Rider gets 3 champs, 3 runner-ups and 3 third placers to win EWL Championships
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by Rider University website
Rider press release
LOCK HAVEN, PA—Since Biblical times it has been a common belief that three is the number of perfection, or completion. In marketing, ads, stump speeches and other messages understood to have manipulative intent, three claims will persuade best. The rule of three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are funnier, more satisfying, or more effective.
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 #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 #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 #1 seed, All-American Daniel Neff of Lock Haven, in the finals. Neff was named the EWL Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Clagon defeated the #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 #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 #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 #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 #2 seed, Riley Shaw of Cleveland State.
In the battle for third place at 141, Kirchner defeated the #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 #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 #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.
EWL CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Lock Haven, Pa.
125 Results
1st Place Match
Sean Russell (Edinboro) 24-5, So. over Jake Field (Lock Haven) 14-18, RS So. (MD 20-8).
3rd Place Match
Zach Valcarce (Rider) 11-18, RS So. over Ibrahim Bunduka (George Mason) 20-17, RS Jr. (Dec 5-0).
133 Results
1st Place Match
Robert Deutsch (Rider) 20-5, RS Sr. over Robert Rehm (Lock Haven) 23-10, RS Sr. (Dec 3-2).
3rd Place Match
Evan Cheek (Cleveland State) 15-11, Fr. over Vincent Rodriguez (George Mason) 21-10, RS Sr. (Dec 4-2).
141 Results
1st Place Match
Brock Zacherl (Clarion) 27-1, So. over Cody Wheeler (Lock Haven) 8-9, RS Sr. (Dec 7-0).
3rd Place Match
Paul Kirchner (Rider) 19-14, RS Jr. over Mike Carlone (Cleveland State) 11-12, RS Sr. (MD 14-6).
149 Results
1st Place Match
Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) 26-8, RS Sr. over Bryant Clagon (Rider) 19-10, RS So. (Dec 9-7).
3rd Place Match
Patricio Lugo (Edinboro) 26-4, Fr. over Blake Roulo (George Mason) 14-11, RS Sr. (MD 11-2).
157 Results
1st Place Match
Austin Matthews (Edinboro) 4-1, Jr. over Chad Walsh (Rider) 25-7, RS So. (MD 17-6).
2nd Place Match
Chad Walsh (Rider) 25-7, RS So. over Gregory Flournoy (George Mason) 30-10, RS Sr. (MD 8-0).
3rd Place Match
Gregory Flournoy (George Mason) 30-10, RS Sr. over Brendon Colbert (Bloomsburg) 2-2, RS Fr. (Dec 10-3).
165 Results
1st Place Match
Connor Brennan (Rider) 27-3, RS Sr. over Casey Fuller (Edinboro) 23-6, . (MD 11-3).
2nd Place Match
Casey Fuller (Edinboro) 23-6, . over Evan Delong (Clarion) 22-8, So. (RULE).
3rd Place Match
Evan Delong (Clarion) 22-8, So. over Patrick Davis (George Mason) 14-18, RS Sr. (Dec 1-0).
174 Results
1st Place Match
Michael Pavasko (Clarion) 21-13, RS Sr. over Gabe Stark (Cleveland State) 16-15, Jr. (Dec 7-3).
3rd Place Match
Ryan Forrest (George Mason) 9-12, RS Jr. over Patrick Jennings (Edinboro) 21-13, RS Sr. (Dec 5-3).
184 Results
1st Place Match
Victor Avery (Edinboro) 5-0, RS Sr. over Michale Fagg-Daves (Rider) 18-14, RS Fr. (Fall 1:08).
3rd Place Match
Xavier Dye (Cleveland State) 10-7, RS Sr. over Dominic Rigous (Clarion) 21-16, RS So. (MD 11-2).
197 Results
1st Place Match
Ryan Wolfe (Rider) 27-8, RS Jr. over Sam Wheeler (Cleveland State) 28-8, RS Sr. (Dec 5-2).
3rd Place Match
Phil Sprenkle (Lock Haven) 18-7, RS Sr. over Dustin Conti (Clarion) 16-17, RS Jr. (Dec 5-4).
285 Results
1st Place Match
Riley Shaw (Cleveland State) 28-5, Sr. over William Miller (Edinboro) 25-7, So. (TB-2 5-4).
2nd Place Match
William Miller (Edinboro) 25-7, So. over Mauro Correnti (Rider) 16-13, RS So. (TB-2 9-3).
3rd Place Match
Mauro Correnti (Rider) 16-13, RS So. over Matt Voss (George Mason) 23-16, So. (Dec 7-3).
Team Standings
1. Rider 89.0
2. Edinboro 79.5
3. Lock Haven 59.0
4. Cleveland State 55.0
5. Clarion 41.5
6. George Mason 32.5
7. Bloomsburg 5.5
LOCK HAVEN, PA—Since Biblical times it has been a common belief that three is the number of perfection, or completion. In marketing, ads, stump speeches and other messages understood to have manipulative intent, three claims will persuade best. The rule of three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are funnier, more satisfying, or more effective.
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 #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 #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 #1 seed, All-American Daniel Neff of Lock Haven, in the finals. Neff was named the EWL Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler.
Clagon defeated the #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 #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 #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 #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 #2 seed, Riley Shaw of Cleveland State.
In the battle for third place at 141, Kirchner defeated the #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 #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 #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.
EWL CHAMPIONSHIPS
at Lock Haven, Pa.
125 Results
1st Place Match
Sean Russell (Edinboro) 24-5, So. over Jake Field (Lock Haven) 14-18, RS So. (MD 20-8).
3rd Place Match
Zach Valcarce (Rider) 11-18, RS So. over Ibrahim Bunduka (George Mason) 20-17, RS Jr. (Dec 5-0).
133 Results
1st Place Match
Robert Deutsch (Rider) 20-5, RS Sr. over Robert Rehm (Lock Haven) 23-10, RS Sr. (Dec 3-2).
3rd Place Match
Evan Cheek (Cleveland State) 15-11, Fr. over Vincent Rodriguez (George Mason) 21-10, RS Sr. (Dec 4-2).
141 Results
1st Place Match
Brock Zacherl (Clarion) 27-1, So. over Cody Wheeler (Lock Haven) 8-9, RS Sr. (Dec 7-0).
3rd Place Match
Paul Kirchner (Rider) 19-14, RS Jr. over Mike Carlone (Cleveland State) 11-12, RS Sr. (MD 14-6).
149 Results
1st Place Match
Daniel Neff (Lock Haven) 26-8, RS Sr. over Bryant Clagon (Rider) 19-10, RS So. (Dec 9-7).
3rd Place Match
Patricio Lugo (Edinboro) 26-4, Fr. over Blake Roulo (George Mason) 14-11, RS Sr. (MD 11-2).
157 Results
1st Place Match
Austin Matthews (Edinboro) 4-1, Jr. over Chad Walsh (Rider) 25-7, RS So. (MD 17-6).
2nd Place Match
Chad Walsh (Rider) 25-7, RS So. over Gregory Flournoy (George Mason) 30-10, RS Sr. (MD 8-0).
3rd Place Match
Gregory Flournoy (George Mason) 30-10, RS Sr. over Brendon Colbert (Bloomsburg) 2-2, RS Fr. (Dec 10-3).
165 Results
1st Place Match
Connor Brennan (Rider) 27-3, RS Sr. over Casey Fuller (Edinboro) 23-6, . (MD 11-3).
2nd Place Match
Casey Fuller (Edinboro) 23-6, . over Evan Delong (Clarion) 22-8, So. (RULE).
3rd Place Match
Evan Delong (Clarion) 22-8, So. over Patrick Davis (George Mason) 14-18, RS Sr. (Dec 1-0).
174 Results
1st Place Match
Michael Pavasko (Clarion) 21-13, RS Sr. over Gabe Stark (Cleveland State) 16-15, Jr. (Dec 7-3).
3rd Place Match
Ryan Forrest (George Mason) 9-12, RS Jr. over Patrick Jennings (Edinboro) 21-13, RS Sr. (Dec 5-3).
184 Results
1st Place Match
Victor Avery (Edinboro) 5-0, RS Sr. over Michale Fagg-Daves (Rider) 18-14, RS Fr. (Fall 1:08).
3rd Place Match
Xavier Dye (Cleveland State) 10-7, RS Sr. over Dominic Rigous (Clarion) 21-16, RS So. (MD 11-2).
197 Results
1st Place Match
Ryan Wolfe (Rider) 27-8, RS Jr. over Sam Wheeler (Cleveland State) 28-8, RS Sr. (Dec 5-2).
3rd Place Match
Phil Sprenkle (Lock Haven) 18-7, RS Sr. over Dustin Conti (Clarion) 16-17, RS Jr. (Dec 5-4).
285 Results
1st Place Match
Riley Shaw (Cleveland State) 28-5, Sr. over William Miller (Edinboro) 25-7, So. (TB-2 5-4).
2nd Place Match
William Miller (Edinboro) 25-7, So. over Mauro Correnti (Rider) 16-13, RS So. (TB-2 9-3).
3rd Place Match
Mauro Correnti (Rider) 16-13, RS So. over Matt Voss (George Mason) 23-16, So. (Dec 7-3).
Team Standings
1. Rider 89.0
2. Edinboro 79.5
3. Lock Haven 59.0
4. Cleveland State 55.0
5. Clarion 41.5
6. George Mason 32.5
7. Bloomsburg 5.5
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