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Collegeville, Pa. – Four talented wrestlers made their mark by earning top-six finishes in their respective weight classes as the No. 21 Stevens Institute of Technology wrestling team concluded a productive weekend at the Racich Rumble held at Ursinus College on Saturday afternoon.
After an impressive 30-21 victory over Delaware Valley University on Friday night, Stevens bolstered their lineup by sending 15 additional competitors to the Ursinus event, with many wrestlers significantly enhancing their season records through multiple victories.
Jason Smith, who entered the tournament unseeded at 165 pounds, demonstrated his prowess by winning his first three matches before ultimately securing a fourth-place finish. Meanwhile, fellow unseeded wrestler Jack Bailey experienced a rocky start with an initial loss but bounced back dramatically, notching six consecutive victories to finish fifth overall. Tyler Roe, ranked as the No. 2 seed at 149 pounds, showcased his strength with three victories that led him to a sixth-place finish. Ian Flanagan, making his season debut as the No. 6 seed at 174 pounds, also made a commendable impact by finishing sixth.
The Rundown & Top Performers
- Smith kicked off his day with back-to-back major decision victories, overpowering his opponents with scores of 17-6 and 11-2, which propelled him into the quarterfinals, where he secured a solid 10-3 decision win. In the semifinals, Smith faced top-seeded Keegan Demarest, and despite a valiant effort, fell 8-5. In the battle for third place, Smith was unfortunately pinned by Justice Hockenberry-Folk while leading 3-0 in the final round.
- After a narrow 6-5 decision loss to begin his day, Bailey found himself in the Consolation Bracket Round of 8, where he unleashed a series of explosive performances, securing two pinfall victories and a win by forfeit. His momentum carried him through two additional decision victories (8-6 and 6-3), leading him to the Consolation Final/5th Place Match, where he capped off his day with yet another pinfall triumph.
- Roe dominated his opening matches, achieving decisive technical fall victories of 17-1 and 20-5. Despite facing a setback—a 17-10 decision loss against the draw’s #7 seed, Levi Snyder of Messiah, in the quarterfinals—Roe regrouped to defeat teammates George Pavis and Justin Ciliotta in the Consolation Round, with a technical fall and a decision win, respectively. His day concluded with a tough loss by pinfall in the Consolation Final/5th Place Match.
- Flanagan’s journey began with an 11-7 decision loss, but he quickly rebounded, thanks to a bye and a win by forfeit, advancing through the Consolation Round. He notched impressive victories (21-5 technical fall and 9-3 decision win), securing a top-six finish after a narrow 12-11 decision win in the Consolation Semis. Unfortunately, he fell in the Consolation Final/5th Place Match by decision, 12-7.
- Elsewhere, teammates Ciliotta, Pavis, and Chris Piazza each achieved three victories, while Joseph Bodnar and Branden Bulatao added to their win totals with two victories apiece.
From the Mat
“Overall, it was a great weekend of competition for the Ducks against some of the best teams in Regions 2 and 3. Our depth was on full display today, and I am proud of the effort from the group that competed. We wrestled for all seven minutes and captured some amazing wins late in the matches. It’s a big week for us coming up as we look to build off the momentum gained over the last two days.” — Head Coach Anthony Bonaventura.
Up Next
The Ducks are set to travel to the Midwest for a neutral site dual against Loras College on Thursday, November 14, at 7:00 pm from La Crosse, Wisconsin.
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**Interview with Jason Smith, Wrestler for Stevens Institute of Technology**
**Editor**: Jason, thanks for joining us today. You had a remarkable performance at the Racich Rumble. Can you take us through your experience in the tournament?
**Jason Smith**: Absolutely! It was an incredible weekend. I came in unseeded at 165 pounds, so I was determined to prove myself. I started off strong with two major decision wins, which really set the tone for my confidence going into the quarterfinals.
**Editor**: That’s impressive! You faced some tough opponents, including the top seed in the semifinals. How did you prepare for that match?
**Jason Smith**: I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I focused on my strategy and tried to stay calm. I managed to keep it competitive and had some strong moments, but ultimately, it was a learning experience. I’ll definitely take those lessons forward into my next matches.
**Editor**: You ended up finishing fourth after a tough battle for third place. Can you share your thoughts on that final match?
**Jason Smith**: Yeah, that was a hard-fought match. I was actually leading when I got pinned, which was frustrating. But I can’t dwell on it. I gave it my all, and finishing fourth is still a step in the right direction. It just motivates me to keep improving.
**Editor**: It sounds like your teammates also had significant achievements. Jack Bailey and Tyler Roe both finished strong as well. How did the team’s overall performance at the tournament impact your mindset?
**Jason Smith**: It was great to see everyone perform well. Jack’s comeback was especially inspiring. His ability to fight back from that early loss and take fifth was a testament to our team’s spirit. Tyler and Ian also showcased their skills, and I think we all pushed each other to do our best.
**Editor**: As the season progresses, what are your goals moving forward?
**Jason Smith**: My main goal is to keep building on my performance. I want to work on my conditioning and technique, learning from each match. I also want to contribute to our team’s success as we aim for a strong finish to the season.
**Editor**: Great mindset, Jason! Thanks for sharing your insights with us, and best of luck for the rest of the season.
**Jason Smith**: Thank you! I appreciate it!
