May 2, 2006 - Rider Signs Six

May 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Wrestling
Rider Signs Six

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—The Rider University wrestling team has signed five State Place Winners and a State Qualifier for the 2006-07 season, Rider head coach Gary Taylor announced.

Rob Morrison of Mechanicsburg, PA, a senior at Cedar Cliff High School, Brian Polashuk of Thomasville, PA, a senior at Spring Grove High School, Nick Weaver of Bayville, a senior at Central Regional High School, Fred Rodgers of Perkiomenville, a senior at Boyertown High School, Michael Darling of Moorestown, a senior at Moorestown High School, and Kody Williams of Spring, Texas, a senior at Klein Oak High School, have all decided to further their education and wrestling careers at Rider.

Morrison, the younger brother of Rider’s two-time NCAA qualifier, TJ Morrison, placed third in the Pennsylvania AAA Championships at 145 pounds and won his weight class at the Mount Madness Tournament.  “Rob is exciting to watch,” said Taylor, who escorted five Broncs to the NCAA Division I Nationals this year in Oklahoma, and collected his 300th career win. “Like his older brother he is a late developer,” said Taylor. “Rob surprised many this year by placing third in a tough weight class, and I believe his best years will be in college.”

Polashuk was the PA AAA State Champion at 125 pounds this year, and recorded 141 career wins at Spring Grove. “Brian really came into his own his senior year,” said Taylor. “He is very talented and a very competitive young man. He can make an immediate impact here.” Polashuk is currently ranked ninth in the nation by InterMat.

Weaver was a two-time New Jersey State place winner, finishing fourth at 140 pounds as a junior and fourth at 152 pounds as a senior, and was twice a National Prep place winner. “Nick was injured going into the State tournament, so may well have done even better,” said Taylor. “He is a very tough and competitive kid.”

Rodgers was a two-time PA AAA State place winner, finishing second at 112 pounds his senior year and eighth at 103 pounds as a junior. He finished third at the 2005 Beast of the East Tournament as a 112 pounder and is currently ranked fourth in the nation. “Fred has improved vastly every year in high school, and we expect the same to continue in college,” said Taylor.  “he loves the competition and wants to compete against the best. He is a tough young man who will continue to grow and get better.”

Darling placed seventh in the New Jersey Sate Championships at 189 pounds, and Williams comes to Rider from Texas, where he was a State Qualifier at 145 pounds. “Michael proved this year he can compete well with the best,” said Taylor.  “Like many of our recruits this year he is a late bloomer who should enjoy his greatest success in college.”

The Broncs return four of their five NCAA qualifiers from 2006, while two other former NCAA qualifiers red-shirted this past season. Rider had a Colonial Athletic Association champion, two runners-up, a third and a fourth place finisher this season, along with the CAA Wrestling Scholar Athlete of the Year.

-RU-