February 4, 2006 - Rider 30 Clarion 6
February 4, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Wrestling
Rider University 30, Clarion University 6
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs won eight of 10 bouts to defeat Clarion Saturday. “Clarion has great tradition, has a great program, but they are a little down this year, hit by injuries,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. “Having been in that situation I can sympathize with them. They wrestled hard, gave some of our better kids decent matches. They definitely wrestled hard, they’re just banged up.”
For Rider (9-5-1), sophomore Zack Cunliffe (Farmingdale/Howell), freshman Mike Kessler (Randallstown, Md./Owings Mills), sophomore Doug Umbehauer (Shamong/Lenape), junior Ryan Cunningham (Cherry Hill West), senior Chris Marold (Mendham) and junior Joe Maroney (Bensalem, PA) won their bouts. “Some of the kids needed a match like this today, coming off a disappointing loss, they needed to get a win,” said Taylor.
One Bronc who is winning more often this year Maroney. “Joe is a very unique kid,” said Taylor. “Very bright. He’s going to graduate in three years in science. He’s hard working, very focused, just a great kid in every aspect. He’s very sound academically. He was a strong competitor at Bensalem High, and we saw a lot of heart in him when we recruited him.”
Maroney was a football and wrestling standout at Bensalem High, and earned the “Mr. Owl” award as the top athlete and also the Best Sportsmanship Award. “I originally wanted to play football in college, but no Division I teams wanted a 190 pound lineman,” said Maroney. “There were some Division III teams interested, but I wanted to go to the highest level of competition there is. I was looking at colleges that offer the medical program I was looking for, and when I was recruited by Rider I realized I wanted to wrestle, and I was able to compete at the highest level here.”
Maroney wasn’t always competing, however. The last two years he has served in a back-up role, and even competed at three different weight classes last year, just to crack the line up. “I feel more secure this year, knowing what weight I’m competing at, knowing my opponent isn’t out-weighting me,” said Maroney. “Last year I didn’t’ know if I was wrestling at 165, 174 or 184.”
“The last two years Joe accepted his role, but now he wants to do his own damage,” said Taylor. “Now he’s the man in the line up and he wants to have the accomplishments. He’s starting to be very completive and is beating good people. He’ll be formidable in the conference, and hopefully he can have a good (CAA) tournament and get to nationals.”
“I’m excited about finally wrestling in the conference championship,” Maroney said. “This is my year.”
Although only a junior, Maroney is set to graduate with a degree in Biology and head to graduate school on his way to becoming a physician’s assistant. “The course load was tough,” Maroney said, “but I want to be a physician’s assistant, which is an extension of the physician. You have all of the responsibilities of a doctor, but you have to work under the doctor’s license. You can write prescriptions and treat patients, it is just that everything you do has to be approved by the doctor you work under. I’ve always been a big fan of science, and I like helping people. I like the whole concept of someone coming in with a problem, and I diagnosis it and help them.”
For now he is helping the Rider wrestling team, and not as a role player.
The Broncs host Cornell and Princeton Saturday, February 11.
-RU-
125 – Ryan Smith-R won by forfeit 6-0
133 – Zach Cunliffe-R dec. Robert LaBrake-C 11-5 9-0
141 – Greg Lewis-C dec. Mike Palma-R 7-4 9-3
149 – Mike Kessler-R dec. Derrick Smith-C 4-2 12-3
157 – Ryan Cunningham-R dec. Lucas Christopher-C 12-5 15-3
165 – Chris Marold-R dec. Logan Downes-C 6-5 18-3
174 – Doug Umbehauer-R dec. David Gardner-C 5-3 21-3
184 – Joe Maroney-R dec. Dominic Ross-C 10-5 24-3
197 – T.J. Morrison-R won by forfeit 30-3
HWT – Richard Brooks-C dec. Peter Reid-R 4-2 30-6
