Rider at CAAs
Santiago, Cibula in Finals
LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs are in fourth place and have two wrestlers in the finals and eight in the consolations Saturday at the 2011 Colonial Athletic Association Championships.
"The good news is that all 10 of our wrestlers get to wrestle tomorrow," said Rider head coach Gary Taylor.
Freshman Ramon Santiago (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville) is in the finals against the top seed, Matt Kaylor of Binghamton. Santiago is the third seed at 157 and in the semifinal he defeated the second seed, Tyler Banks of Hofstra, 7-4.
Santiago lost twice to Hofstra's Banks this year, both times by one point. "All three times were good matches, but the first two I felt I dominated but found a way to lose," Santiago said. "I knew I was better than him. I was confident today."
"That's a big win for Ramon," Taylor said. "He's learning how to fight and compete and I'm pleased with that. He's pretty skilled. Both times against the Hofstra kid were close. The Hofstra wrestler is good."
Santiago won by fall over the sixth seed, Jayk Cobbs of Old Dominion in the quarterfinals. "I started off slow but got back to doing what I was supposed to do and got the pin," Santiago said. "He went to roll and I locked him up."
Sophomore Zac Cibula (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) won 4-1 over the sixth seeded 149, Nestor Taffur of Boston U. in the semifinals. Cibula is the second seed and received a first round bye. He is now in the finals against the top seed, Donald Vinson of Binghamton.
"Ramon fought hard and Zac fought hard," Taylor said. "They both won because of that. Zac is always fighting."
Senior Rob Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff), the top seed at 174, was upset 8-6 in overtime in the semifinals by Hunter Meys of Boston U., the fourth seed. Morrison won 7-4 in the quarterfinals over Tristan Warner of Old Dominion and will now face the sixth seed from Drexel, Justin Wieller, in the consolations Saturday morning.
"We're disappointed in some of our matches," Taylor said. "We had some guys flat in the semifinals for whatever reason I don't know. The wrestlers we lost to fought hard and give them credit."
Sophomore Jim Resnick (Media, Pa./Penncrest), the third seed at 165, lost 9-1 in the semifinals to the second seed, Paul Gillespie of Hofstra. Resnick pinned the sixth seed, Dan Rivera of Old Dominion in the quarterfinals. Resnick will now take on Aaron Keeton of George Mason in the consolations Saturday morning.
Junior Aaron Nestor (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) was pinned by the second seeded 141, Anwar Goeres of Binghamton in the semifinals. Nestor is the third seed and defeated the sixth seed, Denny Herndon of George Mason 3-1 in overtime of the quarterfinals. Nestor will now wrestle the fifth seed, Josh Yurasits of Drexel in the consolations Saturday morning.
Freshman Evan Craig (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) is the fifth seeded heavyweight and lost 3-1 to the fourth seed, Grant Chapman of Old Dominion in the quarterfinals. Craig won by fall in the consolations over Hunter Manspile of George Mason and will compete in the second round of consolations Saturday morning against the sixth seed, Cody Reed of Binghamton.
Freshman James Brundage (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) lost in the quarterfinals to the second seeded 184, Ben Clymer of Hofstra, 6-1, before defeating the sixth seed, Shawn Fausey of Drexel 9-7 (ot) in the consolations. Brundage will compete in the second round of consolations Saturday morning against the fourth seed, Brock Mantella of BU.
Senior Joe Ferber (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem High School East) is the sixth seed at 197 and lost 8-3 to the third seed, John Paris of Binghamton, in the quarterfinals. Ferber will compete in the consolations Saturday morning against the fifth seed, Matt Leow of Hofstra.
Junior Jimmy Kirchner (Somerville, N.J./Somerville) is the fourth seed at 133 and lost to the fifth seed, Frank Cimato of Drexel 9-7 in the quarterfinals. Kirchner will compete in the consolations Saturday morning against the third seed, Fred Santaite of BU.
Freshman Chuck Zeisloft (Woodbury Heights, N.J./Gateway) is the third seed at 125 lost 7-3 in the quarterfinals to the sixth seed, Derek Steeley of Binghamton. Zeisloft will compete in the consolations Saturday morning against the fourth seed from Boston U., Chris McGinley.
Team Standings: Hofstra 70.5, Binghamton 66, Boston U. 30.5, Rider 28, Old Dominion 26, Drexel 11.5, George Mason 3.5
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