Broncs grab first MAC win in weekend victories

By Dave Green and Benjamin Shinault

Coming off the heels of a 21-12 loss to Drexel on Jan. 25, Rider wrestling was in dire need of a win to keep up with the pace of the Mid-American Conference wrestling. 

The Broncs got that and more with a commanding conference win over George Mason on Feb. 1 and a surge of dominance in a comeback against Campbell on Feb. 2. 

George Mason

On Feb. 1, Rider wrestling welcomed in the George Mason Patriots, a team they have dominated in 16 straight victories and that dominance held firm during the entire course of the match, winning 24-12 and picked up their first conference win.

The action started off with freshman Noah Micheals. Micheals and his opponent did not have too much action as both wrestlers fought for positioning. Points were not rewarded until Micheals scored a three-point takedown.

That takedown resulted in the points Rider would need as they won it by decision by the third period, 3-0. The win by decision was Michaels’ first of his Rider career.

The Broncs won the first two bouts of the match thanks to Micheals and senior Will Betancourt, both being called by decision. George Mason, down 6-0, picked up its first victory of the afternoon after Branden Palcko finished just short 9-7.

After the Palcko loss, Rider would tail off three straight victories thanks to graduate student Sammy Alvarez, senior Colton Washleski and junior Enrique Munguia. All wins were not won by decision as Alvarez won by a fall, Washleski by sudden victory and Munguia won after his opponent left with an injury.

Then following up the three straight wins, came two straight losses. Isaac Dean, ranked 15th in his weight class, came up short in his match, losing 5-4. Dean tied it up entering the third period coming off an escape and penalty point but Dean could not complete the comeback effort. 

In the last two matches, George Mason and Rider split it, giving the Broncs the victory.

“Our guys did what we asked them to do; wrestle hard for seven minutes and score points,” Head Coach John Hangey said, “It was a good showing for us in the MAC and important for seeding at the end of the year.”

Campbell

There are comebacks, then there is what the Broncs pulled off – a thunderous, four-match onslaught that turned a 17-3 deficit into a barnstorming 22-17 victory over Campbell at Alumni Gym.

Campbell collected the first three bouts, putting its opponents on the ropes early. Rider finally stopped the pain at 133 pounds, with Betancourt. In a tight match, Betancourt’s lone takedown in the final period was the difference, securing a gritty 4-2 win.

Campbell quickly reasserted themselves, stretching its lead by taking 141 pounds and 149 pounds. Enter Washleski at 157 pounds, looking like a man on a mission. He landed early points to take a 4-1 lead in the first period. By the second, he was shifting gears, throwing in a takedown and a reversal to push ahead 9-2. Washleski then pounced on bonus points, wrapping up a 13-5 major decision and kickstarting a comeback.

At 165 pounds, Munguia turned up the heat, locking his sights on a tech fall before nailing a pin in the dying moments to cut the gap to 17-13. Suddenly, Campbell was not looking so comfortable.

Next up, graduate student Michael Wilson, 174 pounds, put the clamps on Campbell’s hopes. Trailing early, he came storming back with seven unanswered points in the second period, then finished in style with two more takedowns to claim a dominant 14-6 major decision. Just like that, it was 17 apiece.

Finally, senior Isaac Dean – a man who does not do close finishes. With the match in the balance, Dean demolished his opponent with a jaw-dropping 19-4 first-period tech fall to seal a 22-17 win for Rider.

After the match, Hangey praised the fighting spirit of his squad, giving special mention to sophomore Brandon Palcko and senior Matt Hoelke for their fearless efforts against superior opponents.

“We wrestled with a lot more energy today than against Drexel,” Hangey said. “Now we’re off on a bit of a Pennsylvania swing, hitting all the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference State schools the next few days.”

The Broncs will kick off the Pennsylvania swing with matches against Lock Haven on Feb. 6 and Bloomsburg on Feb. 8.

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