DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Senior Night became even more special for heavyweight Kyle Bilquist as he broke the Delaware Valley College all-time record for victories in the fifth-ranked Aggies' 27-15 triumph over Centenary College.

The win improved Delaware Valley to 13-2 as it closed out its dual meet season. It is the eighth straight season and the 23rd in the last 25 campaigns that the squad has reached the double-digit mark in victories. The Cyclones fell to 8-9 with the setback.

Bilquist was one of five Aggie seniors honored before the match. When Bilquist hit the mat in the final weight class of the evening, the team had already clinched the victory so the only suspense left was whether or not the two-time All-American and second-ranked heavyweight in Division III would surpass his head coach Brandon Totten (122 wins and two national titles in the mid 1990's) for the school's career mark.

The suspense quickly faded as he registered six takedowns in the first period for a 12-5 advantage over Russell Boardman. He added two more in the second and led 17-7 heading into the final period. Bilquist was then up 19-9 when he fittingly added another takedown in the final 10 seconds and rode Boardman the rest of the way. He also had more than a minute of riding time for an extra point and a 22-9 major decision. Bilquist, who received a standing ovation in the final seconds, improved to 24-3 on the season and 122-18 in his career.

Bilquist gave the Aggies four wins in the final five weight classes as they rallied from an 11-10 deficit. Two other victories in the spurt were earned by seniors as they won their final regular-season matches. Justin Barowski (17-5) reached a milestone of his own as his 11-6 decision over Matt Regan at 165 pounds was his 100th career win, including 41 since transferring in from Wilkes University.

Martin Porter improved to 27-7 on the season and notched career victory number 87 as he pinned Nick Marchiafava 27 seconds into the second period (3:27) at 197 pounds. The other victory in the Delaware Valley run was by junior Dan Daddino (26-15) as he finished with a 17-1, technical fall triumph over Mike Montgomery at 174 pounds. Centenary's lone win in the upper weights was a 14-2 major decision by JJ Mitchell (18-17) over Jake Phillips at 184 pounds.

After Delaware Valley senior Terrance Clendenin (4-2) received a forfeit at 125 pounds to start the match, Centenary picked up a pair of victories, including a technical fall, to take an 8-56 advantage. Will Livingston (2-0) notched a 17-0 shutout over Zak Haynes at 133 and David Alsieux (26-8) used a takedown with 28 seconds left in overtime to pull out a 10-8 decision over the Aggies' Zak Andrews.

The two squads then split the next two weight classes as the Cyclones held an 11-10 advantage halfway through the match. Delaware Valley's Emmanuel Ajagbe, ranked eighth in Division III at 149 pounds, improved to 25-6 on the season as riding time was the difference in a 4-3 victory over Jon Stillo. Centenary's Garrett Meagher (11-7) came back at 157 and posted a 3-2 decision over senior Matt Lindsay. However, the Aggies went on to win four of the final five weight classes, capped by Bilquist's milestone triumph, to earn the victory.

Delaware Valley will now prepare for the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship which will take place on the Aggies' home mat on Saturday, February 20 beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Aggies, who are the three-time defending regional champions, will be joined by nine other schools as 100 wrestlers will vie for the 16 berths (10 individual champions and six wild-cards) the region has for the NCAA Division III Championships in Iowa in early March.

DELAWARE VALLEY COLLEGE 27, CENTENARY COLLEGE 15
125 – Terrance Clendenin (DVC) by forfeit (6-0 DVC)
133 - Will Livingston (CENT) by technical fall over Zak Haynes, 17-0; 5:09 (6-5 DVC)
141 – David Alsieux (CENT) by decision over Zak Andrews, 10-8 OT (8-6 CENT)
149 - Emmanuel Ajagbe (DVC) by decision over Jon Stillo, 4-3 (9-8 DVC)
157 - Garrett Meagher (CENT) by decision over Matt Lindsay, 3-2 (11-9 CENT)
165 - Justin Barowski (DVC) by decision over Matt Regan, 11-6 (12-11 DVC)
174 – Dan Daddino (DVC) by technical fall over Mike Montgomery, 17-1; 6:52 (17-11 DVC)
184 – JJ Mitchell (CENT) by major decision over Jake Phillips, 14-2 (17-15 DVC)
197 – Martin Porter (DVC) by fall over Nick Marchiafava, 3:27 (23-15 DVC)
285 – Kyle Bilquist (DVC) by major decision over Russell Boardman, 22-9 (27-15 DVC)
EXH – Craig Montgomery (CENT) by fall over Terrance Clendenin, 3:26