National Qualifier Matt Correnti (Photo/Rider athletics)Rider Broncs
Our team is very talented and young, potentially starting up to eight freshmen or sophomores. We had a productive summer and will look to gain valuable experience with a tough schedule in order to compete for a MAC Championship - Rider head coach John Hangey
TOP RETURNERS
Rider returns five NCAA qualifiers though the plan is to redshirt two of them, MAC runner-up and NCAA Round of 12 finisher Ethan Laird (285) and another conference finalist, McKenzie Bell (141). The Broncs will have the services of Richie Koehler, Jake Silverstein, and Matt Correnti and all three have NCAA experience. Koehler was also a MAC finalist in 2021.
KEY DEPARTURES
The Broncs have a huge spot to replace at 157 lbs as the program's first-ever NCAA finalist Jesse Dellavecchia has graduated and is now on staff at Army West Point. Dellavecchia went 67-10 and during his three years of official competition for Rider. He was a two-time MAC Champion and twice earned the number four seed at the NCAA Championships.
In addition, Rider will also need to replace their 125 lber Jonathan Tropea. Tropea went 56-35 during his time in Lawrenceville and qualified for the 2021 NCAA Championships after taking fourth at the conference meet.
TOP NEWCOMERS
Rider will get a boost from a pair of transfers who have returned home in Quinn Kinner and Jacob Perez-Eli. Kinner was a two-time New Jersey state champion and four-time placewinner before signing with Ohio State. With the Buckeyes, Kinner spent time in the lineup at 133 lbs and 157 lbs, but neither was ideal for him. In 2018-19, while redshirting at 141 lbs, Kinner compiled a 16-3 mark. Back near home and at a better weight, expect big things from Kinner.
Perez-Eli also could contribute at 141 lbs. He comes back to Jersey from Iowa State, where he spent the 2021 campaign. The only action Perez-Eli saw was in an extra match, defeating an opponent from Wartburg. Perez-Eli was a two-time state medalist and a finalist in high school for Paulsboro.
WRESTLER TO WATCH
We mentioned earlier that Rider would need to replace NCAA finalist Jesse Dellavecchia at 157 lbs. They'll look to Jake Silverstein, an NCAA qualifier in 2021 at 165, to help fill the void. Silverstein went 9-5 last season and received an at-large berth to the big dance.
With Laird slated to redshirt, Hangey and staff will turn to true freshman David Szuba to man the 285 lb weight class. Signing Szuba was a huge get for Rider, as he finished the 2020-21 season ranked #27 overall in MatScouts Class of 2021 Big Board. Szuba captured a New Jersey state title in dramatic fashion with a headlock for a fall. As a junior, Szuba made the state finals, but down at 195 lbs.
Tyler Klinsky and Shane Reitsma are both highly-regarded recruits from the Class of 2020 that will be counted upon in the upcoming season, as well.
POTENTIAL LINEUP
125: Tyler Klinsky (So)
133: #27 Richie Koelher (Jr)
141: #23 Quinn Kinner (So)
149: Cole McComas (So)
157: #32 Jake Silverstein (Jr)
165: Joe Casey (Jr)/Angel Garcia (So)
174: Shane Reitsma (So)
184: George Walton (Sr)
197: #26 Matt Correnti (Sr)
285: David Szuba (Fr)
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