Hempstead, NY – Pride red-shirt freshman Jahlani Callender won both of his contests on the day and senior Luke Vaith recorded his 100th career victory but Hofstra dropped two matches to top 20-ranked teams in the 2014 NWCA National Duals at Ohio State's St. John Arena Sunday. Hofstra lost to 13th-ranked Ohio State, 29-10 in the championship round before falling to 17th-ranked Iowa State, 36-9 in the consolations.

Callender (16-7), from North Fort Lauderdale, Florida, defeated Ohio State's Randall Languis, 7-5 in sudden victory, and Iowa State's John Nicholson, 3-2 and was the only Pride wrestler to be a double winner on the day. Senior Luke Vaith (24-5) at 141, junior Cody Ruggirello (21-8) at 149, graduate-student Joe Booth (27-7) at 165 and red-shirt freshman Frank Affronti (11-14) posted single wins in the two contests.

Vaith, a fifth-year senior from Hastings, Minnesota, recorded his single-season, career-best 24th win and his 100th victory under the Hofstra banner with his win over Iowa State. He is now 100-55 in his career. The 24 victories topped his previous best of 23 set during the 2011-12 season when he captured the 141-pound Colonial Athletic Association title.

In the championship round, the Pride faced the Buckeyes of Ohio State, led by former Hofstra Head Coach Tom Ryan. OSU jumped out to a 17-0 lead after four matches before Callender stopped the run. That win was the first of three consecutive wins for the Pride as 14th-ranked Booth defeated Joe Grandominico, 10-4, and Affronti recorded a major decision over Jacob Bresciani, 13-2. That win would be the Pride's only bonus point win of the day. The Buckeyes (10-4) would win the final three matches including a pin by eighth-rank Nick Heflin at 197 to post the 29-10 victory.

In the consolation match against 17th-ranked Iowa State, the Pride ran into an Cyclone buzz saw after ISU's loss to Kent State in the first round.  Iowa State recorded four pins, a win by forfeit and two decisions in the 36-9 decision. Like the first match, Hofstra (6-9) won three consecutive matches against the Cyclones as Vaith, ranked 11th, defeated Gabe Moreno, 5-1, Ruggirello topped Luke Goettl, 9-2 and Callender defeated Nicholson, 3-2 to tie the match at 9-9. But Iowa State (9-5) posted four consecutive pins and wrapped up the match with a decision at 285 for the 36-9 victory.

The Pride return to action next Saturday, February 22 when they travel to Ithaca, New York to face the fourth-ranked Big Red of Cornell at 3 p.m.
 
#13 Ohio State 29, Hofstra 10
125    Nick Roberts (OSU) dec. Jamie Franco (HU), 5-2        
133    Johnni DiJulius (OSU) Win by Forfeit        
141    Logan Stieber (OSU) tech fall Luke Vaith (HU), 16-1        
149    Ian Paddock (OSU) dec. Cody Ruggirello (HU), 5-3 (sv1)        
157    Jahlani Callender (HU) dec. Randall Languis (OSU), 7-5 (sv1)        
165    Joe Booth (HU) dec. Joe Grandominico (OSU), 10-4        
174    Frank Affronti (HU) maj. dec. Jacob Bresciani (OSU), 13-2        
184    Kenny Courts (OSU) dec. Victor Pozsonyi (HU), 10-3        
197    Nick Heflin (OSU) WBF Zeal McGrew (HU), 0:59        
285    Nick Tavanello (OSU) dec. Michael Hughes (HU), 3-1       

#17 Iowa State 36, Hofstra 9            
125    Earl Hall (ISU) dec. Jamie Franco (HU), 7-3        
133    Shayden Terukina (ISU) Win by Forfeit        
141    Luke Vaith (HU) dec. Gabe Moreno (ISU) 5-1        
149    Cody Ruggirello (HU) dec. Luke Goettl (ISU), 9-2        
157    Jahlani Callender (HU) dec. John Nicholson (ISU), 3-2        
165    Michael Moreno (ISU) WBF Joe Booth (HU), 7:58        
174    Tanner Weatherman (ISU) WBF Frank Affronti (HU), 6:46        
184    Boaz Beard (ISU) WBF Victor Pozsonyi (HU), 3:41        
197    Kyven Gadson (ISU) WBF Zeal McGrew (HU), 1:28        
285    Quean Smith (ISU) dec. Michael Hughes (HU), 9-4