Inside Stevens Wrestling: Coach Anthony Bonaventura on Building a D3 Powerhouse in Hoboken
In this episode of Airey Bros Radio, we’re going belly-to-belly with one of the sharpest minds in NCAA Division III wrestling — Coach Anthony Bonaventura of Stevens Institute of Technology. From regional championships to Scholar All-Americans, Coach Bonavventura has helped transform Stevens into one of the most dominant and academically elite wrestling programs in the country.
Tune in as we discuss the grind of D3 wrestling, the balance of academic excellence and athletic success, and what it takes to compete in New Jersey’s Shore Conference hotbed. We also dive into recruiting strategy, Stevens’ unmatched job placement rate, and why this program is the Cornell of Division III.
Whether you're a wrestler, a high school coach, a recruit, or a college athletics junkie, this conversation is packed with insights, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes gold from one of D3’s rising coaching voices.
Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube — and send this episode to a recruit who needs to hear it.
⏱️ Show Notes & Timestamps:
Tune in as we discuss the grind of D3 wrestling, the balance of academic excellence and athletic success, and what it takes to compete in New Jersey’s Shore Conference hotbed. We also dive into recruiting strategy, Stevens’ unmatched job placement rate, and why this program is the Cornell of Division III.
Whether you're a wrestler, a high school coach, a recruit, or a college athletics junkie, this conversation is packed with insights, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes gold from one of D3’s rising coaching voices.
Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube — and send this episode to a recruit who needs to hear it.
⏱️ Show Notes & Timestamps:
- 0:00 – Show intro: Wrestling, running, and the mission of Airey Bros Radio
- 2:00 – Coach Bonaventura joins: D3 Nation, Duck Insider & podcasting origins
- 4:30 – Stevens Wrestling socials, recruiting, and prospect events
- 6:30 – Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham debate: Jersey pride in full effect
- 8:00 – Origin story: From Westburg to Stevens, mentoring under Coach Favia
- 11:00 – Coaching his twin brother, Division 3 coaching insights
- 13:00 – Education background in math and how it shapes coaching strategy
- 16:00 – NCAA D3 Championships Committee & rankings panel experience
- 18:00 – Bracket expansion, growing D3 opportunities & the scholarship myth
- 22:00 – Recruiting at Stevens: Academics, majors, and acceptance benchmarks
- 26:00 – Hoboken lifestyle, NYRTC, Edge training, and off-season grind
- 30:00 – Balancing social life, internships, and elite wrestling
- 34:00 – What makes Stevens different: 96% job placement, $87k avg starting salary
- 38:00 – Misconceptions about Division 3 wrestling & academic funding
- 43:00 – 2025 season recap: adversity, injuries, and culture
- 47:00 – Incoming recruiting class preview for 2026: names to watch
- 51:00 – Returners stepping up + Ryan Smith’s All-American return
- 54:00 – Career readiness: how Stevens grads dominate the workforce
- 57:00 – 12 Scholar All-Americans & top-10 national GPA ranking
- 59:00 – Culture, retention, and academic-athletic integration
- 1:03:00 – Favorite music, books, and coffee shops in Hoboken
- 1:06:00 – Guilty pleasures: pizza, ice cream & family pickleball battles
- 1:09:00 – Outro: follow @DuckWrestling, subscribe, and stay tuned for tomorrow’s episode
Activity