LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Rider University wrestling team brought home a decisive home dual win over 19th ranked University of Pennsylvania before over 800 fans in head coach Gary Taylor's 39th and final home opener. The Broncs (2-0, 1-0 EWL) rode second period pins from sophomore Anthony Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park Regional) and junior Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) to a 32-10 victory. The Quakers are now 0-1 on the season.
“We were aggressive, which is what we've been working hard on” said head coach Gary Taylor. “We'll assess each match, but overall, the team wrestled hard.”
In addition to Walsh and Cefolo, Rider received wins from freshman 141 Evan Fidelibus (Easton, PA/Easton Area), redshirt junior 174 Wayne Stinson (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington Regional), senior 197 Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, DE/Caravel Academy), and redshirt junior heavyweight Mauro Correnti (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross), as well as a forfeit win at 125 for junior J.R. Wert (Christiansburg, VA/Christiansburg).
The match opened at 125 with a forfeit for Wert, before Cefolo scored the fall late in the second period at 133. A 10-2 major decision at 141 by Fidelibus brought the Broncs to a 16-0 lead through the first three bouts.
The Quakers fought back to within 16-7 with an 8-2 decision by Joe Oliva over Bronc junior 149 pound wrestler Jesse Rodgers (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) followed by a 12-4 major decision by May Bethea over Rider sophomore 157 pounder Gino Fluri (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren Regional).
Rider took control from there, with nationally ranked number seven Walsh winning by fall at 165 in 3:18 over Daniel McDevitt, spurring the Broncs to win five of the final six matches of the evening.
Stinson defeated Joseph Velliquette at 174 by 12-4 major decision to open the lead up to 26-7 for Rider.
Junior 184 Michale Fagg-Daves (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) suffered a close 1-0 loss to Casey Kent, ranked number three nationally at 174 pounds in the last win of the night for the Quakers.
Ranked 11th at 197, Wolfe won the battle of nationally ranked wrestlers, taking out 13th ranked Frank Mattiace by a 5-2 score.
Correnti closed the meet with a 6-2 decision over Tyler Hall for the final score, giving Taylor his 431st career win, tops nationally among all active head coaches.
The Broncs return to action at the 54th annual Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern University December 29-30.
The Broncs return home to face Clarion in an Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) dual on January 12 at 7pm in Alumni Gym.
-RU-
125: J.R. Wert (RU) by Forfeit. RU Leads 6-0
133: Anthony Cefolo (RU) WBF Tristin DeVincenzo (Penn) 4:51. RU Leads 12-0
141: Evan Fidelibus (RU) M. Dec. A.J. Vindici (Penn) 10-2. RU Leads 16-0
149: Joe Oliva (Penn) Dec. Jesse Rodgers (RU) 8-2. RU Leads 16-3
157: May Bethea (Penn) M. Dec. Gino Fluri (RU) 12-4. RU Leads 16-7
165: Chad Walsh (RU) WBF Dan McDevitt (Penn) 3:18. RU Leads 22-7
174: Wayne Stinson (RU) M. Dec. Joseph Velliquette (Penn) 12-4. RU Leads 26-7
184: Casey Kent (Penn) Dec. Michale Fagg-Daves (RU) 1-0. RU Leads 26-10
197: Ryan Wolfe (RU) Dec. Frank Mattiace (Penn) 5-2. RU Leads 29-10
285: Mauro Correnti (RU) Dec. Tyler Hall (Penn) 6-2. RU Wins 32-10
