Thursday, Oct 13, 2016
Achievement is a program first
by Rider Sports Information
Three members of the 2016-17 Rider University wrestling team are ranked among the top 12 wrestlers in the nation in their respective weight classes.
Junior Chad Walsh enters the season ranked fifth at 165, senior Ryan Wolfe is ranked eighth at 197 and junior BJ Clagon is ranked 11 at 157, according to The Open Mat.
“This is the first time in our program’s history that we are starting the season with three wrestlers ranked in the top 12 in the nation,” said Rider associate head coach John Hangey, “including two in the top eight.”
Walsh earned All-America honors last year, placing fifth in the nation at the NCAA Championships. The Eastern Wrestling League Wrestler of the Year, Walsh compiled a record of 28-9 last season and placed third at the prestigious Midlands Championships.
Wolfe was an EWL Champion last season for the second year in a row, finishing the year 30-10 overall, 6-0 in the EWL and placed eighth at Midlands. At the NCAA Championships he won three matches. During the summer of 2016 Wolfe placed fourth at the University Freestyle Nationals.
Clagon was an All-American in 2014-15, placing fifth at the NCAA Championships to become the first Rider freshman, in any sport, to earn All-America. Last season he placed sixth at Midlands and went 2-2 at the NCAAs.
“It is also the first time we have two former All-Americans on our roster at the same time,” Hangey said. “These guys have had some good wins during their careers and are training hard to have continued success.”
The season begins in November with the Hokie Open, the Journeymen Collegiate Classic and the Keystone Classic. The Broncs will begin defending their Eastern Wrestling League title with a conference dual at Lock Haven in December. Rider defeated Lock Haven 27-6 last year. “Lock Haven will be tough this year,” said Rider head coach Gary Taylor, who enters the season with 429 career wins, the most of any active Division I coach. The home opener is Dec. 10 when Rider hosts the University of Pennsylvania. Rider defeated Penn 21-12 last season.