LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University wrestling team split 10 matches against Maryland Sunday, but fell, 22-16, on Senior Day. The Terrapins (2-12) scored bonus points in three of its victories, including a pair of falls, to secure the win. The Broncs end the dual season at 8-5.

Maryland took a close victory at 125, 11-10, before Anthony Cefolo (Florham Park, NJ/Hanover Park Regional) evened the score with a 10-4 sudden victory over Orion Anderson at 133. The Terps retook a 9-3 lead on Danny Bertoni's win by fall at 141 and extended the advantage to 12-3 with an overtime decision at 149, causing the Broncs to play catch-up for most of the rest of the match.

Gino Fluri (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren Regional) battled through a gash on his forehead to score a 7-3 decision over Adam Whitesell at 157, while nationally-ranked No. 14 Jesse Dellavecchia (Great River, NY/East Islip) earned a 10-1 major decision to over Phil Spadafora at 165 to close the deficit to 12-10.

Maryland's Josh Ugalde gave the Terrapins some breathing room with a major decision at 174, before Michale Fagg-Daves (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) and Ethan Laird (Waterford, PA/General McLane) earned consecutive decisions at 184 and 197 to tie the match at 16-16. But nationally-ranked No. 9 Youssif Hemida was too much for Jim Brady (Egg Harbor City, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) in his dual debut. Brady came out strong in the early going, but was pinned at 3:58 to send Maryland home with the 22-16 dual win.   

Quotes & Notes
"It's gut-check time for our team. We're not ready to win this conference tournament right now. We are not favored right now and, if we have a performance like that, we won't finish in the top three. That's where they got challenged today. It's gut-check time."

"Mike did a great job as a senior today. When Mike wrestles like that, he's super hard to beat. Even though he lost at Lock Haven and Bloomsburg, he didn't wrestle poorly. He went after the kids and those are matches that he can turn around. I like where Mike's at right now and, for Mike to get a win in his last match in Alumni Gym, that's a special moment. I feel good for him because he's been a cornerstone in our program and our line-up for quite some time. He deserved today and it's unfortunate we didn't get him a team win. But I felt that he wrestled really well and looked good today."

"Jimmy gave me what he had today. That kid is a returning All-American, placed eighth in the country last year, he's currently ranked ninth in the country. He's monstrous size-wise. I believe Jimmy gave me a fight. He just isn't at that level yet." – Rider Head Coach John Hangey

- Prior to the match, the Broncs honored their three-member senior class of Fagg-Daves, Jesse Rodgers (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) and Jovanni Gomez (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch).
- The win was Dellavecchia's team-leading 21^st of the year, while Laird's was his 17^th, good for second on the team.
- Rider had won three-straight against Maryland. The Terrapins' win evens the all-time series at 6-6.
- The Broncs return to action Saturday, March 9, when they head to Fairfax, VA, for the EWL Championships. Matches are set to begin at 10 a.m. at George Mason's Eaglebank Arena.    

Maryland 22, Rider 16
125 – Brandon Cray (Maryland) dec. Jonathan Tropea (Rider), 11-10; Maryland leads, 3-0
133 – Anthony Cefolo (Rider) dec. Orion Anderson (Maryland), 10-4 SV-1; Match tied, 3-3
141 – Danny Bertoni (Maryland) WBF Travis Layton (Rider), 2:59; Maryland leads, 9-3
149 – Alfred Bannister (Maryland) dec. Gary Dinmore, 4-2 OT-2; Maryland leads, 12-3  
157 – Gino Fluri (Rider) dec. Adam Whitesell (Maryland), 7-3; Maryland leads, 12-6
165 – #14 Jesse Dellavecchia (Rider) maj. dec. Phil Spadafora (Maryland), 10-1; Maryland leads, 12-10
174 – Josh Ugalde (Maryland) maj. dec. Dean Sherry (Rider), 11-2; Maryland leads, 16-10
184 – Michale Fagg-Daves (Rider) dec. Kyle Jasenski (Maryland), 14-7; Maryland leads, 16-13
197 – Ethan Laird (Rider) dec. Niko Cappello (Maryland), 5-1; Match tied, 16-16
285 – #9 Youssif Hemida (Maryland) WBF Jim Brady (Rider), 3:58; Maryland wins, 22-16