College Wrestling
Columbia University 31, Rider University 10
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Columbia University Lions won seven of 10 bouts, defeating the Rider University Broncs in a wrestling dual Saturday evening in Alumni Gymnasium.
"Columbia has a good team," said 34-year head coach Gary Taylor. "They came down in this area and wrestled well and took home some big wins. I thought Columbia wrestled well in all three of their matches today."
Columbia lost by one point at Pennsylvania Saturday morning before defeating Princeton Saturday afternoon.
At 125, Rider sophomore Chuck Zeisloft (Woodbury Heights/Gateway) won his 21st match of the season, an 8-4 decision over Robert Dyer. Zeisloft used an escape and a takedown for a 3-2 lead in the opening three minutes and had a reversal and takedown to build a 7-3 lead after the second period. Zeisloft used over a minute of riding time for the final score.
At 141, Bronc senior Jimmy Kirchner (Somerville) used three reversals, a take down and riding time for a 9-0 major decision over Ryan Ponte. Kirchner, who won 5-4 in his match at 133 against Columbia last season, was victorious for the 15th time in 2011-12 to put Rider into the lead 7-3.
"It's good to have Jimmy back in the lineup," Taylor said. "It will be good to get everyone back going forward."
At 165, Rider red-shirt sophomore James Brundage (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) scored a 7-2 decision as the Broncs went back into the lead 10-9. Brundage scored a take down at the first period buzzer and then used take downs in the second and third periods and over a minute of riding time for the final score. Brundage won for the 17th time this season.
"We had some good performances," Taylor said. Zeisloft and Kirchner and Brundage; I thought James (Brundage) put on one of the best performances of his collegiate career. He was patient. He is very talented and skilled but sometimes he over wrestles and tonight, he had the right amount of aggressiveness."
The momentum changing point of the dual came when Bronc red-shirt freshman Clint Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff), leading 5-0, was about to pin Shane Hughes at 184 and instead suffered a reversal and was pinned at the second period buzzer. That six-point swing gave Columbia a 19-10 lead instead of giving Rider a 16-13 advantage.
"We knew Hughes has an unorthodox style," Taylor said about the match at 184. "Clint was wrestling really well and has gotten better all year. He pressed an issue and that is the one wrestler where maybe you have to be a little more conservative. Hughes did a good job when he got his opportunity and took advantage of it."
Columbia improved to 6-4 after going 2-1 in the duals on Saturday. Rider is now 9-8.
Columbia is 4-0 all-time against Rider. The Lions won a dual against the Broncs 18-14 last season in New York.
Rider's final home match of the season will be a Colonial Athletic Association dual on Thursday, February 16 against Hofstra at 7pm.
"Hofstra is having a great year and they have a great team," Taylor said about the match coming up Thursday night. "They are the defending CAA champions. We are going to do everything we can to prepare for the match and wrestle them as hard as we can."
-RU-
Columbia 31, Rider 10
125 Chuck Zeisloft (RU) dec. Robert Dyer (CU) 8-4 0-3
133 Kyle Gilchrist (CU) dec. Jimmy Morris (RU) 3-2 3-3
141 Jimmy Kirchner (RU) maj. dec. Ryan Ponte (CU) 9-0 3-7
149 Steve Santos (CU) dec. Conor Brennan (RU) 4-0 6-7
157 Jake O'Hara (CU) dec. Ramon Santiago (RU) 4-3 9-7
165 James Brundage (RU) dec. Eren Civan (CU) 7-2 9-10
174 Stephen West (CU) maj. dec. Brandon Lintner (RU) 11-1 13-10
184 Shane Hughes (CU) wbf. Clint Morrison (RU) 4:59 19-10
197 Nick Mills (CU) wbf. Donald McNeil (RU) 4:04 25-10
Hwt. Kevin Lester (CU) won by forfeit 31-10
