TRENTON, NJ - Nationally-ranked #12 Ethan Laird scored a massive upset victory over #1 Max Dean, but Rider Wrestling fell to #1 Penn State, 37-3, at CURE Insurance Arena Friday night.
 
The win for Laird is the highest-ranked win of his career and the first time a Bronc has upset a nationally-ranked #1 since Jesse Dellavecchia took down Northwestern's Ryan Deakin in the 2021 NCAA Semifinals. 
 
Laird and Dean traded escapes in each of the second and third periods. Near the end of the third, both took shots but couldn't capitalize, bringing the bout at 197 into sudden victory. Laird scored the double-leg takedown within the first minute of the extra period and gave Rider one of its biggest individual victories in program history. 
 
Quotes and Notes 
"That's a win he (Laird) works his tail off for and deserves that kind of result because he puts in that kind of effort it's not just once or twice a week. It's his lifestyle. He is committed to being that good. That's the goal for him - to win a national title and now we know where he stands." 
 
"Ethan saw what Jesse did and Ethan didn't place that year. It left a bitter taste in his mouth and now he knows that he can do it." 
 
"This is very rare for us at Rider, to have this opportunity, and I appreciate our University and our Athletic Department for doing this and putting this on because it was an unbelievable environment." - Rider Head Coach John Hangey 
 
-With the win Laird remains undefeated at now 9-0. 
-The win marks the highest-ranked wrestler Laird has defeated in his career and the first time a Bronc knocked off a nationally ranked #1 since Jesse Dellavecchia took down #1 Ryan Deakin of Northwestern in the 2021 NCAA Semifinals. 

RESULTS 
125 - Gary Steen Def Tyler Klinsky (6-4 DEC) 3-0 PSU
133 - #1 Roman Bravo-Young Def  Richie Koehler (23-9 MD) 7-0
141 - #9 Beau Barlett Def McKenzie Bell (Fall) 13-0
149 - #20 Shayne Van Ness Def #24 Quinn Kinner (11-6 DEC) 16-0
157 - #30 Terrell Barraclough DefJake Silverstein (Medical Forfeit) 22-0
165 - #17 Alex Facundo Def Hunter Mays (14-4  MD) 26-0
174 - #1 Carter Starocci Def Shane Reitsma (17-6 MD) 30-0
184 - Donavan Ball Def Asa Terrell (9-3 DEC) 33-0
197 - #12 Ethan Laird Def #1 Max Dean (3-1 SV) 33-3
HWT - #2 Greg Kerkvliet Def David Szuba (11-1) 37-3 PSU