February 17, 2006 - Rider 29 Boston U. 9

February 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Wrestling
Rider University 29, Boston University 9

BOSTON, MA—The Broncs won seven of 10 bouts to defeat Boston U. in a Colonial Athletic Association dual meet Friday.  “Things went very well tonight,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. “We wrestled well and seem to be coming on at the right time of year.”

Sophomore Ryan Smith (Olmstead Falls, OH/Olmstead Falls) won by a tech fall, and freshman Mike Kessler (Randallstown, Md./Owings Mills), the third ranked 149 in the CAA, defeated the second ranked wrestler in the CAA to give Rider a 17-3 lead. “Kessler beat an outstanding wrestler in Roberts,” said Taylor.  “He was a national runner-up in high school last year.”

Junior Nick Ciufo (Pt. Pleasant), sophomore Doug Umbehauer (Shamong/Lenape) and junior Joe Maroney (Bensalem, PA) also won their bouts. “Umbehauer beat a solid kid, and Nick got us off to a good start with a tough bout.  The kids are working hard.”

Cuifo, who competed at 184 in the past, has won the heavyweight spot for the Broncs, and is now up to 210 pounds. “It can be a little intimidating when you go against a wrestler who is 50 pounds heavier,” said Cuifo.  “But I think when I go up against a much bigger opponent, they underestimate me, so I have that going for me.”

Most dual meets being with the 125 pound class and finishes with the heavyweight, but tonight the heavyweight class went first. “It was nice wrestling first instead of last,” said Cuifo.  “I tried to go out and get a win and get the ball rolling.  There is a lot of pressure sometimes when you go last and it comes down to the final bout,’ Cuifo said. “It was nice to go first tonight.”

Rider (11-6-1, 6-0-1 CAA) stops at Sacred Heart in Connecticut for a CAA dual on its way home Saturday.

HWT – Nick Ciufo-R dec.  Orey Hall-B                                  3-0                   3-0
125 – Ryan Smith-R  tech fall Bryan Matsuura-B                      20-3                 8-0
133 – Zach Cunliffe-R won by forfeit                                                               14-0
141 – Joey Whitaker-B dec. Mike Palma-R                             7-3                   14-3
149 – Mike Kessler-R  dec. Mike Roberts-B                           6-5                   17-3
157 – Justin Blumenthal-B dec. Ryan Cunningham-R                5-3                   17-6
165 – Zach Johns-B dec. Chris Marold-R                               5-1                   17-9
174 – Doug Umbehauer-R  dec. Chris Tripp-B                       3-0                   20-9
184 – Joe Maroney-R dec. Tom Sforza-B                                7-1                  23-9
197 – T.J. Morrison-R won by forfeit                                                               29-9

-RU-