FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2003

Mike Riley Closes Out RIC Wrestling Career at NCAA Championships

Providence, RI—Rhode Island College senior Mike Riley (Lowell, MA) closed out his collegiate wrestling career at the NCAA Div. III National Championships, hosted by Ohio Northern University, on Mar. 7-8.

Riley drew a tough opponent in the first round, facing third-seeded Ozzie Saxon from Wartburg, and falling 11-3. His next match was against sixth-seeded Barry Wise from Delaware Valley, losing by fall at 3:46. Riley was leading the match 10-8 and posted a near-fall, but Wise made a quick move to gain the pin. Both Saxon and Wise went on to earn All-American status, placing second and third respectively.

Riley had an outstanding senior season, becoming the New England Champion at 133 lbs. at the 2003 NECCWA Championships. It was Riley’s first New England title and his third consecutive season earning All-New England honors.

The team captain was 31-5 at 133 lbs. with 129 points, 134 takedowns, six reversals, 36 escapes, 24 near-falls and two pins on the season. Riley had won 13 consecutive matches heading into the National Championships. During the regular season, he placed first at 133 lbs. at the Roger Williams Invitational and second at the Doug Parker Invitational.

As a junior in 2001-02, Riley earned All-New England honors at 133 pounds, placing third at the 2002 NECCWA Championships. Riley had a 28-match winning streak stopped at the championships. The co-captain was 37-6 (.860) with 163 points, 128 takedowns, ten reversals, 48 escapes, 21 near-falls and four wins by fall on the year. Riley established a new school record for wins in a season with 37. He placed first at the Citrus Invitational, second at the Scranton Invitational, third at the Roger Williams Invitational and fourth at the Doug Parker Invitational.

As a sophomore in 2000-01, he qualified for the Div. III NCAA National Championships as a wild-card selection at 133 lbs. Riley earned All-New England honors, placing second at 133 lbs. at the 2001 NECCWA Championships. Riley was 11-5 with 40 points, 32 takedowns, four reversals, 22 escapes and six near-falls on the season.

Prior to coming to RIC, Riley competed for the University of Lowell for one season.

He is a finance major and a 1997 graduate of Greater Lowell Technical High School.

The Rhode Island College wrestling team placed seventh (15 teams) at the 2003 New England College Conference Wrestling Association (NECCWA) Championships, hosted by Roger Williams University, on Feb. 22-23. RIC had four wrestlers earn All-New England honors. Head Coach Jay Jones’ Anchormen closed out the 2002-03 season with a 14-10 overall record, a 9-6 mark in the NECCWA and captured their first-ever Pilgrim Wrestling League Championship with a perfect 6-0 record.

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