MADISON, WI – The Rider wrestling team picked up its first win of the 2024 season, beating Big Ten opponent Wisconsin 28-12 on Sunday afternoon. The Broncs overcame a slow start, winning six straight matches and grabbing important bonus points to secure the victory.

The dual began at 197 lbs, where Steyn De Lange (Polokwane, South Africa) set the tone with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Niccolo Colucci. De Lange scored early with a takedown and held on despite giving up two stall points and an escape.

Wisconsin bounced back, winning the next two matches, including an exciting battle at 125 lbs. Will Betancourt (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Central) took on No. 24 Nicolar Rivera in a back-and-forth match. Rivera opened the match with a takedown, taking an early 3-0 lead. Betancourt responded with an escape to close the first period. In the second period, Rivera started in the bottom position, quickly escaping to extend his lead. However, Betancourt powered through with a takedown to tie the score at 4-4. Rivera immediately countered with a reversal, reclaiming the lead at 6-4. Entering the final period, Betancourt began on the bottom and earned a reversal to level the score at six. Despite the tie, Rivera's riding time advantage secured him a thrilling 7-6 victory.

The Broncs' rally began at 141 lbs, as McKenzie Bell (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway) sparked momentum with a dominant 10-4 decision over Brock Bobzien. Bell would give up the first takedown but struck back with an escape and takedown of his own making it 4-3 after the opening three minutes. Bell started the second period on the bottom and added to his lead with a reversal making it 6-3. Bobzien would start on his feet to open the final period but Bell would continue to be on the attack, fighting his way to another takedown making it 9-3. Bobzien would earn another escape as Bell would push for the major but came up short, winning a 10-4 decision.

At 149 lbs, No. 24 Sammy Alvarez (Garfield, NJ/Saint Joseph Regional Montvale) put on a clinic, overpowering Royce Nilo en route to a 20-4 tech fall. Alvarez would go into the second period with a 3-1 lead but quickly got an escape to start the second period and hit a perfectly timed ankle pick to extend his lead to 7-1. Alvarez worked on top to earn four near-fall points to widen his lead to 11-1. Nilo started the final period on the bottom and got the quick escape but Alvarez stayed aggressive getting another takedown and from there, he started his chase for the tech fall to give his team bonus points. 

No. 29 Colton Washleski (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) delivered the match's pivotal moment at 157 lbs, securing a dramatic pin against Luke Mechler. Following a scoreless first period, Washleski turned up the intensity, flipping the match in his favor with a bodylock takedown that led to the fall. This crucial victory gave Rider a commanding 17-12 lead.

Enrique Munguia (Strongsville, OH/Elyria) kept the Broncs rolling at 165 lbs, defeating Cale Anderson with a 9-0 major decision. Munguia's takedown and solid riding on top earned Rider another bonus-point win, pushing the team score to 21-12.

At 174 lbs, No. 29 Michael Wilson (Pittstown, NJ/North Hunterdon) sealed the dual for the Broncs in a thrilling comeback against Luke Condon. Trailing 9-3, Wilson shifted the tide with a double underhook throw, earning a takedown and near-fall points to claim a 10-9 victory and officially clinch Rider's win.

No. 33 Isaac Dean (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) was relentless in the final bout of the match at 184 lbs and continue his hot streak to put on a takedown clinic scoring six takedowns to earn the 20-6 major decision over Dylan Russo.

Quotes and Notes
"This was the response we were looking for after our performance Friday. We started to develop our identity as a team and need to keep building from here.  I felt we pushed the pace and scored points, which is what we preach every day to the guys, they wrestled well." – Rider Head Coach John Hangey

- Washleski, Wilson, and Dean remain undefeated in dual meets
- The Badgers still lead the Broncs in all-time series history 4-2.

Match Results vs Wisconsin
125: No. 24 Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) over Will Betancourt (Rider) Dec 7-6
133: Zan Fugitt (Wisconsin) over Michael Campanaro (Rider) Fall 4:08
141: McKenzie Bell (Rider) over Brock Bobzien (Wisconsin) Dec 10-4
149: No. 24 Sammy Alvarez (Rider) over Royce Nilo (Wisconsin) Tech Fall 21-4 5:58
157: No. 29 Colton Washleski (Rider) over Luke Mechler (Wisconsin) Fall 4:52
165: Enrique Munguia (Rider) over Cale Anderson (Wisconsin) Major Dec 9-0
174: No. 29 Michael Wilson (Rider) over Luke Condon (Wisconsin) Dec 10-9
184: No. 33 Isaac Dean (Rider) over Dylan Russo (Wisconsin) Major Dec 20-6
197: Steyn De Lange (Rider) over Niccolo Colucci (Wisconsin) Dec 4-3 
285: Gannon Rosenfeld (Wisconsin) over Collin French (Rider) Dec 7-0

Up Next
The Broncs are next in action after the Thanksgiving break when they travel to Las Vegas, NV to compete at the Cliff Keen Invitational on Dec. 6-7. 
Tournament is set for a 9 a.m. start.