CLEVELAND, OH – In his final season wearing the Broncs singlet, Tyler Klinsky etched his name into Rider wrestling history. For the first time in his six-year career, Klinsky earned All-American honors, becoming the program's 22nd NCAA All-American and the 11th in the last 12 seasons.

(11) Tyler Klinsky (125 lbs)
Klinsky opened his day on the consolation side against (21) Conrad Hendriksen (Oklahoma) in a rematch from December. Just as he did in their first meeting, Klinsky controlled the action early, building a 3-1 lead after one period. He continued to apply pressure with strong chain wrestling, adding multiple takedowns to pull away for a 14-5 major decision and stay alive.

Next up, Klinsky faced a daunting challenge in (3) Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State). After falling behind early, Klinsky battled back with an escape and takedown to close the gap. Bouzakis responded to extend his lead, but Klinsky refused to back down. In a stunning sequence, Klinsky secured a late takedown before locking up a cradle in the final seconds, earning a dramatic fall over the third-ranked wrestler in the nation.

With All-American status on the line, Klinsky squared off against (8) Dean Peterson in the blood round. After a scoreless first period, Peterson struck first with an escape. Klinsky answered with one of his own to even the match at 1-1. In a tense final sequence, Klinsky stayed on Peterson through a lengthy scramble before gaining control in the closing seconds, securing a takedown on the edge for a 4-1 victory to clinch All-American honors.

Klinsky continued his run against (7) Nico Provo (Stanford) in the next consolation round. After a tight start, Provo pulled away with multiple takedowns to earn an 11-3 decision. 
Klinsky will now face (6) Jore Volk (Minnesota) in the seventh-place match, a rematch from earlier in the tournament.

(15) Elijah Griffin (141 lbs)
Griffin began his consolation run against (16) Ryan Jack (NC State), using a slick duck-under to score early and take control. With an added riding time point, Griffin secured a 5-2 decision to advance.

He followed that performance with another gritty win over (10) Jack Consiglio (Stanford). After a scoreless first period, Griffin broke through with an escape and takedown to build a lead. Consiglio battled back, but Griffin's riding time proved to be the difference in a 5-3 decision, sending him to the blood round.

In the blood round, Griffin faced (4) Anthony Echemendia in a rematch from earlier this season. Leading 1-0 in the second period, Griffin was forced to medically withdraw due to injury, bringing his tournament and career to a close.

Quotes and Notes
"Couldn't be happier for Tyler. It couldn't happen to a better kid. He pours his heart and soul into everything he does and has become the kind of role model younger guys can look up to when it comes to what it takes to succeed.

He didn't come in as a finished product. He battled through adversity, kept putting himself in the mix, and never backed down. The reason he's an All-American is because of the fight he showed throughout this tournament. That's what set him apart.

And yes, he's incredibly technical, one of the best in the country at his weight, but it's his toughness and mindset that truly stand out. We talk about that all the time, and he went out and lived it.

For a program like ours, having four All-Americans in four years, and 11 in the last 12, says a lot about what our guys put into this and the support we get. It's a standard we expect to keep going. Tyler's set the tone, and now it's on the next guy to follow his lead." - Rider Head Coach John Hangey

- Klinsky becomes Rider's 22nd NCAA All-American in program history.

Session III Results
125: (11) Tyler Klinsky over (21) Conrad Hendriksen (Oklahoma) (MD 14-5)
133: (23) Braxton Brown (Maryland) over (25) Will Betancourt (Dec 1-0)
141: (15) Elijah Griffin over (16) Ryan Jack (NC State) (Dec 5-2)
197: (10) Mac Stout (Pittsburgh) over (24) Brock Zurawski (Dec 10-3)
125: (11) Tyler Klinsky over (3) Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) (Fall 6:45)
141: (15) Elijah Griffin over (10) Jack Consiglio (Stanford) (Dec 5-3)

Session IV Results
125: (11) Tyler Klinsky over (8) Dean Peterson (Iowa) (Dec 4-1)
141: (4) Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State) over (15) Elijah Griffin (Inj. Def. 4:10)
125: (7) Nico Provo (Stanford) over (11) Tyler Klinsky (MD 11-3). 

Session V Matchup: Saturday, March 21 - 11:00 AM
125: (11) Tyler Klinsky vs (6) Nico Provo (Stanford)


Up Next
Tyler Klinsky will wrap up his career on Mar. 21 in the seventh-place match at the NCAA Championships.