Rider has now won the last 16 meetings with Princeton, including an 18-15 victory last year when both teams also won five bouts. "We knew this was going to be tight, and so did Princeton," said Rider head coach Gary Taylor. "Fortunately we came out on top."
The 1981-82 season is the last time Princeton defeated Rider.
For Rider (11-9) senior Robert Deutsch (Cherry Hill, NJ/Eastern Regional), junior Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, Del./Caravel), senior Conor Brennan (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.), sophomore B.J. Clagon (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South) and sophomore Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) were winners.
Deutsch (16-5) won by tech fall to cut the lead to 13-11. His extra points on the tech fall were the difference. "Sometimes when you try to pin a guy you spend all your time trying to get the pin and you don't get the secondary points you need," Taylor said. "Rob did a great job of getting the technical fall, what we needed there."
Wolfe (16-4 in duals) defeated the seventh ranked wrestler in the nation, Brett Harner. "I have to give Coach (John) Hangey a lot of credit for that," Taylor said. "John worked hard with Ryan on a game plan and Wolfe stuck with that game plan. He got the one take down he needed, he wrestled hard the whole time, and it was a great match between two very good wrestlers. That was a great win and a good revenge win."
Princeton's Harner had won 12 straight matches before Thursday, including a 3-1 decision over Wolfe at Midlands. "It was an extremely close match the first time they met," Taylor said. "We had to change up the game plan. The first time it looked like Harner had the better game plan. Tonight it looked like we had the better game plan and I give John all the credit. It was 100 percent right."
Walsh (22-6) won 10-4 for the final score. "Chad thrives on that stuff," Taylor said. "I wouldn't rather have anybody else in that situation. He really responded to the situation and he beat a kid who is really good. The Princeton kid (Krop) has beaten some good wrestlers. It was a great win for a lot of different reasons. It was one of the better matches I've seen Chad wrestle all year."
Clagon (16-9), ranked 20th in the nation, won to cut the lead to 16-14 with one bout remaining.
Brennan (23-3), ranked ninth in the nation, won to give Rider a 3-0 lead.
For Princeton (8-8) Jon Schleifer, ranked 16th in the nation, picked up his 20th win of the season to tie the score at 3-3.
Rider travels to the University of Maryland Saturday for the final dual meet of the season. "We've got to be ready," Taylor said. "They are a BIG 10 school and we're looking forward to the challenge."
Rider competes in the EWL Championships March 5 at Lock Haven.
Results:
165 Conor Brennan-R dec. Judd Ziegler-P 8-3 3-0
174 Jon Schleifer-P dec. Curt Delia-R 7-4 3-3
184 Abram Ayala-P major dec. Michale Fagg-Daves-R 15-6 3-7
197 Ryan Wolfe-R dec. Brett Harner-P 3-2 6-7
Hwt Ray O'Donnell-P dec. Mauro Correnti-R 8-3 6-10
125 Pat D'Arcy-P dec. Zach Valcarce-R 5-0 6-13
133 Rob Deutsch-R tech fall Trey Aslanian-P 6:30 11-13
141 Jordan Laster-P dec. Paul Kirchner-R 5-2 11-16
149 B.J. Clagon-R dec. Mike D'Angelo-P 12-10 14-16
157 Chad Walsh-R dec. Adam Krop-P 10-4 17-16
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