to set a rematch between the top two wrestlers in the weight class in the championship bout. Stanich takes on Muhlenberg's Austin Sherman in the semifinals. Stanich topped Muhlenberg's 141-pounder via technical fall at Stevens' home tri-dual in January.

Kaliner reached his second consecutive semifinal, with a pair of bonus-point victories at 149. The West Chester, Pennsylvania native pinned Alfred State's Owen Kissell in the opening period to begin his competition. Kaliner compiled six points prior to the pin. 

In the quarterfinals, Kaliner earned a 21-4 technical fall over Ursinus' Patrick Rowe. Kaliner scored three takedowns in the opening period and then totaled 15 points in the second period, including a four-point nearfall that ended the bout. He meets Brockport's Ryan Snow in Sunday's semifinals. TCNJ's Ryan Budzek, ranked as a contender by d3wrestle.com, is still alive on the other side of the bracket.

At 157, Van Sickell opened his tournament with a 12-7 decision over Oneonta's Daniel Murphy. The Little Silver, New Jersey native advanced to the semifinals with a second-period pin of Cortland's Zach Zupan. Van Sickell rallied from a 4-2 deficit at the end of the first period to take a 5-4 lead prior to the pin. Third-ranked Kaidon Winters awaits Van Sickell in the semifinals. 

Gennat won his first-ever regional bout, earning an 8-3 decision over RIT's Joe Lupisella. Gennat held his opponent to just a single point in each period and scored a takedown in the final seconds to secure the victory. The Sparta, New Jersey native fell to the consolation round after being unable to overcome a slow start and falling to Muhlenberg's Jimmy Fratantoni via a 16-11 decision.

Gennat rallied in his first consolation match, topping Brockport's Tim Collins via a 15-6 major decision. The 174-pounder blanked Collins in the second period and outscored the Brockport grappler 9-5 in the final stanza to win the match. He'll meet Cortland's Gianno Silba in the consolation semifinals.

Dooley is the final wrestler that advanced to Sunday's championship rounds, securing two victories to set up a match with Ithaca's Jake Ashcraft, the top-ranked grappler in the weight class.

The Hillsborough native earned a 10-1 major over Brockport's Bryce Row to post a victory in his first regional bout. Dooley reached the semis with a 4-0 shutout of Hunter's Serjey Thomas. Neither wrestler scored over the first two periods before Dooley scored with an escape early in the final period. The freshman secured the match with a takedown in the final minute and added riding time provided the final margin of victory. 

Sophomores Bruce Parola and Joseph Moreno each earned a victory in the consolation bracket before bowing out of the tournament. 

Up Next: The final day of competition gets underway at 10 a.m.

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