LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - On an historic night in Alumni Gymnasium, the Rider wrestling team (11-1, 5-1 EWL) won a tight 18-16 match against Drexel on the backs of three major decisions. The victory pushed Rider Head Coach Gary Taylor's all-time win total to 440, tying him with former Minnesota Head Coach J Robinson for third all-time in Division I wrestling history.
The Broncs won five of the matches on the day, taking three by bonus points with a trio of major decisions from B.J. Clagon (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic), and Dean Sherry (Brick, NJ/Brick Township) accounting for the difference in the match. The Broncs also received victories from J.R. Wert (Christianburg, VA/Christianburg) and Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, DE/Caravel Academy).
“That was a great match,” said Taylor. “We knew that this was going to be tough, and they did as well. I thought that both sides fought hard, but we were able to get more majors.”
The match started off with a close battle at 125, with Wert winning a tight 2-1 decision over Zachary Fuentes to kick the match off 3-0.
The Dragons would then take the next three matches, with nationally ranked wrestlers at both 133 and 149. #12 Kevin Devoy would hold off Rider sophomore Anthony Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park Regional) 3-2 to tie the match, before David Pearce would defeat freshman Evan Fidelibus (Easton, PA/Easton Area), 4-0. 13th ranked senior Matt Cimato would then defeat Jesse Rodgers (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) by major decision to push the Drexel lead to 10-3.
The Broncs would then find their groove, winning three-straight major decisions to take back the lead 15-10. Clagon and Walsh won at 157 and 165 respectively, Clagon by a 14-5 score, and Walsh 12-3.
Sherry would then take advantage of the turning momentum, scoring a last-second six-point move to blow open the 174-pound match and steal the major decision, 11-3.
“I've only ever done that once in a match, and it worked out well today” said Sherry about the move that clinched the bonus points.
Junior 184 Michale Fagg-Daves (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) would then suffer a tight 3-1 loss to Alex DeCiantis, bringing the dual score to 15-13, where senior 197 Wolfe would score the 10-4 decision to reopen the lead.
Junior Mauro Correnti (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross [Lock Haven]) would take the mat knowing that all he had to do was prevent a technical fall or pin to win the match for the Broncs, and he would do just that, losing 4-1 to the 16th ranked heavyweight in the nation, Joseph Goodhart to end the match 18-16.
“At the beginning of the year, this was a challenge, but they took it on and have done a great job up to this point,” said Taylor in regards to the historic victory.
The Broncs next wrestle on Thursday, Feb. 16 in a crosstown rivalry match against the Princeton Tigers at Alumni Gymnasium.
125: J.R. Wert (RU) Dec. Zachary Fuentes (DU), 2-1. RU Leads 3-0
133: Kevin Devoy (DU) Dec. Anthony Cefolo (RU), 3-2. Score Tied 3-3
141: David Pearce (DU) Dec. Evan Fidelibus (RU), 4-0. DU Leads 6-3
149: Matt Cimato (DU) M. Dec. Jesse Rodgers (RU), 10-0. DU Leads 10-3
157: B.J. Clagon (RU) M. Dec. William Davis (DU), 14-5. DU Leads 10-7
165: Chad Walsh (RU) M. Dec. Austin Rose (DU), 12-3. RU Leads 11-10
174: Dean Sherry (RU) M. Dec. Ebed Jarrell (DU), 11-3. RU Leads 15-10
184: Alex DeCiantis (DU) Dec. Michale Fagg-Daves (RU), 3-1. RU Leads 15-13
197: Ryan Wolfe (RU) Dec. Josh Murphy (DU), 10-4. RU Leads 18-13
285: Joseph Goodhart (DU) Dec. Mauro Correnti (RU), 4-1. RU Wins 18-16
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