College Wrestling
Rider University 24, Princeton University 13
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs won six of the 10 bouts to defeat cross-town rival Princeton Friday evening. "Princeton is a program that is improving," said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. "In some cases we did not wrestle as strong and as well as we have been, but I think their kids caused some of that."
For Rider (6-4), sophomore Tyler Smith (Phillipsburg, N.J./Belvidere) won by fall to give the Broncs a 20-13 lead. Smith, ranked 16th in the nation, improves to 16-9 overall. "Tyler is getting better positionaly, technically and is competing harder, I believe, than he ever has in his life," Taylor said. "Even good wrestlers are surprised as to how much tougher it is on the college level. There are no easy matches. They need that year to figure that out."
"I worked a lot with (Associate Head Coach) John Hangey a lot over the summer," Smith said. "We worked on technique and building up my self esteem, my confidence. That made a big difference between what I was last year and what I'm trying to be this year."
The pin was Smith's 11th of the year. The team record is 15. "My junior year in high school I pinned my way from the first round Districts to the State semifinals, about nine in a row," Smith remembers.
Smith compiled a 123-20 record in high school and placed fifth at the National High School Junior Championships.
"I want to be a conference champion, go to Nationals and be n All-American this year," Smith said, the Rider Athlete of the Month for December. "If I keep my head on straight I think it can be done."
Rider sophomore Jimmy Kirchner (Somerville) and senior Ed Bordas (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) won by major decisions. Bordas, ranked 14th in the nation, improves to 20-6 on the season, 7-2 in dual meets.
"Jimmy is really coming around," Taylor said. "He is starting to understand the collegiate level. He is much more aware of position so he doesn't get himself in trouble as much right now."
"Everything I'm doing right now is coming straight from the coaches," said Kirchner, who has won six of his last eight decisions. "They've re-done my technique, they're pushing me and I've changed a few things in my repertoire. It's working so I think I've found my groove. I owe it all to the coaches."
Freshman Zac Cibula (Luxenburg, Wis./Casco) won to break a 7-7 tie. Cibula improves to 9-1 in dual meets.
Junior Ilyass Elmsaouri (Camp Hill, PA/Cedar Cliff) and junior Rob Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) also won for Rider.
Princeton (3-6) won two bouts in a row to tie the score at 7-7 and won two in a row to cut the lead to 14-13. "We knew their guys would wrestle hard," Taylor said, "I wasn't surprised by that."
Rider and Princeton had not wrestled since 2005-06 with Rider winning nine of the last 11 meetings.
Rider travels to the University of Pennsylvania Saturday. "Penn has been in the top 25 year in and year out so we have a tough task ahead of us," Taylor said.
Rider 24, Princeton 13
125: Ilyass Elmsaouri (Rider) dec. Andrew Hirai-P 8-7 3-0
133: Jimmy Kirchner (Rider) major dec. Zach Bintliff-P 11-0 7-0
141: Luis Ramos-P dec. Aaron Nestor (Rider) 7-4 7-3
149: Dan Kolodzik-P major dec. Mike Kessler (Rider) 13-2 7-7
157: Zac Cibula (Rider) dec. Danny Scotton-P 8-7 10-7
165: Rob Morrison (Rider) major dec. Mike Alvarez-P 8-0 14-7
174: Travis Erdman-P dec. Jim Resnick (Rider) 2-1 14-10
184: Kurt Brendel-P dec. Mike Ward (Rider) 4-1 14-13
197: #16 Tyler Smith (Rider) wbf Charles Fox-P 2:48 20-13
HWT: #14 Ed Bordas (Rider) major dec. Bobby Grogan-P 13-2 24-13
