LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University graduate student 157 lbs. wrestler Jesse Dellavecchia (Great River, NY/East Islip [Binghamton]) has been named Mid-American Conference Wrestler of the Year, the league office today announced. Dellavecchia became Rider's first-ever NCAA Finalist, while also becoming a two-time MAC Champion. He becomes Rider's first MAC Wrestler of the Year and the school's first conference Wrestler of the Year since Chad Walsh earned the honor in consecutive years in the EWL in 2016 and 2017.

"This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Jesse," said Rider Head Coach John Hangey. He had a great season, representing Rider University and the wrestling program. Jesse was the highest-placing student-athlete from the MAC and the only finalist from a non-Power 5 institution at NCAA's. We are extremely proud of Jesse and his accomplishments this season and throughout his entire career."

Dellavecchia won his first 11 matches of the year, including a pin of then-nationally-ranked No. 1 Ryan Deakin of Northwestern in the NCAA semifinals. He became Rider's 18^th NCAA All-American.

Prior to Dellavecchia's historic run, the furthest a Rider wrestler had gone was to the third-place bout, an accomplishment the Broncs have boasted five times. Rider's first-ever All-American, Lou DiSerafino, finished third in 1980, while Adam Derengowski (1991) and Doug Umbehauer (2009) also finished third. John Lucerne (1985) and current Rider Head Coach John Hangey (1993) both finished fourth.