November 9 & 16, 2007 - Rider Hosts National Powers / Both Matches on Internet
November 9, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Wrestling
Rider Hosts National Powers
Both matches on Internet
LAWRENCEVILLE—The 2007-08 Rider University wrestling season begins with a pair of national powers coming in to Alumni Gymnasium, #6 Missouri on Friday November 9 and #3 Iowa State on Friday November 16. “This is by far the most challenging schedule in the history of Rider wrestling,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor, who’s 330 wins is second most among active NCAA Division I coaches.
The Rider-Missouri match will be have live text coverage on InterMat, while the Rider-Iowa State match will be on Take Down Radio.com
Missouri brings seven individuals who are ranked nationally in their weight classes, while Iowa State is coached by the legendary Cael Sanderson, who recently graduated as an undefeated (159-0) four-time national champion.
Rider will also host Purdue and Nebraska, while traveling to Lehigh and Maryland.
Last season Rider took six wrestlers to Nationals and came home with its 12th All-American in the last 27 years. Five of the six national qualifiers return for next season, including senior Don Fisch (Williamstown, N.J./Delsea), who finished his junior season fifth in the nation.
Rider will once again take part in the Keystone Classic at Penn, the Las Vegas Open and the prestigious Midlands Championships in Illinois. Other non-conference dual meets are with Clarion and Rutgers at home, and at Bloomsburg.
In the Colonial Athletic Association, Rider will host Drexel and compete at Old Dominion, Boston University and Sacred Heart, and at the CAA Duals, hosted by George Mason.
The Broncs also begin the season with three wrestlers who are ranked nationally by the Amateur Wrestling News.
Heading the list is junior Eddie Bordas (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central), who is ranked first in the CAA among heavyweights. Bordas is a transfer from Binghamton University.
Nationally, Fisch is ranked fourth in the nation among 141 pounders and second in the CAA. Junior Doug Umbehauer (Shamong, N.J./Lenape) is ranked 13th in the nation and second in the CAA among 184 pounders, and senior T.J. Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) is ranked 14th in the nation and second in the CAA among 197 pound wrestlers.
Other Broncs ranked in the CAA include junior Zac Cunliffe (Farmingdale, N.J./Howell), who is ranked second at 133, junior Jason Lapham (West Chazy, N.Y./Beekmantown) is ranked third at 165, sophomore Rob Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) is ranked third at 157, freshman Aaron Nester (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) is ranked sixth at 149 and freshman Mitch Fenton (Whitemarsh, Md./Archbishop Curley) is ranked sixth at 125.
“We feel that we have the individuals to handle this type of competition,” Taylor said. “It will certainly prepare them to be All-Americans and possibly win a National Championship.”
-RU-
