Princeton University Athletics
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Streak-Busting Wrestling Team Looks For First Rider Win Since 81-82 Season
February 17, 2016 | Wrestling
LIVE VIDEO STREAM
The Princeton wrestling team will conclude a memorable regular season Thursday at 6 pm when it takes on Mercer County rival Rider in Dillon Gym during a match streamed live on the Ivy League Digital Network.
Princeton (8-7) finished second in the Ivy League standings and competed for the Ivy League title for the first time in 30 years last weekend, though Cornell proved too strong in a 23-16 win. The Tigers ended the Ivy season with a 4-1 mark, their best finish in three decades — a run that included Princeton's first win over Penn in a quarter century.
A quarter century is child's play as compared to Princeton's current drought against Rider. The Broncs have won 15 in a row in the series (though they don't wrestle every year); Princeton's last win over Rider came during the 1981-82 season, a 24-19 road win over Hall of Fame head coach John Johnston. The Tigers have come close recently; last year, the teams split the 10 matches, but Rider got a fall at 133 and an overtime win at 165 to pull out an 18-15 victory.
Both teams will enter the match with a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers, via InterMat. Princeton junior 197-pounder Brett Harner (28-2) is currently ranked 10th nationally, and he enters Thursday on a 12-match win streak. Harner is likely to face sophomore Ryan Woulfe; Harner topped Woulfe 3-1 in sudden victory during the championship draw at Midlands.
Sophomore Jonathan Schleifer is currently ranked 16th at 174, and he needs one victory to become Princeton's third 20-match winner on the season. Ray O'Donnell, unranked at heavyweight, is 22-9 after his thrilling win by fall to close the Cornell match.
Rider (10-9) has two sophomores who are currently ranked nationally. BJ Clagon is 20th at 149 pounds, while Chad Walsh is 15th at 157 pounds.