Broncs drop big CAA loss before season-closers

By Rocco Schrripa

The Broncs came out on Valentine’s Day looking for anything but love against conference rival Old Dominion. However, the Broncs fell 28-15 as they are about to enter their last two matches of the regular season.
Junior Mike Kessler went out against the fourth-ranked wrestler in the CAA and defeated him, putting Rider up on the board after a 19-0 defecit.
“Mike had a good win against a good wrestler,” Head Coach Gary Taylor said to Rider Sports Information. “Mike is seeming to round the corner. He’s always been good, but now he understands how to get even better coming into the conference tournament.”
Senior Jason Lapham went out looking for a spectacular performance, and he walked away with a win by fall.
“Jason took advantage of the situation and did exactly what you would want a senior to do,” Taylor told Rider Sports Information.
The final score was reached when junior Ed Bordas defeated the second-ranked heavyweight in the CAA.
“Eddie is getting into a really good groove right now in terms of confidence and competing hard,” Taylor said to Rider Sports Information.
The Rider wrestling team came out strong against Drexel on Feb. 3, winning seven out of 10 matches for a final score of 25-10.
Highlights included freshman Aaron Nestor winning by fall with his third pin of the season, giving Rider a 12-4 lead. This was also his first pin at 149 pounds; Nestor told Rider Sports Information that he feels stronger at that level, since moving up from 141pounds, where he struggled.
“I was in the 170s during the summer, so cutting the weight to 141 was a little too much,” Nestor said to Rider Sports Information. “I felt too weak. It seemed like a good idea when I started the season.”
Senior Doug Umbehauer is ranked fifth in the nation and won by a major decision, while Kessler defeated the sixth-ranked wrestler in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), giving Rider a 15-4 lead.
“That was probably their second-best wrestler that Kessler beat,” Taylor said to Rider Sports Information. “He has had some success beating some good kids, so that was a nice win for Mike.”
Lapham pulled a big victory as well and beat the fourth-ranked wrestler in the CAA.
The Broncs host CAA rival Boston University on Feb. 20.