College Wrestling
Rider University 22, University of Pennsylvania 12
Rider University 32, George Mason University 3
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—In two matches in two cities in two states the Broncs picked up two victories on Sunday. Rider won 16 of 20 bouts, at Penn in the afternoon and at home against George Mason in the evening.
“I've had two wins in a day before but I don't honestly think I've ever had two wins in one day in two different cities,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor, who now has 426 career wins at Rider, fifth most ever on the Division I level of the NCAA, second among active Division I coaches.
For Rider (9-8, 4-2 EWL) sophomore heavyweight Mauro Correnti (Delran, N.J./Holy Cross), senior 165 Conor Brennan (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.), junior 197 Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, Del./Caravel), senior 133 Robert Deutsch (Cherry Hill, NJ/Eastern Regional) and sophomore 149 B.J. Clagon (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) all won twice Sunday.
“The kids wrestled well today,” Taylor said. “They responded to a tough day. In both matches they were aggressive.”
Correnti, in his first season competing for the Broncs, won both of his bouts in overtime. “Mauro is doing a really nice job,” Taylor said, “in terms of positon and being patient. He wrestled well throughout the entire matches, including the overtimes. They were hard-fought matches against two good wrestlers so I am very pleased with his performance today. I thought he did a great job.”
“That was tough today, with two long matches with two tough kids with travel in between,” said Correnti, who improved to 13-8, 10-4 in duals. “Preparing for them was different. They've come in all shapes and sizes this year. I'm about average size for a heavyweight and I like the fact that the size of my opponents vary. I don't get stuck with just one style. I get to change it up a little bit. That works out great.”
Brennan, the defending EWL champion, improved to 21-2 on the season, including 3-0 since returning from an injury.
Wolfe, the defending EWL Champion at 174, won by major decision and by tech fall Sunday to improve to 21-8 and finished 6-0 in EWL duals at 197.
Deutsch, the defending EWL champion, improved to 5-0 in EWL duals this year.
Against Penn (3-3) at the Palestra Clagon defeated #14 C. J. Cobb 3-1. “That's the kid B.J. beat last year to place at Nationals,” Taylor said. Clagon went on to finish fifth at the NCAAs. Clagon began this season by defeating All-American Lenny Richardson of ODU in the NWCA All Star Classic. “Cobb is the best wrestler B.J. has beaten since the all-star match,” Taylor said. “That's a good sign, that he's coming around and heading in the right direction.”
Senior 125 Zach Valcarce (Willas, NJ/Lower Cape May) won to give Rider a 13-12 lead. Junior Paul Kirchner (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) won his only bout of the day.
“The Penn match was one of the best overall team efforts I've seen for a long time,” Taylor said. “That was good to see.”
Against Mason (6-9, 1-3 EWL) in a conference match at Rider, sophomore Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) won by fall in 3:40 to give Rider a 6-0 lead. The defending EWL Champion, Walsh finishes 6-0 in EWL duals this year.
Sophomore Wayne Stinson (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington Regional) won in overtime. Freshman Michale Fagg-Daves (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) won to give Rider a 15-0 lead. Senior Jimmy Morris (Northport, NY/St. Anthony's) won his only match of the day.
Rider competes at Drexel February 6. “Drexel is a tough team with good balance,” Taylor said.
Rider 22, Penn 12
157 May Bethea-P dec. #15 Chad Walsh-R 7-3 0-3
165 #7 Conor Brennan-R dec. Brooks Martino-P 9-3 3-3
174 #15 Casey Kent-P major dec. Wayne Stinson-R 10-2 3-7
184 #13 Lorenzo Thomas-P tech fall Michale Fagg-Daves-R 3-12
197 Ryan Wolfe-R major dec. Joe Heyob-P 11-1 7-12
285 Mauro Correnti-R dec. Patrik Garren-P 3-1 (ot) 10-12
125 Zach Valcarce-R dec. Jeremy Schwartz-P 7-2 13-12
133 Robert Deutsch-R dec. Caleb Richardson-P 2-1 16-12
141 Paul Kirchner-R dec. Marc Mastropietro-P 10-7 19-12
149 B.J. Clagon-R dec. #14 C.J. Cobb-P 3-1 22-12
Rider 32, Mason 3
157 Chad Walsh-R wbf Konbeh Korona-M 3:40 6-0
165 Conor Brennan-R dec. Patrick Davis-M 7-3 9-0
174 Wayne Stinson-R dec. Ryan Forest-M 8-6 (ot) 12-0
184 Michale Fagg-Daves-R dec. Luke Ludke-M 8-3 15-0
197 Ryan Wolfe-R tech fall Cameron Houston-M 16-1 20-0
285 Mauro Correnti-R dec. Matthew Voss-M 6-4 (ot) 23-0
125 Ibraham Bunduka-M dec. Zach Valcarce-R 6-4 23-3
133 Robert Deutsch-R dec. Vincent Rodriguez-M 4-2 26-3
141 Jimmy Morris-R dec. Tejon Anthony-M 10-5 29-3
149 B.J. Clagon-R dec. Blake Roulo-M 4-3 32-3
