LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Rider University wrestling team looked dominant in a 25-11 victory over the crosstown rival Princeton Tigers. In Head Coach
Gary Taylor's 441st career win, the Broncs took seven of 10 matches, including two bonus-point victories. The win pushed Taylor past former Minnesota Head Coach J Robinson for third all-time in NCAA Division I dual victories.
The Broncs received bonus points from
Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) at 165 and
Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, DE/Caravel Academy) at 197. Matches were also won by
J.R. Wert (Christianburg, VA/Christianburg) at 125,
Anthony Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park Regional [South Dakota St.]) at 133,
Evan Fidelibus (Easton, PA/Easton Area) at 141,
B.J. Clagon (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) at 157, and
Wayne Stinson (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington Regional) at 184.
“It's a tribute to both our coaching staff and our wrestlers,” said Coach Taylor. “They went after something at the beginning of this year, and they worked hard to get it for me.”
The historic victory began with a match that needed extra time at 125, where Wert managed to kick the Broncs off on the right foot with a 3-1 overtime victory over Ty Agaisse.
The Broncs would continue on to win the next two matches as well, with Cefolo defeating Pat D'Arcy 8-3 in a rematch of the 2015 New Jersey state finals at 126 pounds, which Cefolo lost. Fidelibus would defeat Jordan Reich 10-5 to push the Broncs lead to 9-0.
The Broncs would suffer their first loss at 149, when 19th ranked Jordan Laster defeated
Jesse Rodgers (Pittsburgh, PA/Northern Allegheny), 12-2 to bring the score to 9-4.
The Rider wrestlers wouldn't let it stay close, winning another two-straight matches, including one by fall, to blow the match open. Clagon defeated Mike D'Angelo, 8-3, before Walsh pinned Matt Gancayco at 5:58 to make the dual score 18-4.
At 174,
Dean Sherry (Brick, NJ/Brick Township) suffered a tough 7-4 loss to Jonathan Schleifer.
The Broncs would then win another back-to-back set of matches to clinch the victory, with Stinson defeating Ian Baker up a weight at 184 by an 8-5 score, and Wolfe just missing the technical fall with a 20-4 major decision of Troy Murtha.
285 pound wrestler
Mauro Correnti (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross [Lock Haven]) would lose by the score of 12-0 to set the final score of 25-11.
The Broncs next wrestle in their senior day match against the Terrapins of Maryland on Saturday, February 18th at 3pm in Alumni Gymnasium.
125:
J.R. Wert (RU) dec. Ty Agaisse (PU), 3-1 SV-1. RU Leads 3-0
149: Jordan Laster (PU) M. Dec.
Jesse Rodgers (PU), 12-2. RU Leads 9-4
157:
B.J. Clagon (RU) Dec. Mike D'Angelo (PU), 8-3. RU Leads 12-4
165:
Chad Walsh (RU) WBF Matt Gancayco (PU), 5:58. RU Leads 18-4
174: Jonathan Schleifer (PU) Dec.
Dean Sherry (RU), 7-4. RU Leads 18-7
197:
Ryan Wolfe (RU) M. Dec. Troy Murtha (PU), 20-6. RU Leads 25-7
285: Ray O'Donnell (PU) M. Dec.
Mauro Correnti (RU), 11-0. RU Wins 25-11
