DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley College freshman heavyweight J.D. Zitone pinned Brian Schmalz with 28 seconds left in the first period to lift the fifth-ranked Aggies to a 23-21 victory over visiting Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Ducks (1-5) had won four of the last five weight classes heading into heavyweight and trailed by just two, 17-15. However, Delaware Valley (8-2) was forfeiting 125 pounds, which was the last weight of the match so, in essence, it was the Aggies who were trailing and they needed a major decision for a tie or a technical fall or pin for the win.

Delaware Valley head coach Brandon Totten elected to go with Zitone as the rookie was the fresher of the two heavyweights (two-time All-American and second-ranked Kyle Bilquist had a 3-2 decision over the No. 10 wrestler on the road just 16 hours earlier). Zitone, who was a starter in the first semester, wasted no time as he took Schmalz down in the opening 15 seconds. He then picked two back points for a 4-0 lead and nearly had him pinned in the early going. Late in the first period, Zitone put Schmalz on his back at the edge of the circle and he was awarded the pin and an Aggie victory. The win was the 20th for Zitone in 28 matches this season.

Delaware Valley won the first three weight classes, including back-to-back, 18-2 technical falls to open the match. Eric McCann notched his technical fall victory over Ryan Neugebauer to improve to 9-4 on the season. Zak Andrews picked his up in 5:43 over Kyle Brisson as the 141-pound Aggie raised his record to 23-12 on the season. Emmanuel Ajagbe (16-6) followed at 149 and an escape and takedown in the third period was the difference in a 7-4 decision over Ryan Bridge and a 13-0 Delaware Valley lead.

The Aggies were without their starters at 157 and 165 pounds due to illness and injury and Stevens took advantage with a decision and a fall to make it a 13-9 contest. Charles Favia (12-9) earned a 10-3 decision over Rob Fecanin and Will Sharkey (8-6) dropped Michael Chiappetta with 40 seconds left in the second period (4:20).

An 11-minute battle took place at 174 pounds as Delaware Valley's Dan Daddino (20-8) and the Ducks' Joe Favia (13-3) battled through three periods, a pair of one-minute overtimes and four 30-second rideout periods. In the end, Favia escaped the last rideout earlier than Daddino did in his, and that was the difference in a 3-2 victory for Favia. The victory also pulled Stevens to within one at 13-12.

Martin Porter upped the Aggie advantage to 17-12 as the 10th-ranked 184-pounder in Division III improved his record to 20-6 on the season with a 17-6 major decision over Vincent Termini. However, Ernie Guaimano (7-11) made things real interesting with a 7-3 decision over Jake Phillips at 197 pounds. With the forfeit at 125 looming (Stevens' Brad Warren was awarded the victory), that set the stage for Zitone's heroics.


DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 23, STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 21
133: Eric McCann (DVC) by technical fall over Ryan Neugebauer, 18-2; 4:17 (5-0 DVC)
141: Zak Andrews (DVC) by technical fall over Kyle Brisson, 18-2; 5:43 (10-0 DVC)
149: Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC) by decision over Ryan Bridge, 7-4 (13-0 DVC)
157: Charles Favia (S) by decision over Rob Fecanin, 10-3 (13-3 DVC)
165: Will Sharkey (S) by fall over Michael Chiappetta, 4:20 (13-9 DVC)
174: Joe Favia (S) by decision over Dan Daddino, 3-2 TB2 (13-12 DVC)
184: Martin Porter (DVC) by major decision over Vincent Termini, 17-6 (17-12 DVC)
197: Ernie Guaimano (S) by decision over Jake Phillips, 7-3 (17-15 DVC)
285: J.D. Zitone (DVC) by fall over Brian Schwalz, 2:32 (23-15 DVC)
125: Brad Warren (S) by forfeit (23-21)