College Wrestling
United States Military Academy 19, Rider University 16
LAWRENCEVILLE-Rider won five of the 10 battles but lost the war against Army Friday night. "We had several kids who did their job but I thought Army out-wrestled us," said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. "They had a good strategy coming in."
For Rider (2-2) senior Rob Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) won for the final score. "Robbie wrestled well, but Army is well coached," Taylor said, "so even at the weight classes that we did well, their kids didn't allow themselves to get pinned or give up any extra points."
Morrison is now 11-2 this year, winning his weight class at Keystone after placing second at the Binghamton Open. Morrison was an NCAA qualifier last year.
Junior Tyler Smith (Philipsburg, N.J./Belvidere) won by a major decision in his first bout of the season. "In Division I if you don't have all your starters you are at a real disadvantage," Taylor said, "so it was good to have Tyler back in the line-up."
Smith had 24 wins last year, including one at Nationals, with16 pins. Smith was ranked as high as 16th in the nation last year
Sophomore Zac Cibula (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) won to cut the Army lead to 16-10. "Zac wrestled well," Taylor said.
Freshman Evan Craig (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) won to give Rider a 7-6 lead.
Sophomore Jim Resnick (Media, Pa./Penncrest), ranked 12th in the nation by InterMat, won to cut the Army lead to 19-13. Resnick is now 5-0 this year, winning his weight class at the Keystone Classic, hosted by Penn.
Junior Jimmy Kirchner (Somerville, N.J./Somerville), ranked 19th in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News, was upset 5-3, giving Army a 13-7 lead,
The Black Knights of Army improve to 3-1.
Rider defeated Army 17-16 last year to even the all-time series record at 11-11, a series that began in 1976-77.
Rider travels to Princeton Sunday before hosting Penn Sunday afternoon in Alumni Gymnasium. "Penn is in the top 25 in the country," Taylor said, "so that will be a real test for us.
Army 19, Rider 16
184 Wil Brown-A wbf Joe Ferber-R 6:16 6-0
197 Tyler Smith-R major dec. Daniel Mills-A 11-3 6-4
Hwt Evan Craig-R dec. Chris Botero-A 8-3 6-7
125 Travis Coffey-A major dec. Chuck Zeisloft-R 11-2 10-7
133 Jordan Thome-A dec. Jimmy Kirchner-R 5-3 13-7
141 Casey Thome-A dec. Aaron Nestor-R 5-0 16-7
149 Zac Cibula-R dec. Daniel Young-A 6-2 16-10
157 Jimmy Rafferty-A dec. Ramon Santiago-R 9-4 19-10
165 Jim Resnick-R dec. Jake Vetter-A 6-4 19-13
174 Rob Morrison-R dec. Collin Wittmeyer-A 10-3 19-16
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