January 13, 2006 - at Virginia Duals - Rider 26 The Citadel 16 / West Virginia 21 Rider 18
January 13, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Wrestling-Virginia Duals
Rider University 26, The Citadel 16
West Virginia University 21, Rider University 18
HAMPTON, VA—Rider won 11 of the 18 bouts it wrestled on Friday at the 2006 Virginia Duals at the Hampton Coliseum. “We did pretty well today,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor.
With key injuries to two starters, the Broncs defeated The Citadel after a first round loss to the third seed, West Virginia, “The wrestlers we have are fighting hard, but down here, with this competition, you need all of your guns,” said Taylor. “It would be nice to have a couple other kids in the line up.”
Rider is forced to forfeit at 174 after freshman Doug Umbehauer (Shamong, N.J./Lenape) sprained his ankle. Umbehauer was 11-3 before the injury. Sophomore Jeff Black (Egg Harbor City, N.J./Absegami), a member of the CAA All-Rookie team last year after a third place finish at the CAA Championships, has been out of the lineup with a hip injury.
Needing addition points to make up for the lack of depth, sophomore Ryan Smith (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls) collected a pair of pins on the day, and now has six pins this season and an 11-5 overall record. “Smith knows how to pin people,” said Taylor. “He’s having a good weekend, and is really helping us with some big points to off set the fact that we don’t have everyone here.”
“I’m wrestling better this weekend than I have been,” said Smith. “I’ve been better lately on my feet and finishing my shots.”
Sophomore T. J. Morrison (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff), currently ranked 18th in the nation, and sophomore Zack Cunliffe (Farmingdale, N.J./Howell) also won twice on Friday. Morrison improves to 15-3 overall, 6-0 in duals, while Cunliffe improves to 10-5 overall.
Rider won six of the nine bouts against The Citadel, with sophomore Mike Palma (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Jefferson), freshman Mike Kessler (Randallstown, Md./Owings Mills) and junior Ryan Cunningham (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) collecting victories.
Against West Virginia, the Broncs won five of the nine bouts, with junior Joe Maroney (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) winning at 184, and sophomore Tyler Rees (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern Regional) winning at heavyweight.
On Saturday, Rider will face the fifth seed, North Carolinain the second round of consolations. “The NC wrestler is supposed to be pretty good,” Smith said.
Down here, they’re all good.
“Some years you come down here with all of your guns and you do well, and some years, like this year, you come down without all of your weapons and work hard,” said Taylor.
In 1997 Rider defeated 14th ranked Lock Haven and 21st ranked Cornell to start 3-0 at the VA Duals before losing to #6 Edinboro by two points. In 1998 the Broncs again won three of five, defeating #13 Edinboro before losing to #19 Oregon State. Rider also won three of five matches at the 1999 VA Duals.
WV 21, Rider 18
125 – Ryan Smith-R wbf Scott Stuart-WV 2:57 0-6
133 – Zach Cunliffe-R dec. Seth Lisa-WV 5-4 0-9
141 – Brandon Rader-WV dec. Mike Palma-R 9-6 3-9
149 – David Jauregui-WV dec. Mike Kessler-R 10-9 6-9
157 –Matt Lebs-WV dec. Ryan Cunningham-R 3-0 9-9
165 – Larry Hall-WV wbf Chris Marold-R 2:08 15-9
174 – Kurt Brenner-WV forfeit 21-9
184 – Joe Maroney-R dec. Chance Litton-WV 4-3 21-12
197 – T.J. Morrison-R dec. Jared Villers-WV 9-3 21-15
HWT – Tyler Rees-R dec. Matt Hopsopple-WV 3-2 21-18
Rider 26, The Citadel 16
125 – Ryan Smith-R wbf Mike Fenton-C 3:36 6-0
133 – Zach Cunliffe-R dec. wbf Michael Arias-C 2:30 12-0
141 – Mike Palma-R dec. dec. Matt Bullwinkel-C 4-3 15-0
149 – Mike Kessler-R dec. major dec. Nick Irio-C 8-0 19-0
157 –Ryan Cunningham-R major dec. Chris Humphries-C 10-2 23-0
165 – Dan Thompson-C dec. Chris Marold-R 8-3 23-3
174 – Darius Caldwell-C won by forfeit 23-9
184 – John Dickerson-C dec. Joe Maroney-R 8-4 23-12
197 – T.J. Morrison-R dec. dec. Mark Thompson-C 3-1 26-12
HWT –John Buck-C major dec. Nick Cuifo-R 12-3 26-16
