For the second time in a week, the top two teams in New York State faced each other and for the second time the Hofstra-Cornell result came right down to the wire. With each team winning five bouts and seven matches being decided by two points or less, it was Hofstra senior Ralph Everett's (pictured) 13-2, four-point decision over Cornell's David Post at 165 pounds that eventually gave the 12th-ranked Pride the point difference in a 16-15 victory over the 16th-ranked Big Red in the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals consolation second round.
The Pride, now 2-1 in the Nationals Duals with a win over #18 Central Michigan (18-17), a loss to #5 Missouri (19-13) and now the win over #16 Cornell (16-15), moves Hofstra (6-1 on the season) into the consolation quarterfinals Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. against 20th-ranked Pennsylvania.
In the tight battle Saturday evening, Hofstra senior Tom Noto started the Pride off with a 7-5 victory at 125 over Cornell's Mike Mormile. Second-ranked Travis Lee tied the match for the Big Red with a 6-5 decision over #11 Ricky LaForge at 133. John Manarte put the Pride ahead 6-3 with a 3-2 decision over Keith Dicky at 141. But #5 Dustin Manotti tied the match again for Cornell with an 8-3 decision over Pride freshman Chris Vondruska at 149.
#13 Paul Siemon gave the Pride another lead at 9-6 with a 6-5 decision over Scott Roth at 157. But it was Ralph Everett's 13-2 decision over David Post at 165 that gave the Pride the key 13-6 advantage in the match. Number 17 Tyler Baier of Cornell avenged a 5-3 loss to #10 Noel Thompson last Saturday with a 2-1 upset victory at 174, and freshman Jerry Rinaldi surprised Hofstra senior Brad Christie 6-5 to bring the Big Red to within one at 13-12.
But fifth-ranked Hofstra senior Chris Skretkowicz continued his shutout streak with his third of the Duals and sixth consecutive blanking on the season with a 3-0 decision over Matt Greenberg at 197 that gave the Pride a 16-12 lead. Cornell junior Matt Bogumil had to post a major decision or a pin for any chance to tie or win the match but Hofstra sophomore Dan Garay took him to overtime before dropping a 3-1 decision.
Hofstra 16 Cornell 15
125 Tom Noto (H) dec Mike Morimile (C) 7-5
133 Travis Lee C) dec Ricky LaForge (H) 6-5
141 Jon Manart (H) dec Keith Dicky (C) 3-2
149 Dustin Manotti (C) dec Chris Vondruska (H) 8-3
157 Paul Sieman (H) dec Scott Roth (C) 6-5
165 Ralph Everett (H) dec David Post (C) 13-2
174 Tyler Baier (C) dec Noel THompson (H) 2-1
184 Jerry Rinaldi (C) dec Brad Christie (H) 6-5
197 Chris Skretkowicz (H) dec Matt Greenberg (C) 3-0
285 Matt Bogumil (C) dec Dan Garay (H) 3-1 ot
