College Wrestling
Rider Best-Ever 13th of 50 at Midlands
Umbehauer Runner-up, Morrison Places Fifth
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS?The Broncs placed 13th of 50 teams at the 44th Midlands Wrestling Championships, hosted by Northwestern University. “This is exactly like Nationals, and that's why we came here,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. “This was a good showing. We never placed this high at this tournament.”
Sophomore Doug Umbehauer (Shamong/Lenape), the fourth seed in the 174 pound weight class, lost to the third seed, Eric Luedke of Iowa, 6-4 in sudden victory in the finals to place runner-up. “The kid from Iowa was ranked fifth in the nation, so Doug is right there with the best in the nation,” said Taylor. Umbehauer upset the top seed, James Yonushonis of Penn State, 5-3 in the semi-finals.
The last time a Bronc reached the finals was Chad Liott in 1998, who finished runner-up. The last time a Bronc won the Midlands was current associate head coach John Hangey, who won his weight class at Midlands in 1994.
Junior T. J. Morrison (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff), the seventh seed in the 197 pound weight class, defeated the eighth seed, Andrew Anderson of Northern Iowa 3-2 in the battle for fifth place. “It was important that T.J. finished on a good note,” said Taylor. “He led the whole match and was pretty much in control the whole match.”
Morrison defeated Nate Everhart of Indiana 9-5 and defeated the sixth seed, Jared Villers of West Virginia 9-8 in the wrestlebacks Saturday, before being pinned by the top seed, Josh Glenn of American. “Glenn just beat an All-American and pinned a few other All-Americans in this tournament,” said Taylor, “so he's a very dangerous wrestler. T. J. beat him two years ago.”
On Friday Morrison reached the quarter-finals before losing 5-2 to the second seed.
Umbehauer won three bouts on Friday, including a 4-1 win in the quarter-finals over the fifth seed.
Junior Don Fisch (Williamstown/Delsea) won three bouts before losing in the semi-finals on Friday, and was forced to withdraw for medical reasons after sustaining a neck injury in his pin victory over All-American Cassio Pero of Illinois.
“Even the guys who lost got a lot out of this tournament,” Taylor said. ?They got to see how much harder they have to work and train. This was a very positive experience and one we can build off of.”
-RU-
2006 Midlands
Team Standings
FINAL
1 154.5 Iowa State
2 107.0 University of Iowa
3 102.0 Northwestern University
4 96.5 Central Michigan
5 96.0 Indiana University
6 89.5 University of Illinois
7 77.5 Michigan State University
8 67.0 Northern Iowa
9 62.5 Harvard
10 61.0 Northern Illinois
11 58.5 Amer U
12 48.5 Purdue University
13 44.5 Rider University
14 35.0 UW LaCrosse
15 25.5 Nebraska-Kearney
16 23.0 West Virginia
17 21.5 Cleveland State
21.5 Sacred Heart
19 21.0 Nebraska-Omaha
20 16.5 Wartburg College
21 15.5 Montana State Northern
15.5 Pennsylvania
23 15.0 Penn State University
24 14.5 Luther
25 13.5 Adams State
13.5 Columbia
27 11.5 Eastern Illinois University
11.5 Road Runner WC
11.5 Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
30 11.0 Wildcat WC
31 10.5 Upper Iowa University
32 9.0 Olivet College
9.0 San Francisco State
34 8.5 West Liberty State
35 7.0 Eastern Michigan
36 6.5 Harper College
6.5 Wheaton
38 6.0 Liberty University
39 5.5 Wabash College
40 3.0 Army
3.0 Boston University
3.0 Dubuque
3.0 Elmhurst College
3.0 Lincoln College
3.0 Triton
46 2.5 Oswego State Lakers Mat Club
2.5 Waldorf College
2.5 Waubonsee
49 2.0 Delaware State
2.0 Lindenwood University
