BUFFALO, NY – The Rider wrestling team closed day one of the 2026 MAC Wrestling Championships in first place with 85.5 points in the team standings Friday evening inside Alumni Arena. Four Broncs advanced to Saturday's championship finals, while three others remain alive in the consolation bracket heading into day two.
Will Betancourt became Rider's first NCAA qualifier of the tournament, clinching his berth with his advancement to the 133-pound final. The MAC received four allocations at the weight.
Top-seeded Tyler Klinsky opened his day with a first-round fall over Nico Callelo (Kent State) to advance to the quarterfinals. In the quarters, Klinsky battled eighth-seeded Jace Schafer (Bloomsburg). A quick reversal to begin the second period gave the graduate student a 2-0 advantage before a third-period takedown set up his second fall of the day and a trip to the semifinals.
Klinsky faced Central Michigan's Archer Anderson in the semifinals and made quick work of the matchup, earning a second-period technical fall to advance to Saturday's championship bout.
The third-seeded Will Betancourt received a first-round bye before opening his tournament in the quarterfinals against sixth-seeded Nick Molchak (Kent State). A second-period reversal by Betancourt and a pair of escapes by Molchak tied the match 2-2 entering the final period. Betancourt dug deep late, finishing a shot near the edge of the mat for the go-ahead takedown. Molchak escaped, but Betancourt held on for a gritty 5-3 decision.
Betancourt then met second-seeded Marcel Lopez (SIUE) in the semifinals. After a pair of escapes and a controversial takedown call awarded to Lopez, the Rider corner challenged the ruling and the call was overturned. The match went to sudden victory tied 1-1, where Betancourt continued to circle and move his feet before securing the winning takedown to advance to the MAC final and clinch his NCAA Championships berth.
Top-seeded Elijah Griffin began his tournament with a quick first-period fall over Kent State's Landen Duncan. Griffin followed with a dominant 16-4 major decision in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Griffin faced Jacob Brenneman (Edinboro) and continued his impressive run with a 19-4 technical fall in the second period to advance to the championship match.
Fourth-seeded Dylan Layton began his tournament in the quarterfinals after receiving a first-round bye. Layton faced fifth-seeded Ryan Michaels (Edinboro), who took a 1-0 lead with an escape to begin the second period. Trailing 1-0 entering the third, Layton stayed neutral and used his speed to finish a scramble for the go-ahead takedown. Michaels escaped to make it 3-2, but Layton's defense held strong to secure the decision and advance to the semifinals.
Layton then faced top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Caleb Tyus (SIUE). After trading escapes, the match went to overtime before heading to 30-second rideouts. Tyus chose first and escaped in nine seconds. Layton needed to beat the time but was unable to do so, dropping a 2-1 heartbreaker to the nation's second-ranked wrestler.
Brendon Abdon dropped his opening match to top-seeded Brock Woodcock but battled back in the consolation bracket to stay alive in the tournament. Abdon secured his spot in day two by throwing a headlock and pinning Bloomsburg's Logan Barker in just 64 seconds.
Fourth-seeded Enrique Munguia opened his tournament against Ethan Barr (Kent State). Trailing 3-0 after the first period, Munguia responded with a reversal and takedown in the second to take a 5-4 lead. A third-period takedown secured the 8-5 decision and sent him to the quarterfinals.
In the quarters, Munguia faced fifth-seeded Tommy Bennett (Northern Illinois). Leading 6-1 late in the first period, Munguia locked up a cradle and secured the fall to advance to the semifinals.
Munguia then faced top-seeded Avery Bassett (Lock Haven), a familiar opponent after a 9-6 loss in the regular season. Munguia advanced to the final via medical forfeit.
Top-seeded Brock Zurawski dominated Ethan Wiant (Clarion) in his opening match, earning a 15-3 major decision. In the quarterfinals, Zurawski faced Buffalo's Connor Jacobs and advanced to the semifinals with a fall seconds into the second period.
Zurawski met fourth-seeded Blake Schaffer (Kent State) in the semifinals and fell in the bout but remains alive in the consolation bracket heading into Saturday.
Quotes and Notes
"We had a good Day 1 but the job is not done, we need to take care of business tomorrow and finish the job." - Rider Head Coach John Hangey
Up Next
The Broncs return to action Saturday to conclude the MAC Wrestling Championships.
First whistle is scheduled for 11 a.m.
