November 9, 2007 - #6 Missouri 34 #26 Rider 4
November 9, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Wrestling
#6 University of Missouri 34, #26 Rider University 4
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs lost to the powerful Tigers of Missouri in the 2007-08 season opener Friday night. “I feel that we battled hard,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor, “and I am pleased that our kids went out and battled as hard as they could against some of the best wrestlers in the nation.”
For Rider (0-1) senior Don Fisch (Williamstown, N.J./Delsea), ranked fourth in the nation among 141 pounders, moved up a weight to take on the ninth ranked 149 pounder, Josh Wagner, and won a major decision.
“Wagner wrestled Don very smart, and that is what Donnie needs,” Taylor said. “He needs that kind of advisory every time. Donnie is on a quest to win a national championship, and in order to do that you have to know how to win the tough matches.”
An All-American last year, Fisch trailed 5-0 in the first period and 8-7 in the third period before winning for the 89th time in his career.
“I wasn’t happy about being down 5-0,” Fisch said. “I was a little worried, but I knew once I got up I could do something about it. Hopefully the next match I won’t get caught in the first period like I did tonight. I feel I can wrestle with most 149 pounders, even thought 141 is my weight class. I was just hanging out for most of the match, waiting for him to shoot and then I would counter.”
“There are concerns anytime you have a wrestler trailing 5-0,” Taylor said. “My concern is not as great, however, when the wrestler is Donnie Fisch. He is so explosive he can turn things around real quick. What pleased me most about Donnie coming back was not so much the technical aspect but the heart aspect. He trailed and got right back to work and didn’t lose his composure or his confidence. Being an All-American last year has helped his confidence.”
For the Tigers (1-0), Nicholas Marable, ranked 18th in the nation at 165, won by tech fall to give Missouri a 17-4 lead.
Senior T.J. Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) ranked 14th in the nation among 197 pound wrestlers, lost by just one point to the fourth ranked Maxwell Askren. “The kid that T.J. wrestled went into the national tournament ranked number one in the nation last year,” Taylor said.
Junior Doug Umbehauer (Shamong, N.J./Lenape), ranked 13th in the nation among 184 pounders, suffered a tech fall to the sixth ranked Raymond Jordan. “That kid is ranked sixth for a reason,” Taylor said. “He’s one of the best in the country.”
Rider hosts #3 Iowa State November 16. “All we can do is what we did tonight, take our individuals and see what we can get out of getting them prepared to think on the national level,” Taylor said. “To compete at the national level like we want to do, to believe our people are at that level, they have to wrestle teams like Missouri and Iowa State, teams that are at that level.”
-RU-
125 Tony Pescaglia-M dec. Mitch Fenton-R 10-4 3-0
133 #2 Tyler McCormick-M dec. Zac Cunliffe-R 8-2 6-0
141 Marcus Hoehn-M dec. Fred Rodgers-R 6-1 9-0
149 Don Fisch-R major dec. #9 Josh Wagner-M 17-9 9-4
157 Emanuel Brooks-M dec. Rob Morrison-R 8-4 12-4
165 #18 Nicholas Marable-M tech fall Mike Darling-R 18-3 17-4
174 James Williamson-M dec. Joe Ferber-R 7-2 20-4
184 #6 Raymond Jordan-M tech fall #13 Doug Umbehauer-R 22-7 25-4
197 #4 Maxwell Askren-M dec. #14 T. J. Morrison-R 7-6 28-4
285 Mark Ellis-M wbf Peter Reid-R 2:18 34-4
