College Wrestling

Rider University 16, Old Dominion University 15

LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs won five of 10 bouts against the Monarchs of Old Dominion University in a Colonial Athletic Association dual meet Saturday evening. On the tie-breaking criteria, Rider wins the match based on match points (50-45).

The last time Rider defeated ODU was during the 2003-04 season. "I think there is an edge between these two teams," Rider head coach Gary Taylor said after the 'spirited' match. "They've had our number lately but we're closing the gap."

For Rider (3-1, 1-0 CAA) senior Aaron Nestor (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) upset the fourth ranked 149 in the CAA to tie the score at 6-6. "I knew Nestor could beat him," Taylor said. "He's been wrestling well and he gave us an outstanding performance tonight."

"I wrestled him last year at 141 pounds," Nestor said of his match against Brennan Brumley, "and won 3-0 so I was pretty confident going in."

Nestor agreed the match was getting a bit 'chippy.'  "We've always had a rivalry with them," Nestor said. "It was never the cleanest of matches. Even the coaches used to be at each other at times. It's always been a fight with them. Being a CAA match you get a little bit more excited, more into it. Ready to go."

Junior Brandon Lintner (Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Regional), 4-4 at 165 this year, won at 174 to give Rider a 12-9 lead. "Brandon wrestled all seven minutes," Taylor said. "We got great performances from Lintner and Nestor, the two weight classes we did not have our starters going tonight."

Sophomore Ramon Santiago (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville) gave Rider a 9-6 lead after five bouts. Santiago is ranked second in the CAA at 157 pounds and defeated the 14^th ranked wrestler in the nation. "He beat a very good wrestler who is nationally ranked," Taylor said. "That was a very good performance by Ramon. He wrestled hard to get the lead and wrestled hard to get the lead back again. That's what he's capable of doing."

Freshman Clint Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) upset the third ranked 184 in the CAA to give Rider a 15-9 lead. "That was a great performance by Clint," Taylor said. "He stuck to a game plan and stayed physical. It was good to get him back in the line-up."

Senior Jimmy Kirchner (Somerville, N.J./Somerville) won at 141 to get Rider on the board. Kirchner is ranked third in the CAA and defeated the fourth ranked 141.  Kirchner is 11-5 this year and placed runner-up at the Keystone Classic.  "Kirchner beat a very accomplished wrestler coming out of high school," Taylor said. "They've always had real battles and Jimmy has won every one of them."

The Broncs have five wrestlers ranked among the top four in the CAA in their respective weight classes. ODU (5-3, 0-1 CAA) has seven wrestlers ranked in the CAA.

The Broncs were without junior Jim Resnick (Media, Pa./Penncrest), who is ranked second in the CAA at 174 and nationally is ranked seventh by WIN Magazine, 12^th by Amateur Wrestling News and 13^th by InterMat, and junior Zac Cibula (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco). Cibula is the top ranked 149 in the CAA and won his first match of the season but has been sidelined since. Cibula was the CAA Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler in 2011.

"Zac was willing to go but I'm not taking any chances," Taylor said. "I just wanted him to make weight and get used to the weight."

ODU defeated Rider 22-13 last season at the CAA Duals.  Rider is 4-8-1 against ODU since the series began in 2001-02, with Rider winning the first three meetings.

"We're going to work hard to get our full line up together by January, maybe Midlands (end of December)," Taylor said.

The Broncs are back in Alumni Gym next Saturday, December 10, hosting nationally ranked Rutgers at 7pm. "Rutgers is a very good team," Taylor said. "Rutgers is really good but I think we'll beat them," Nestor said.

Rider 16, Old Dominion 15

125  Eric Dunnet-ODU dec. Chuck Zeisloft-R                              3-2 (ot)              0-3

133  Scott Festejo-ODU  dec. Matt Sausman-R                           7-3                    0-6

141  Jimmy Kirchner-R dec. Justin LaValle-ODU                          8-6                    3-6

149  Aaron Nestor-R dec. Brennan Brumley-ODU                        6-0                    6-6 

157  Ramon Santiago-R dec. John Nicholson-ODU                     11-7                  9-6

165  Tristan Warner-ODU dec. James Brundage-R                       4-2                    9-9

174  Brandon Lintner-R dec. Brett Miller-ODU                              4-3                    12-9

184  Clint Morrison-R dec. Billy Curling-ODU                               7-3                    15-9  

197  Joe Budi-ODU dec. Donald McNeil-R                                  9-6                    15-12

Hwt  Matt Tourdot-ODU dec. Evan Craig-R                                 3-1                    15-15

Match points                                                                             50-45                16-15 

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