BUFFALO, NY – For the first time in program history, the Rider wrestling team captured the MAC Tournament title Saturday inside Alumni Arena. The Broncs edged out a tight team race with 102 points, finishing ahead of Lock Haven, last year's champions, to secure the conference crown.

Rider also qualified four wrestlers for the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, with two additional Broncs hoping for an at-large bid in the coming weeks. 

Consolation Semifinals
At 149 pounds, (4) Dylan Layton opened his day in the consolation semifinals against Buffalo's Sam Ewing. After a scoreless first period, Layton broke the match open in the second with an escape and a takedown to take a 4-0 lead. Ewing started the third period on his feet, but Layton added another takedown and secured riding time to earn an 8-1 decision and advance.

At 197 pounds, top-seeded Brock Zurawski responded in the consolation bracket with a dominant 17-2 technical fall, advancing to the third-place bout.

Placement Matches
125 lbs. – Final: (1) Tyler Klinsky vs. (6) Chris Vargo (Edinboro)
Klinsky faced a familiar opponent in Vargo, whom he had defeated twice earlier this season. The graduate student controlled the match from the start, scoring an early takedown to take a 3-0 lead after the first period. Starting on bottom in the second, Klinsky escaped and converted another takedown to extend his lead to 7-0. A late takedown sealed an 11-3 major decision, earning Klinsky his first MAC title and a berth to the NCAA Championships.

133 lbs. – Final: (3) Will Betancourt vs. (1) Markel Baker (Northern Illinois)
Betancourt battled top-seeded Baker in a tightly contested final. After the wrestlers traded escapes, riding time proved to be the difference as Baker secured a 2-1 decision.

141 lbs. – Final: (1) Elijah Griffin vs. (2) Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven)
The MAC final marked the third meeting this season between Griffin and Henson, with Griffin entering the match 2-0 in the series. After each wrestler recorded an escape, the bout went to overtime, tied at 1-1. Henson ultimately secured a takedown in the third overtime period to win the match.

Griffin moved on to the true second-place match to secure an NCAA berth. Facing Charles Curtis (Northern Illinois), the Tulsa, Okla. native wasted no time, scoring an early takedown and rolled through for a tilt to build a 7-0 lead after the first period. Griffin remained in control with two more takedowns on his way to a 15-2 major decision, earning his second career trip to the NCAA Championships.

149 lbs. – Third Place: (4) Dylan Layton vs. (5) Ryan Michaels (Edinboro)
Layton faced Michaels for the second time in the tournament after defeating him 3-2 in the quarterfinals. This time, Layton created separation early, scoring a feet-to-back sequence in the first period to take a 7-0 lead. After Michaels cut the deficit to 7-2 in the second, Layton responded with another takedown. An escape and riding time point secured a 12-2 major decision, giving Layton third place and his first NCAA Championships berth.

174 lbs. – Final: (4) Enrique Munguia vs. (3) Logan Messer (George Mason)
Munguia and Messer met for the second time this season after Messer claimed a 4-1 decision in their earlier matchup. Munguia struck first with an early takedown, but Messer responded with an escape and takedown to take a 4-3 lead. Munguia escaped to tie the match and later added another escape to go ahead 5-4 in the second period. In the third, Messer earned a takedown on the edge of the mat to move ahead 8-5. Rider challenged the call, but it was upheld. Messer added near-fall points and riding time to secure a 13-5 decision.

Munguia then competed in the true second-place match for the final NCAA allocation against second-seeded Garrett Thompson (Ohio). Munguia opened with an early takedown, but Thompson responded with a takedown of his own to take a 4-3 lead after the first period. Thompson added an escape and a late takedown to claim a 9-4 decision. Munguia will now await a potential at-large selection for the NCAA Championships.

197 lbs. – Third Place: (1) Brock Zurawski vs. (3) Tucker Hogan (Lock Haven)
Zurawski met Hogan for the second time this season after winning their regular-season matchup 6-1. With the team race tied entering the match, Rider needed a victory from Zurawski and a loss from Lock Haven at heavyweight to clinch the team title.

After a scoreless first period, Zurawski scored first with a locked-hands penalty and an escape to lead 2-0. Hogan answered with a takedown to take a 3-2 lead before Zurawski escaped to tie the bout at 3-3 entering the final period. Zurawski sealed the match with a late takedown to secure a 6-4 decision and third place. The junior will now await a potential at-large selection for the NCAA Championships.
 
Quotes and Notes
- Tyler Klinsky was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.
- Head Coach John Hangey earned MAC Coach of the Year honors.
 
Up Next
The Broncs return to action March 19–22 when they compete at the NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio.