January 8, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Wrestling
Bloomsburg University 26, Rider University 10
BOYERTOWN, PA?Once again competing with a depleted line up due to injuries, the Broncs lost to Bloomsburg in a dual meet held at Boyertown High School Tuesday night. “I don't remember a year when we haven't had our full line up out there at least once by this point in the season,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor.
Senior Don Fisch (Williamstown, N.J./Delsea), ranked 20th in the nation at 149 after finishing fifth in the nation at 141 last year, won a major decision to get Rider on the board. “That was a nice win for Donnie,” Taylor said. “That kid is pretty good and took it to him.”
Junior Jason Lapham (West Chazy, N.Y./Beekmantown), a transfer from Penn State, improved to 2-0 in dual meets for the Broncs.
Senior T.J. Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff), ranked 11th in the nation, also won for the Broncs (0-5).
Sophomore Fred Rodgers (Perkiomenville, Pa./Boyertown), competing at his alma mater, lost 2-0 in a match that was scoreless until the final seconds. Rodgers lost to another local wrestler, Darren Kern of nearby Upper Perkiomen. “It was nice coming back here, having a lot of fan support,” Rodgers said. “My entire family is here and a lot of my friends. It felt good. I never expected to be back here again. Kern is a few years older than I am so even though our schools competed in the same league I never wrestled him before. He's a tough kid.”
“I thought Freddie had a pretty good chance to win it about two or three times,” Taylor said, “but give Kern credit, he fought Freddie off a few times when I thought he would get taken down. Freddie is coming around. Kern is a few years older, more experienced.”
For Bloomsburg (2-4-1), 125 Mike Sees, ranked ninth in the nation, won a major decision to give the Huskies a 4-0 lead. Bloomsburg 157 Matt Moley, ranked 13th in the nation, defeated sophomore Rob Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff). “They've got some real good kids in their line up,' Taylor said. “Bloomsburg is a good team.”
Bloomsburg heavyweight Mike Spaid, a returning All-American who is currently ranked ninth in the nation, wrestling in his alma mater, defeated junior Ed Bordas (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central).
The Broncs were without junior Doug Umbehauer (Shamong, N.J./Lenape), ranked 11th in the nation at 184, who is sidelined with a concussion, along with starters 125 Tommy Lorenzo and 177 Mike Miller, who were also out with injuries.
Rider senior Dan Silberman (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) moved up two weight classes to replace Miller and suffered a major decision.
Junior Zac Cunliffe (Farmingdale, N.J./Howell) built a 4-0 lead and was winning 4-2 when he was pinned.
Sophomore Michael Darling (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) replaced the injured Umbehauer at 184.
Rider is the eighth seed and wrestles Duquesne in the first round of the Virginia Duals Friday morning and either #1 seed Oklahoma State or Drexel in the second round Friday afternoon. “Oklahoma State just beat the number one team in the nation (Iowa), so that could be another tough one for us,” Taylor said. “We again will not be at full strength.”
125 Mike Sees-B major dec. Mitch Fenton-R 20-7 4-0
133 Jason Guffey-B wbf Zac Cunliffe-R 4:34 10-0
141 Darren Kern-B dec. Fred Rodgers-R 2-0 13-0
149 Don Fisch-R major dec. Dennis Bermudez-B 10-2 13-4
157 Matt Moley-B def. Rob Morrison-R 6-0 16-4
165 Jason Lapham-R dec. Rickey Schmelyun-B 6-1 16-7
174 Brian Shaw-B major dec. Dan Silberman-R 14-4 20-7
184 Jesse Hasserman-B dec. Mike Darling-R 6-1 23-7
197 T.J. Morrison-R dec. Eric Shaw-B 6-0 23-10
285 Mike Spaid-B dec. Ed Bordas-R 7-1 26-10
-RU-
