Rider earned decisions in each of the first three bouts to take a 9-0 lead, as Jonathan Tropea (Harrington Park, NJ/Saint Joseph (Montvale)), Richie Koehler (Middletown, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) and McKenzie Bell (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway) at 125, 133 and 141 lbs. Drexel wrestled back into the match with a decision at 149 lbs. and a major decision at 157 lbs., before Jake Silverstein (Hauppauge, NY/Smithtown [Nebraska]) earned a tiebreaker victory over Evan Barczak at 165 lbs. to give Rider a 12-7 lead. Following an unsportsmanlike conduction infraction, the team score moved to 11-7.
Drexel took its first lead with Michael O'Malley's pin at 174 lbs., before the lead swung back in Rider's direction with George Walton's win at 184 lbs. Once again, Drexel took the lead back with a tight decision at 197 lbs. But the Dragons forfeited at heavyweight, giving Rider the 20-16 match victory.
Quotes & Notes
"I am happy with what I saw tonight. There's lots of things to work on. We've got a lot to improve on before we get to the conference."
"Drexel and us are always competitive. The last seven years, the home team has won every year and the streak continues." - Rider Head Coach John Hangey
- The home team has won each of the last eight duals between Rider and Drexel, with the last two and three of the last four coming in Lawrenceville.
- Rider wrestled for the second-straight match without the services of nationally-ranked No. 3 Jesse Dellavecchia (Great River, NY/East Islip [Binghamton]) at 157 lbs., a weight class where Lehigh earned a major decision.
- Prior to the match, the Broncs honored their three seniors - Dellavecchia, Tropea and Matt Correnti (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross [Rutgers]) - on Senior Night.
- The Broncs are scheduled to return to action Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26 and 27, when they host the Mid-American Conference Championships at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton.
Results:
125 - Jonathan Tropea (RID) DEC Kyle Waterman (DREX), 7-5; Rider leads, 3-0
133 - Richie Koehler (RID) DEC Chandler Olson (DREX), 6-3; Rider leads, 6-0
141 - McKenzie Bell (RID) DEC Julian Flores (DREX), 6-3; Rider leads, 9-0
149 - Luke Nichter (DREX) DEC Wyatt McCarthy (RID), 10-4; Rider leads, 9-3
157 - Parker Kropman (DREX) MD Cole McComas (RID), 15-6; Rider leads, 9-7
165 - Jake Silverstein (RID) DEC Evan Barczak (DREX), 7-4 (TB); Rider leads, 12-7
**Rider deducted one team point following 165 lbs. for unsportsmanlike conduct**
174 - Michael O'Malley (DREX) WBF Angel Garcia (RID), 2:40; Drexel leads, 13-11
184 - George Walton (RID) DEC Joshua Stillings (DREX), 10-4; Rider leads, 14-13
197 - Bryan McLaughlin (DREX) DEC Matt Correnti (RID), 4-3; Drexel leads, 16-14
285 - Ethan Laird (RID) wins by forfeit; Rider wins, 20-16
Extra Matches:
141 - Tyler Williams (DREX) DEC Bryan Miraglia (RID), 4-1
149 - Travis Layton (RID) DEC Gabe Onorato (DREX), 5-2
174 - Shane Reitsma (RID) DEC Nathan Lipinski (DREX), 8-3
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