Class of the Conference
10 Bronc wrestlers ranked in CAA for the preseason

By Paul Mullin

The men of the wrestling team knew they were going to be good. After all, they did finish fourth at the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament last year, and then sent five wrestlers to the NCAA Tournament in Oklahoma City.

But one has to wonder if they saw this coming.

The team begins its 2006-2007 season with 10 wrestlers ranked in the CAA, five of whom are also ranked in the top 20 nationally, and two freshmen on the CAA Preseason All-Freshman team.

“We have a combination of good individuals but also a very balanced team,” said Head Coach Gary Taylor. “It is very encouraging and exciting, and a lot of them are still young.”

Among the 10 wrestlers ranked in the CAA, three of them are ranked first in their weight class, a considerable honor for both the players and for the program.

“We feel we have some wrestlers who can have a breakthrough year this season,” Taylor said.

Junior Zac Cunliffe (133 pounds), junior Don Fisch (141 pounds) and sophomore Doug Umbehauer (174 pounds) were all ranked first in their respective weight classes. According to Umbehauer, a letterwinner last year and a second-team Amateur Wrestling News selection to the All-Rookie team at the end of last season, there will be no added pressure, for him at least, with this honor on his shoulders.

“I actually have not changed my expectations for this season,” Umbehauer said. “I have always set high goals for myself, so rather than put pressure on myself or change my expectations the ranking makes me work harder and gives me more confidence in myself going into the season.”

Ranked second in their weight classes are sophomore Mike Kessler (149 pounds), senior Dave Miller (157 pounds) and freshman Mike Miller (184 pounds). Ranked third were junior TJ Morrison (197 pounds) and senior Tyler Rees (heavyweight). Also ranked are Ryan Cunningham, fourth at 165 pounds, and freshman Brian Polashuk, sixth at 125 pounds.

Interestingly enough, this lineup gives the Broncs a ranked wrestler in every weight class, a fact that Taylor claims will help the team as the season progresses.

“This balance is certainly important,” Taylor said. “This year we have a combination of a good dual meet team as well as a good tournament team.”

These 10 honors give Rider the No. 1 ranking out of the 11 teams in the CAA, just ahead of rival Hofstra, which has eight wrestlers ranked.

“Hofstra is ranked 11th in the country,” Taylor explained. “And they are definitely our biggest nemesis in the CAA.”

Polashuk was also named to the CAA Preseason All-Freshman team, along with Rob Morrison (157).

But still the list of rankings goes on.

Five Broncs have also been awarded with national rankings. Fisch is ranked 7th, Dave Miller is ranked 16th, Cunliffe is ranked 17th, TJ Morrison is ranked 19th and Kessler is ranked 20th, all in their respective weight classes.

And the team is going to need every one of its wrestlers to perform, considering its CAA opponents outside of dual meets this season – Drexel, Hofstra, Boston University and Sacred Heart – are ranked third, second, seventh and sixth in the conference, respectively.

“We want to put the kids in the best competition we could to prepare them for the conference championships and then the national championships,” said Taylor.

Umbehauer looks at these matches a bit differently.

“This season is full of what I would call not tough spots, but opportunities,” he said. “Our coaches really made an effort to beef up our schedule this season. This schedule will give us all a great opportunity to get ready for the conference championships and nationals.”

That beefing up he’s talking about comes in the form of a tournament in Las Vegas in the very beginning of December; a trip to the Midlands Championships at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois at the end of December; and a dual meet with Iowa State in Ames, Iowa on February 9, 2007.

“Iowa State is going to be our toughest match, no question,” Taylor said. “The fact that we are going to play them on their home mat is going to make it tough.”

Naturally one can assume that along with the heightened level of competition comes a higher risk of wrestlers being injured.

“That’s the nature of the sport,” Taylor acknowledged. “It is a combat sport. But you have to weigh that out to get the players ready and to help them reach their full potential. So yes, I am worried, but you worry about injuries in any season. We just feel like this is a year to put it on the line.”

Taylor also mentioned the very first match of the season, a home bout against No. 21 Lehigh on Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., one that he is challenging Rider fans to come out for in force.

“They [Lehigh] think they can come in and completely fill our gym and beat us in our home gym,” Taylor said. “It is anticipated as a sellout, and Rider students get it for free, so I encourage them to not let that happen and shut Lehigh out of the gym, because there will be a battle for seating.”

The match against Lehigh will begin at 7 p.m., and a home match against No. 25 Pittsburgh will be played on Tuesday, Nov. 14, also at 7 p.m.