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O'Malley's win at heavyweight seals Drexel 's comeback upset of No 21 Rider, 18-14

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by Kevin Ross, Drexel

Photo of Sean O'Malley of Drexel courtesy of DrexelDragons.com


PHILADELPHIA – Freshman heavyweight Sean O'Malley's third-period takedown sealed an 18-14 comeback win as the Drexel wrestling team upset the No. 21 Rider Broncs Sunday afternoon at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Drexel improved to 10-3 (4-3 EIWA) with the win, while No. 21 Rider fell to 11-4 (5-1 EWL).


Rider grew an early lead out to 14-6 after a technical fall victory at 165 pounds. The Dragons battled back with decisions at 174, 184 and 197 pounds to take a one-point lead heading into the heavyweight match. At heavyweight, O'Malley capped a dramatic come-from-behind dual win with a third-period takedown with 23 seconds remaining of Mauro Correnti to take a 3-2 decision and the match for the Dragons.


After dropping a 2-0 decision at 125 pounds, No. 4 Austin DeSanto came back with a 10-6 decision over No. 30 Anthony Cefolo at 133 pounds to even the match. Rider's No. 29 Tyson Dippery and Gary Dinmore then closed out decisions of their own at 141 and 149 pounds, respectively. At 157 pounds, No. 24 Garett Hammond nearly took a win by fall off No. 18 B.J. Clagon, but Clagon somehow kept his shoulders off the mat and Hammond had to settle for a 7-3 decision. With the Dragons dropping a tech fall at 165 to No. 4 Chad Walsh, they found themselves trailing 14-6 overall.


The Dragons began their run at 174 pounds. No. 30 Austin Rose outlasted Dean Sherry, 5-4, after riding time was added to begin chipping away at the Broncs' lead. At 184 pounds, No. 28 Alex DeCiantis took a 7-6 decision from Wayne Stinson before No. 16 Stephen Loiseau shutout Ethan Laird at 197 pounds, 7-0, to take a one-point lead overall (15-14). That set the stage for O'Malley at heavyweight to close out the match in dramatic fashion. With the score tied 1-1, the Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. product took down Correnti with 23 seconds left in the final period for the win, as he ultimately took the match, 3-2, to seal the Dragons' 18-14 upset win.


The Dragons return to the mat on Friday, Feb. 9 when they host Cornell at 7 p.m. for Spirit Night at the DAC. There will also be a pre-match alumni social beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Drexel 18, No. 21 Rider 14

125: No. 28 J.R. Wert (RIDER) DEC Zack Fuentes (DU), 2-0

133: No. 4 Austin DeSanto (DU) DEC No. 30 Anthony Cefolo (RIDER), 10-6

141: No. 29 Tyson Dippery (RIDER) DEC Julian Flores (DU), 3-2 (w/ riding time)

149: Gary Dinmore (RIDER) DEC Evan Barczak (DU), 8-3

157: No. 24 Garett Hammond (DU) DEC No. 18 B.J. Clagon (RIDER), 7-3

165: No. 4 Chad Walsh (RIDER) TF No. 33 Ebed Jarrell (DU), 18-2 (5:38)

174: No. 30 Austin Rose (DU) DEC Dean Sherry (RIDER), 5-4 (w/ riding time)

184: No. 28 Alex DeCiantis (DU) DEC Wayne Stinson (RIDER), 7-6

197: No. 16 Stephen Loiseau (DU) DEC Ethan Laird (RIDER), 7-0

285: Sean O'Malley (DU) DEC Mauro Correnti (RIDER), 3-2


Attendance: 507

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