Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra Wrestling team returns to New York City this Sunday, January 25 when the Pride will face the Eagles of American University at 3 p.m. and the host Lions of Columbia University at 5 p.m. Both matches are Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association contests and will be held in University Gymnasium at Columbia in Manhattan.
 
Hofstra, 4-7 overall and 2-3 in the EIWA, is coming off a 19-16 loss to Binghamton in a conference match at the New York Athletic Club on Friday, January 16.  Hofstra graduate-student Cody Ruggirello returned to action after missing two matches with an injury and recorded his 12th win by fall of the season at 149-pounds. Freshman Travis Passaro (8-8) posted his first major decision of the year at 133 and sophomores Jamel Hudson at 141 and Frank Affronti (14-11) at 174 posted wins by decision for the Pride. But the contest came down to the final match of the night and Binghamton's Tyler Deuel defeated Hofstra's Michael Hughes at 285 for the victory.

Hofstra continues to have three grapplers ranked in the weekly polls this week. Sophomore Jamel Hudson (Bay Shore, NY) is ranked in all five polls at 141 pounds again this week. He is ranked 11th by The Wrestling Report and The Open Mat, 15th by Amateur Wrestling News and WIN Magazine and 19th by InterMat. Hudson, who has also won 14 of his last 16 matches, is now 16-3 on the season.

Ruggirello (Walden, NY) is ranked in four of the five polls at 149 pounds after returning to action last week. Ruggirello is ranked 15th by The Wrestling Report and The Open Mat, 16th by InterMat and 19th by Amateur Wrestling News after winning 11 of his last 14 outings. A 2014 NCAA Championship qualifier, Ruggirello is 18-4 on the year.

Sophomore Michael Hughes (Smithtown, NY) is now ranked 30th in The Wrestling Report rankings at 285 pounds. Hughes, who has won eight of his last 14 matches, is now 15-8 on the season.

In the latest EIWA rankings, released on Tuesday, Jamel Hudson is the top-rated wrestler at 141 pounds, according to the conference coaches. Hughes is ranked fourth in the EIWA at 285 and Ruggirello is ranked fifth at 149.

The Eagles of American are 5-4 on the season and 1-1 in EIWA action. The Eagles have wins over Campbell (45-6), UNC Pembroke (25-15), Lindsey Wilson (31-6), VMI (31-13) and Harvard (22-19). Their losses have come against North Carolina State (22-13), Oklahoma (30-13), Navy (32-10) and Old Dominion (26-15). American will face Columbia at 1 p.m. on Sunday before the Hofstra match.

The Eagles are led by 125-pound junior David Terao, who is 22-3 on the year and ranked 16th in the country. Junior John Boyle is 22-5 at 157 pounds while sophomore Jason Grimes is 14-7 at 184 pounds.
 
Hofstra and the American last met on January 25, 2013 with the Pride winning, 21-9 at the Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead.
 
The Lions of Columbia are 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in EIWA play. The Lions have wins over Buffalo (27-9) and Binghamton (19-18) and a loss to Lehigh (34-3).
 
Columbia is led by sophomore Markus Scheidel, who is 11-6 at 157 pounds. Junior Connor Sutton is 13-7 at 149 pounds while freshman Garrett Ryan is 14-9 at 285 pounds.
 
Hofstra and the Columbia last met on January 27, 2013 in Manhattan with the Pride winning, 23-9.