LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University Wrestling team fought back from a 12-0 deficit to score their first home victory of the season, taking down Northern Illinois 19-18 on Friday night. With the win, Rider moves to 2-3 and 2-0 in the MAC and NIU falls to 7-2 and 1-1 in the MAC. 

The Broncs biggest win of the day came from Isaac Dean who scored a win over a top-33 opponent taking down #31 Matt Zuber 4-2. Both wrestlers traded escapes in the first two periods however Dean was able to find the big point in the final minute. Dean would slip through a shot from the Huskie and power him down to the mat scoring the three-point takedown with 60 seconds left in the match, proving to be enough to put the Broncs on top 16-15 in the dual.

Following three straight Huskie wins including a win by fall the Broncs' looked to #22 Quinn Kinner  for their first win of the night. Kinner battled through a tough match with Jaivon Jones of NIU, taking the bout 9-7. Jones led Kinner for the majority of the match however the Broncs would again see another late takedown as Kinner scored three with less than 10 seconds in the period. The win would get Rider on the board ending a three bout streak in favor of NIU.

The Broncs also so an impressive performance from Michael Wilson who picked up his pin of the year taking down Hayden Pummel in the second period, as well as Azeem Bell who helped seal the dual for the Broncs with a decision victory at 197.

Quotes and Notes
- "It always feels good to win, I'm really proud of my guys for how they fought and how they stuck together and made it happen. Today through the 14th is a good test for us this is why we had the schedule we had, you wrestle the best kids so that when you're in January you are in the grinding mode you have to stay in that mode "- Rider Head Coach John Hangey
- Washleski moves to a team-best 17-5 on the season.
- Wilson picks up his first pin of the 2023-24 season.
- Rider won four of the final six bouts to come back from down 12-0 in the dual.
- Broncs will be back in action on January 7th at 2:00 P.M as they travel to Rutgers

BOUT BY BOUT RESULTS
125- Tyler Klinsky falls to Blake West by DEC 8-5
133- D'Amani Almodovar falls to Nathaniel Genobana of NIU by DEC 6-4
141- Will Betancourt falls to Jacob Brya of NIU by fall in 4:22
149- #22 Quinn Kinner wins by DEC 9-7 over Javion Jones of NIU
157- #32 Colton Washleski wins by MAJ DEC 10-2 Tulga Zuunbayan of NIU
165-  Jake Silverstein falls to Tommy Bennett of NIU by DEC 5-4
174- Michael Wilson wins by fall in 4:48 over Hayden Pummel of NIU.
184- Isaac Dean wins by decision 4-3 over #31 Matt Zuber of NIU.
197- Azeem Bell wins by decision 5-1 over Sean Carroll of NIU.
285- David Szuba falls to Jacobi Jackson of NIU by decision 8-6.