The third-ranked Pride wrestling team won five of the first six matches, including a victory by fall by Mike Patrovich, but ninth-ranked Central Michigan rallied to win the last four bouts to post an 18-18 tie at the Rose Arena Sunday afternoon. The Pride, who are now 7-0-2 on the season, recorded their second straight 18-18 tie following the same decision at #11 Michigan Saturday night. The Chippewas are now 5-2-1.
The Pride, who fell behind 15-3 after five matches Saturday, turned the tables Sunday against Central Michigan. Starting out at 125, Hofstra's fifth-ranked junior Dave Tomasette jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first period on the way to a 7-4 victory over #15 Luke Smith. Hofstra freshman Lou Ruggirello, ranked 19th, also had a big first period, building a 5-1 lead on the way to a 7-3 victory over Conor Beebe at 133. Hofstra junior Charles Griffin, also ranked 19th, made it three-in-a-row for the Pride with a 7-2 victory over #13 Eric Kruger.
The Chippewas got on the board at 149 as Brandon Carter rolled to an 8-2 victory over Hofstra senior Mike Parziale to close the deficit to 9-3. But the Pride bounced back with an 8-2 victory by fourth-ranked senior James Strouse over Steve Brown at 157, and a win by fall in 2:12 by Mike Patrovich over Mike Miller for an 18-3 lead.
But Central Michigan came roaring back behind the Sinnott twins, Brandon at 174 and Christian at 184, to start a run of four straight wins to tie the match. At 174, #6 Brandon Sinnott tallied three points in the third period to edge #12 Alton Lucas, 4-1. At 184, #6 Christian Sinnott won by tech fall, 20-3, over Hofstra freshman Rich Muzikar to close the deficit to 18-11. In a battle of top five wrestlers at 197, Central's Wynn Michalak, ranked eighth, posted a last minute takedown and a near-fall to down #3 Chris Weidman, 8-4. The match came down to the heavyweight class with the Chippewas needing a major decision to tie and tech fall or pin to win. Central's Bubba Gritter, who is ranked seventh in the country, faced Hofstra graduate-student Matt Pollock. The two battled with Gritter taking a 4-1 lead into the third before Gritter posted a 10-2 major decision.
The Pride, who boosted their consecutive undefeated streak to 10 matches dating back to last season, will head to the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, next weekend for the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Duals. Pairings will be announced later this week.
#3 Hofstra 18, #9 Central Michigan 18
125 - #5 Dave Tomasette (H) dec. #15 Luke Smith (CM), 7-4
133 - #19 Lou Ruggirello (H) dec. Conor Beebe (CM), 7-3
141 - #19 Charles Griffin (H) dec. #13 Eric Kruger (CM), 7-2
149 - Brandon Carter (CM) dec. Mike Parziale (H), 8-2
157 - #4 James Strouse (H) dec. Steve Brown (CM), 8-2
165 - #4 Mike Patrovich (H) WBF Mike Miller (CM) 2:12
174 - #6 Brandon Sinnott (CM) dec. #12 Alton Lucas (H), 4-1
184 - #6 Christian Sinnott (CM) tech fall Rich Muzikar (H), 20-3
197 - #8 Wynn Michalak (CM) dec. #3 Chris Weidman (H), 8-4
285 - #7 Bubba Gritter (CM) maj. Dec. Matt Pollock (H), 10-2
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