College Wrestling
#6 Lehigh University 26, Rider University 12
Rider University 27, Northwestern University 19
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Rider University wrestling team went 1-1 on Saturday, losing to the sixth ranked Mountain Hawks of Lehigh University before defeating Northwestern University of the Big 10 in Alumni Gymnasium.
“Northwestern is a good team and we are very happy to beat a BIG 10 team,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. “Like us they are a bit banged up but there was some good wrestling.”
For Rider (3-3) senior 165 Conor Brennan (Brick, NJ) won twice and remained undefeated (10-0) for the season. “Conor continues to wrestle very, very well,” Taylor said. Brennan is ranked 13th by Amateur Wrestling News and 14th by InterMat at 165.
Rider sophomore 157 Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) and junior 197 Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) also won twice.
Against Lehigh (5-1), Walsh upset the sixth ranked wrestler in the nation. “That was a huge win for Chad,” Taylor said. “That's breakthrough type of win. (Mitch) Minotti is a really good wrestler, a two-time All-American who we have a lot of respect for. Chad is a competitor. I knew it was going to be a great match.”
“He's a tough kid,” Walsh said of Minotti. “We had a hard week of training and I was ready for him. It paid off to work hard all week. I wrestled him a lot when I was growing up but this was our first meeting on the collegiate level. This match today shows me where I am at. It gives me some confidence.”
Also against Lehigh Wolfe upset the #11 ranked wrestler in the nation. “That was good for Ryan,” Taylor said. “(John) Bolich has a tough style and if you get impatient he can beat you. Ryan wrestled a smart match.”
Rider 174 junior Wayne Stinson (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) also won against Lehigh.
Rider defeated 10th ranked Lehigh last season at Lehigh. It was just the fifth win for Rider over Lehigh in 20 meetings.
Against Northwestern sophomore Mauro Correnti (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross) won at heavyweight for the final score. Rider 141 junior Paul Kirchner (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) also won.
Rider and Northwestern had never met in a dual meet. “It always feels good to beat a BIG 10 team,” Walsh said.
Walsh, who improved to 8-2, was an NCAA qualifier and EWL champion last year as a rookie.
Wolfe, an EWL Champion and NCAA qualifier, is now 8-3 on the season.
Rider wrestles again December 19 when Penn State comes to Alumni Gym for a 4pm match televised regionally on The Comcast Network. “We're excited for the opportunity to wrestle one of the top teams in the nation,” Taylor said. “We'll prepare hard.”
“I think we're ready for the challenge,” Walsh said. “We've been working really hard. Penn State is always the big one on the schedule. I will probably have the #3 ranked kid that day. The coaches have us working hard and we'll be ready.”
Lehigh 26, Rider 12
125 #12 Darian Cruz-L wins by forfeit 6-0
133 #14 Mason Beckman-L dec. Zach Valcarce-R 6-0 9-0
141 #11 Randy Cruz-L major dec. Paul Kirchner-R 14-2 13-0
149 Laike Gardner-L dec. #12 BJ Clagon-R 9-7 16-0
157 Chad Walsh-R dec. #6 Mitch Minotti-L 8-7 16-3
165 #13 Conor Brennan-R dec. Ryan Preisch-L 6-5 16-6
174 Wayne Stinson-R dec. Elliot Riddick-L 5-3 16-9
184 #5 Nate Brown-L wbf Steve Nelson-R 2:03 22-9
197 Ryan Wolfe-R #11 dec. #11 John Bolich-L 5-3 22-12
285 #11 Max Wessel-L major dec. Mauro Correnti-R 12-3 26-12
Rider 27, Northwestern 19
125 Garrison White-NW wins by forfeit 0-6
133 #20 Dominick Malone-NW wbf Zach Valcarce-R 2:14 0-12
141 Paul Kirchner-R dec Jameson Osler-NW 8-5 3-12
149 #12 BJ Clagon-R wins by forfeit 9-12
157 Chad Walsh-R wins by forfeit 15-12
165 #13 Conor Brennan-R dec. Luke Norland-NW 8-2 18-12
174 Mitch Sliga-NW major dec. Wayne Stinson-R 15-3 18-16
184 Regis Durbin-NW dec. Steve Nelson-R 5-4 ot 18-19
197 Ryan Wolfe-R wins by forfeit 24-19
285 Mauro Correnti-R dec. Conan Jennings-NW 8-3 27-19
