It seems the brain finds it relatively easy to grasp threes. So do grapplers.
The Rider University wrestling team, with three champions, three runners-up and three third place finishers, won the Eastern Wrestling League Championship Tournament, hosted by Lock Haven University. "It was a total team effort," said Rider head coach Gary Taylor.
The conference championship was Rider's first EWL Title in three years in the conference.
Overall, it was Rider's 14th conference title in the last 32 years and the first since 2000. "All of the conference championships we've won are special in their own way," said Taylor, who ranks fourth all-time in NCAA Division I dual meet victories, "but I'm really proud of this team because they really grew into this. This is special because it has been a long time coming."
Senior Conor Brennan (Brick, NJ/Brick Twp.) won at 165, senior Rob Deutsch (Cherry Hill, NJ/Eastern Regional) won at 133 and junior sophomore Ryan Wolfe (New Castle, Del./Caravel Academy) won at 197.
"Brennan and Deutsch are now three-time champions and Wolfe a two-timer in a tough weight class this year," Taylor said.
Sophomore Chad Walsh (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) placed runner-up at 157, sophomore B.J. Clagon (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), placed runner-up at 149 and sophomore Michale Fagg-Daves (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) placed runner-up at 184.
Walsh and Clagon will join the three Rider conference champions at the NCAA Championship Tournament.
Hwt sophomore Mauro Correnti (Delran, NJ/Holy Cross) placed third, senior 141 Paul Kirchner (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) placed third and sophomore 125 Zach Valcarce (Villas, NJ/Lower Cape May) placed third. "Wrestling back to get third is not easy to do," Taylor said, "but they did it.'
Brennan, the top seed, won a major decision over the No. 2 seed, Casey Fuller of Edinboro, 11-3 in the finals. Brennan defeated the fourth seed from Lock Haven, Cody Cordes 3-2 in the semis after receiving a first round bye. "Conor got a major for us at the end," Taylor said. "He really wrestled well in the finals."
Deutsch, the top seed, defeated Robert Rehm of Lock Haven, the third seed, 3-2 in the finals. Deutsch defeated Anthony Rivera of Edinboro 7-4 and the fourth seed, Andy Schutz of Bloomsburg 6-3 in the semis. "Deutsch and Brennan have been mainstays for us and you need that to win championships," Taylor said. "Hats off to them for winning three championships. That's a hard thing to do in this league."
Wolfe, the top seed, defeated the No. 2 seed, Sam Wheeler of Cleveland State 5-2 in the finals. Wolfe defeated the fourth seed, Vincent Pickett of Edinboro 5-0 in the semifinals. "Wolfe really wrestled well today," Taylor said. "In the semis he beat last year's champ (Wolfe won EWL title at 174 last year) and in the finals beat a tough kid. Wolfe did good."
Clagon, the third seed who was an All-American last year, lost 9-7 in overtime to the No. 1 seed, All-American Daniel Neff of Lock Haven, in the finals. Neff was named the EWL Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Clagon defeated the No. 2 seed, Patricio Lugo of Edinboro 9-6 in the semis. Lugo defeated Clagon 8-6 in a dual meet in January. Clagon pinned Ryan Snow of Bloomsburg in just 28 seconds in his first match.
Walsh, the top seed, lost 17-6 to the No. 2 seed, Austin Matthews of Edinboro, in the finals. Walsh won a 10-1 major decision in the semis over the fifth seed, Brendon Colbert of Bloomsburg, after receiving a first round bye.
"Walsh and BJ are going out to Nationals hungry," Taylor said.
Fagg-Daves, the third seed, lost 2-0 to the No. 1 seed, Victor Avery of Edinboro in the finals. Fagg-Daves defeated the second seed, Tristan Sponseller of Lock Haven in the semis.
Correnti, the third seed, defeated the No. 4 seed, Matt Voss of Mason 7-3 in the battle for third place. In the consolations Correnti defeated Evan Daley of Clarion 7-1. Correnti defeated Brad Emerick of Lock Haven 3-2 before being pinned in the semifinals by the No. 2 seed, Riley Shaw of Cleveland State.
In the battle for third place at 141, Kirchner defeated the No. 2 seed, Mike Carlone of Cleveland State, 14-6 in a major decision. In consolations Kirchner won twice by tech fall, including a 22-7 decision over the No. 4 seed, Tejon Anthony of George Mason. "He wrestled very well," Taylor said. "He picked up some bonus points for us. He's beaten some really good wrestlers this year so he will receive some consideration for NCAAs."
In the battle for third place at 125, Valcarce defeated the No. 2 seed, Ibrahim Bunduka of Mason 5-0. In consolations, Valcarce defeated Patrick Dewitt of Clarion 11-5.
Senior Curt Delia (Mullica Hill, NJ/Delsea) went 1-2 at 174. Delia won a major decision in the first round of consolations before losing 6-0 to the second seed, Patrick Jennings of Edinboro.
The NCAA Championships are March 17-19 at Madison Square Garden.
Three days to seek perfection, completion, and All-Americans.
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