Hofstra University Athletics

WREST: Hofstra Downs Wisconsin In Home Opener, 25-12

11/20/2011 8:35:00 PM

Hempstead, NY - Hofstra won the first three matches of the day, including two by tech fall, and added four more victories to post a 25-12 win over the Wisconsin Badgers at the Mack Sports Complex Sunday afternoon. The Pride (1-0) win was the first for new Head Wrestling Coach Rob Anspach. Wisconsin drops its first dual of the season and is now 5-1.

Hofstra junior Steve Bonanno (Wantagh, NY), ranked 14th at 125 pounds by InterMat this week, got the Pride off on the right foot with an 18-2 tech fall over junior Shane McQuade (3-3) in 4:23. Bonanno, who led 9-2 after one period, is now 3-1 on the season. Red-shirt sophomore Jamie Franco (Monroe, NY) gave the Pride an 8-0 lead with a 4-3 decision over red-shirt junior Tom Kelliher in the first tie-breaker of the 133-pound match. Franco (5-3) won on an escape near the end of the tie-breaker. Red-shirt sophomore Luke Vaith (Hastings, MN), rebounded from an ankle injury last week, to post a 16-0 tech fall over red-shirt freshman Thomas Glenn in 4:29 at 141 pounds. Vaith, who is now 3-1 on the season, gave the Pride a 13-0 lead in the contest.

Wisconsin got on the board at 149 pounds as 13th-ranked red-shirt junior Cole Schmitt (5-0) recorded a 7-2 decision over Hofstra red-shirt junior Justin Accordino (Wilkes-Barre, PA). Schmitt jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one period and only allowed a second period takedown. But Hofstra came back at 157 as junior Tyler Banks (Griswold, CT) notched a second period reversal and added the riding time point in a 3-0 win over red-shirt sophomore Shawn Perry. Banks is 3-2 on the year. The Pride extended their lead to 19-3 at 165 as senior All-American P.J. Gillespie (Long Beach, NY) posted a 3-1 win over the Badger's 16th-ranked senior Ben Jordan. Gillespie, who is 6-0 on the year and ranked fifth in the nation, made a first period takedown and a second period escape standup in the match.

The Badgers recorded their second win of the match at 174 as red-shirt freshman Frank Cousins (4-2) pinned Hofstra freshman Jermaine John (Brooklyn, NY) at the 5:53 mark. The match was tied at 3-3 early in the third period before Cousins pinned John (2-3). But Pride senior Ben Clymer (Germansville, PA), ranked 20th at 184 pounds this week, tallied a third period escape and the riding time point in a 2-0 win over red-shirt freshman Timmy McCall (5-1). Clymer, who is now 4-1 on the season, gave the Pride a 22-9 advantage in the match.

Red-shirt sophomore Jackson Hein (5-1) defeated Pride sophomore Matt Loew (Wantagh, NY), 11-6 at 197 pounds to close the deficit to 22-12. But Hofstra junior Paul Snyder (Greensburg, PA) closed out the match with a 5-2 decision over red-shirt sophomore Cole Tobin at 285 for the final 25-12 margin. Snyder is now 6-1 on the season.

The Pride will return to action on Friday and Saturday, December 2-3 when they travel to Nevada for the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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