November 10, 2005 - Lehigh 26 Rider 15

November 10, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Wrestling
Lehigh University 26, Rider University 15

BETHLEHEM, PA—The young Broncs, with no seniors and just one junior in the line up, began the 2005-06 season with a dual meet loss at eighth ranked Lehigh Thursday. “You sharpen steel with fire,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor.  “Lehigh is fire, and that’s why they are ranked so high. A very seasoned group of kids.”

Rider won four of the nine bouts, and did not compete at 157 pounds.  “We thought we had a chance at four or five matches,” said Taylor. “With their All-Americans in the line up we knew it would be a challenge.”

Sophomore Ryan Smith (Olmstead Falls, OH/Olmstead Falls), who won 23 matches as a freshman, won by fall to give Rider a 6-0 lead.  “Ryan is a pinner,” said Taylor.  “If he gets you on your back, chances are you are going to get pinned. When he got him on his back tonight I was pretty sure he was going to pin him. I haven’t seen too many people come off their back on him.”

“I do seem to get a lot of pins,” said Smith.  “No reason to go seven minutes if you don’t have to.”  Smith only went 4:24 Thursday.

Sophomore T. J. Morrison (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff), who began the season ranked 17th in the nation, won his bout at 197 to cut the lead to 26-12.

Sophomore Zack Cunliffe (Farmingdale/Howell), who saw limited action as a freshman, won at 133 to give the Broncs a 9-0 lead. “The pin to start off gave us a boast, and with Zach following up with a good, solid win, that was important,” said Taylor. “Zack is a little bit unproven but we know he’s a tough kid when he keeps his composure and has confidence, that’s how good he is.”

Sophomore Tyler Rees (Dillsburg, PA/Northern Lehigh) won at heavyweight for the final score.

Lehigh’s five nationally ranked wrestlers all won their bouts, giving the Mountain Hawks a 23-9 lead, and built a 26-9 lead to secure the victory.

Rider competes in the Keystone Classic at the University of Pennsylvania November 20. “We need to get some of these young kids experience, and this will be a good opportunity to do that,” Taylor said.

-RU-

125 Ryan Smith-R  wbf  Patrick Berger-L                          4:24                 0-6      
133 Zack Cunliffe-R  dec, John Stout-L                               5-0                 0-9      
141 #3 Cory Cooperman-L major dec. Tim McGoldrick-R  13-3                 4-9
149 #20 Matt Ciasulli-L major dec. Michael Kessler-R          8-0                 8-9
157 #12 Derek Zinck-L won by forfeit                                                       14-9
165 #2 Troy Letters-L  wbf Ryan Cunningham-R                   4:09               20-9
174 #7 Travis Frick-L  dec. Doug Umbehauer-R                    5-4                23-9    
184 David Helfrich-L    dec. Joe Maroney-R                          10-4                26-9
197 T. J. Morrison-R dec. Matt Cassidy-L                                6-1              26-12
hwt Tyler Rees-R  dec. Dan Murrer-L                                    3-2              26-15