Rutgers Wrestling Takes Down Rider, 29-3

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (January 22, 2011) – The No.8 Rutgers wrestling team (18-1) used solid wrestling from its entire lineup to drop in-state rival Rider, 29-3, this afternoon at College Ave. Gym. The win is Rutgers’ 14th consecutive victory.

Joe Langel (Howell, N.J.) got RU out to a quick 3-0 lead when he earned a 7-4 decision over Chuck Ziesloft.

After Rider evened the bout with a 6-2 decision at 133-pounds, Trevor Melde (Hewitt, N.J.) used a bonus point of riding time to take a 5-4 decision over Aaron Nestor.

The Scarlet Knights took bouts at 149 and 157-pounds as No. 4 Mario Mason (Moorestown, N.J.) extended his winning streak to 14 with a win over Zac Cibula and No. 17 Daryl Cocozzo (River Edge, N.J.) earned a major decision over Ramon Santiago.

Rutgers kept its momentum going as freshman Nick Visicaro (Long Branch, N.J.) earned an upset of No. 20 Jim Resnick with a 6-4 decision which sent the College Ave. Crowd into a frenzy.

In perhaps the most exciting match of the afternoon, No. 18 Alex Caruso (Green Brook, N.J.) and Rob Morrison exchanged escapes before the match went into overtime at 174-pounds. In the overtime frame, the two grapplers felt each other out before Caruso shot and got a single leg takedown to earn the three points for Rutgers and push the lead to 19-3.

After a Dan Rinaldi (Lodi, N.J.) major decision at 184-pounds, Dan Hopkins (Jackson, N.J.) used two points from a nearfall with less than three second left to defeat Joe Ferber, 5-3, at 197-pounds.

No. 4 DJ Russo (Netcong, N.J.) closed out the dual with a 7-4 decision over Evan Craig to give Rutgers a 29-3 victory.

The Scarlet Knights return to action on Friday, Jan. 28, when they travel to Charlottesville, Va. to take on the Virginia Cavaliers in a 7 p.m. dual.

Rutgers 29, Rider 3

125: Joe Langel (RU) dec. Chuck Ziesloft (RID), 7-4; Rutgers leads, 3-0

133: Jimmy Kirchner (RID) dec. Mike DeMarco (RU), 6-2; Match tied, 3-3

141: Trevor Medle (RU) dec. Aaron Nestor (RID), 5-4; Rutgers leads, 6-3

149: No. 4 Mario Mason (RU) dec. Zac Cibula (RID), 10-4; Rutgers leads, 9-3

157: No. 17 Daryl Cocozzo (RU) m. dec. Ramon Santiago (RID), 9-1; Rutgers leads, 13-3

165: Nick Visicaro (RU) dec. No. 20 Jim Resnick (RID), 6-4; Rutgers leads, 16-3

174: No. 18 Alex Caruso (RU) dec. Rob Morrision (RID), 3-1 (OT); Rutgers leads, 19-3

184: Dan Rinaldi (RU) m. dec. James Brundage (RID), 10-1; Rutgers leads, 23-3

197: Dan Hopkins (RU) dec. Joe Ferber (RID), 5-3; Rutgers leads, 26-3

285: No. 4 DJ Russo (RU) dec. Evan Craig (RID), 7-4; Rutgers wins, 29-3

Courtesy of Rutgers Sports Information