The Hofstra University wrestling team had four champions and four runners-up to capture its fourth consecutive conference championship Saturday night at the 2004 Colonial Athletic Association Wrestling Championships at Rider University. The Pride will send eight wrestlers to St. Louis, Missouri for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 18-20.

The Pride, who placed eight of nine wrestlers in the CAA Championships finals, recorded 111 points to easily win their third consecutive CAA title. Hofstra also captured the 2001 conference championship as a member of the East Coast Wrestling Association. Finishing second in the CAA Championship was Rider University with 69.5 points; Boston University was third with 67.0; George Mason was fourth at 59.5; Sacred Heart was fifth at 56.5; and Drexel was sixth with 46.5 to round out the top of the field. Old Dominion with 29.0; Binghamton with 27.5; Campbell University with 12.5; James Madison with 8.0; and Wagner with 4.5 closed out the standings.

The four Hofstra champions were senior Tom Noto (South River, NJ/South River) at 125; senior Ralph Everett (Miami, FL/Southridge) at 165; Noel Thompson (Freeport, NY/Freeport) at 174; and Chris Skretkowicz (Hamburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley Regional). Two freshmen, John Manarte (Farmingville, NY/Sachem) at 141 and James Strouse (Levittown, NY/MacArthur) at 149, a junior Paul Siemon (Paramus, NJ/Don Bosco Prep) at 157) and senior Brad Christie (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) at 184 all made it to their respective championship matches and will also advance to the NCAA Championships in 12 days.

At 125 pounds, senior Tom Noto became the eighth wrestler in Hofstra history to capture three conference championships with a 6-2 victory over Jose Leon of Boston University 6-2. Noto had a takedown with just 15 seconds remaining in the first period to go up 2-0. His escape in the second period boosted the lead to 3-0. Leon posted an escape early in the third period but Noto posted a takedown with 1:01 to go for a 5-1 lead. Leon did get an escape in the waning seconds and Noto took the riding time point to close out the scoring. Noto advanced to the finals with an 11-3 victory over Rob Rebmann of Drexel in the semifinals.

At 141, freshman John Manarte advanced to his first conference title match with a 3-2 victory over top-seeded Rob Becker of George Mason in the semifinals. But Manarte couldn't escape from third-seeded Josh Ruff in the title match as Ruff posted a 5-3 victory. Ruff posted a takedown in the first period for the only scoring but picked up 55 seconds of riding time in the period. Ruff sandwiched two escapes around a Manarte takedown in the second period for a 4-2 lead. Manarte could only get an escape with eight seconds remaining in the final period as Ruff got the riding time point and the victory.

Third-seeded freshman James Strouse also made his first appearance in the CAA Championship match at 149 pound by way of a 4-2 victory over second-seeded Rayes Gonzales of Boston University in the semifinals. In the finals Strouse had to face top-seeded Adrian Austin of George Mason. The two faced each other at the CAA Duals in January with Austin posting a 6-5 victory. After a scoreless first period Saturday, Austin posted two takedowns and Strouse had two escapes in the second period for a 4-2. In the third, Austin opened with an escaped and then took down Strouse with 32 seconds remaining on the way to an 8-4 victory.

The 157-pound match may have been the most controversial match of the day as top-seeded junior Paul Siemon faced second-seeded Dave Miller of Rider. In the final 30 seconds of the first period, Siemon, who advanced to the finals with an 8-2 victory over Robert Belville of Sacred Heart, recorded an apparent takedown and appeared to be ready to get additional back points. But the referees stopped the action with 18 seconds remaining and, initially, took the points off the scoreboard. After a ?œdiscussion?ť with both coaching staffs and the officials that lasted several minutes, action resumed with just two points for Siemon and an additional nine seconds put back on the clock. Siemon came out of the delay and tried to flip Miller, who quickly flipped the top-seed and pinned him with just 13 seconds left in the first period.

At 165, Ralph Everett became the sixth Hofstra wrestler to capture conference titles at two different weight classes with a 7-2 victory over second-seeded Leighton Brady of Boston University. All the scoring was done in the first two periods and Everett recorded 4:17 of riding time to win easily. Everett, the top-seed in the weight class, got to the finals with an 11-5 victory over Ryan Cunningham of Rider. Everett captured the CAA title last year at 174 pounds.

Noel Thompson followed Everett on the schedule and in the record book by becoming the seventh Hofstra wrestler to capture two different weight class titles. Thompson, who won the 165-pound title last year, captured the 174-pound title with a pin of second-seeded Nick Kozar at 1:52 of the first period. Thompson, the top-seed, got to the finals with an 8-0 victory over #4 Ben Schilens of Boston University in the semifinals.

Senior Brad Christie, who was seeded second and was the defending champion at 184 pounds, advanced to the finals this year with a 3-2 victory over Adam Wright of Old Dominion in the semifinals. In the finals, Christie faced top-seeded Nick Catone of Rider. The two met at the Keystone Classic in November with Christie posting a medical forfeit victory. This time the result was different. After a scoreless first period, Catone recorded an escape to open the second period. With 50 seconds to go in the period, Christie was hit with a stalling penalty giving Catone a 2-0 lead. That point would be the difference as Christie was able to muster only an escape in the third as Catone took the title 2-1.

Top-seeded junior Chris Skretkowicz advanced to the 197-pound final with a 5-0 victory over John DaCruz of Boston University in the semifinals. In the title match, Skretkowicz recorded his second conference title with a 4-0 decision over second-seeded Chris Jones of Drexel. Skretkowicz improved to 36-2 on the season.

Earlier Saturday, Hofstra's ninth entry in the CAA Championships, junior heavyweight Dan Garay was eliminated from title contention in the semifinals by eventual champion Payam Zarrinpour of Sacred Heart 2-1. Garay, who finished fourth, dropped a 3-1 decision in sudden-victory to Carmelo Marrero of Rider in the third-place match.

In addition to Zarrinpour, top-seed Mike Messina of Sacred Heart captured the 133-pound title with a 6-4 victory over #2 Don Fisch of Rider. Zarrinpour defeated Derrel Lorthridge of Old Dominion 4-2 in the second sudden victory period.

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