November 16, 2007 - Rider Hosts #2 Iowa State / Match on Internet
November 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Wrestling
Rider Hosts #2 Iowa State
Match on Internet
LAWRENCEVILLE—If hosting the sixth ranked Missouri Tigers to open the 2007-08 season was not enough, the Rider University wrestling team will host the second ranked team in the nation, Iowa State University, Friday night in Alumni Gymnasium.
“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-Iowa State match will be have live text coverage on InterMat, and can be heard live on Take Down Radio.com
Iowa State is coached by the legendary Cael Sanderson, who recently graduated as an undefeated (159-0) four-time national champion and was an Olympic gold medal winner. “He was the top wrestler and now he is one of the top coaches in the country,” Taylor said.
Iowa State has seven wrestlers ranked in the top 15 in their respective weight classes, led by 184 Jake Varner, who is ranked number one. Heavyweight David Zabriske and 133 Nick Fanthorpe are both ranked eighth and 165 Jon Reeder is ninth.
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 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 Don Fisch, who 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 16th 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.
Junior Eddie Bordas (Montgomery, N.Y./Valley Central) is ranked first in the CAA among heavyweights, but is a transfer from Binghamton University and becomes eligible in December.
“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-
