College Wrestling

North Carolina State University 21, Rider University 14

LAWRENCEVILLE-The Wolfpack (2-2) won six of the 10 bouts to defeat Rider Wednesday evening. "Both teams wrestled hard," said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. "It was a hard-fought match, which is what we anticipated."

Freshman James Brundage (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) trailed 2-1 in the third period but came back to win 8-3, giving the Broncs (3-4) a 14-12 lead. It was his first bout at 184, after compiling a 5-5 record at 165 and 174. "James wrestled well," Taylor said. "He needs this year of experience."

"Moving up a weight class or two, now I don't have to concentrate on my weight," Brundage said after his first victory in Rider's Alumni Gym. "I can just concentrate on my wrestling and my strength."

Brundage was 44-2 as a senior at Ossining High, winning the New York State Championship on his way to a 138-22 scholastic career before red-shirting last year. "I looked at last year as a learning experience," Brundage said, "and it really was. I improved so much last year, competing in the wrestling room with my teammates. When I first came here I couldn't handle the other wrestlers in my weight class but before the season was over I was beating them."

"He's a good athlete who is gaining valuable experience," Taylor said.

Junior Jimmy Kirchner (Somerville, N.J./Somerville) won a major decision to give Rider a 4-3 lead. Kirchner improved to 13-6 on the season.

Sophomore Jim Resnick (Media, Pa./Penncrest) won a major decision to cut the NC State lead to 12-8. Resnick is ranked 20th in the nation.

"We got four points at '33 and '65, which we needed," Taylor said.

Senior Rob Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) won in overtime at 174 to cut the NC State lead to 12-11. Morrison improved to 14-4. "That was a hard-fought match," Taylor said. "It was a tactical match, with both wrestlers trying to get that one-more point. Robbie did a real good job of being patient and had a little more fight at the end."

Rider sophomore Zac Cibula (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) took on the 2009 NCAA National Champion, Darrion Caldwell of Rahway, and trailed just 5-4 in the third period before losing 10-7.  "I thought Zac did the best job of the night," Taylor said. "He certainly had the toughest opponent. Caldwell wasn't just a national champion, he was the Most Outstanding Wrestler at Nationals and is one of the premier wrestlers in the United States. I knew coming in that Zac will fight anybody hard, and will be competitive. He stayed to the strategy we mapped out."

Rider travels to Hampton, Virginia for the Virginia Duals this weekend. Rider takes on Kent State Friday morning and either Arizona State or UT Chattanooga Friday afternoon in the two-day tournament.  "Kent is one of the top programs in the country this year, so our hands are full," Taylor said. "In order for our kids to get to Nationals they have to beat some good wrestlers, and this will give them a chance."

125 - Pedram Rahmatabadi-NCS dec. Chuck Zeisloft-RU        10-8         3-0          

133 - Jimmy Kirchner-RU major dec. Conor Hovis-NCS            17-6         3-4          

141 - Darrius Little-NCS  dec. Aaron Nestor-RU                       10-4         6-4          

149 - Darrion Caldwell-NCS  dec. Zac Cibula-RU                     10-7         9-4          

157 - Colton Palmer-NCS dec. Ramon Santiago-RU                6-3           12-4        

165 - Jim Resnick -RU major dec. Colin Genthert-NCS            12-0         12-8        

174 - Rob Morrison-RU dec. Quinton Godley-NCS                  3-1 (ot)     12-11         

184 - James Brundage-RU  dec. Nijel Jones-NCS                   8-3           12-14       

197 - KaRonne Jones-NCS  dec. Joe Ferber-RU                     4-2           15-14       

Hwt - Eloheim Palma-NCS  wbf Evan Craig-RU                       4:34         21-14