February 11, 2006 - Rider 46 Princeton 0 / Cornell 23 Rider 12
February 11, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Wrestling
Rider University 46, Princeton University 0
Cornell University 23, Rider University 12
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs split a pair of dual meets with Ivy League opponents Saturday evening, defeating cross-town rival Princeton after falling to 13th ranked Cornell. “Cornell is one of the better teams in the country,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. “I’m very proud of our kids today and the job that they did. We told them this is an opportunity to wrestle some of the best kids in the country, and to step up to the plate and let it fly. And I felt they did do that.”
Sophomore Mike Palma (Lake Hopatcong/Jefferson), sophomore Zack Cunliffe (Farmingdale/Howell), freshman Mike Kessler (Randallstown, Md./Owings Mills) and sophomore Doug Umbehauer (Shamong/Lenape) all won twice for Rider.
Against the powerful Cornell (8-4) squad, with six wrestlers nationally ranked among the top 14 in their respective weight classes, Rider won four of the 10 bouts. “I was very concerned that they could possibly devastate us,” Taylor said, “and I was pleased that didn’t happen. I knew our kids were capable of winning some of the bouts they won, but there is a difference between being capable and doing it. We haven’t been as consistent as their kids have been. Many of our wrestlers are as talented as Cornell’s, but we haven’t been as consistent, and that happens when you are mostly freshmen and sophomores.”
Cunliffe upset the 14th ranked wrestler in the nation, two-time NCAA qualifier Mike Mormile. Cunliffe trailed 2-0 after the second period but used a take down with 10 seconds left to earn the victory at 133. “I set something up, took a shot, and got him off balance. I threw him down and got on top of him and held on for the last 10 seconds,” Cunliffe remembered. “When the horn blew I was so happy, because I haven’t been wrestling up to my ability lately. That was like a stepping stone for me.”
“Zach is strong for his weight and is a tough kid on top,” Taylor said. “He hurts a lot of good people on top.”
“I felt confident, felt good,” said Cunliffe, who improved to 18-8 overall, 12-4 in dual meets. “I’ve been having an up and down year, but hopefully I’m peaking at the right time right now.”
“Zack is an example of what I am saying about being consistent,” said Taylor. “He has beaten some very good kids, but he has also lost to some wrestlers that he should beat.”
“I just try to go out there and wrestle the same all of the time, no matter how good the opponent is,” said Cunliffe. “That’s what good wrestlers do, and that is what I’m trying to do, be consistent.”
Against Princeton (6-8), sophomore Ryan Smith (Olmstead Falls, OH/Olmstead Falls), sophomore TJ Morrison (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cedar Cliff) and Palma all won by fall, while junior Ryan Cunningham (Cherry Hill West) and senior Chris Marold (Mendham) won by major decisions, and junior Joe Maroney (Bensalem, PA) won by tech fall, as Rider won all 10 bouts.
Rider (10-6-1, 5-0-1 CAA) travels to New England to take on Boston University Friday and Sacred Heart Saturday in a pair of Colonial Athletic Association dual meets. “Both of those teams are solid,” Taylor said. “We’re going to have to wrestle well to win.”
Not only wrestle well, but consistent.
-RU-
Rider 46, Princeton 0
125 – Ryan Smith-R wbf Robert Benitez-P 1:12 6-0
133 – Zach Cunliffe-R tech fall Danny Scotton-P 15-0 11-0
141 – Mike Palma-R wbf Stephen Savin-P :50 17-0
149 – Mike Kessler-R major dec. Andrew Sichel-P 18-5 21-0
157 – Ryan Cunningham-R major dec. John Clore-P 13-4 25-0
165 – Chris Marold-R major dec. Martin Everin-P 10-2 29-0
174 – Doug Umbehauer-R dec. Matthew DeNichlio-P 7-1 32-0
184 – Joe Maroney-R tech fall Logan Lowe-P 20-5 37-0
197 – T.J. Morrison-R wbf Gordon Scharf-P 1:23 43-0
HWT – Nick Ciufo-R dec. Kristopher Berr-P 7-0 46-0
Cornell 23, Rider 12
125: #5 Troy Nickerson-C major dec.Ryan Smith-R 17-6 4-0
133: Zach Cunliffe-R dec. #14 Mike Mormile-C 3-2 4-3
141: Mike Palma-R dec. Nick Bridge-C 6-4 4-6
149: Mike Kessler-R dec. Keith Dickey-C 5-2 4-9
157: #5Dustin Manotti-C major dec. Ryan Cunningham-R 14-3 8-9
165: #12 Steve Anceravage-C tech fall Dan Silberman-R 15-0 13-9
174: Doug Umbehauer-R dec. Mike Mackie-C 7-1 13-12
184: Dan Miracola-C dec. Joe Maroney-R 4-3 16-12
197: #6 Jerry Rinaldi-C dec. T.J. Morrison-R 4-3 19-12
285: Zach Hammond-C major dec. Peter Reid-R 12-4 23-12
