Hempstead, NY - Four Hofstra wrestlers posted 2-0 records on the day as the Pride rang in the new year with a pair of victories at the Hofstra Alumni Duals at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center Sunday.

Hofstra (2-5) recorded come-from-behind victories over Virginia Military Academy (2-5), 25-18 in the Pride's first match before rallying in the second half of the match for a 27-16 win over Bloomsburg (1-8) in the nightcap. The Huskies of Bloomsburg edged VMI, 20-18-also in a come-from-behind battle-in the first match of the day.

In the Hofstra's first match of the day against the Keydets of VMI, the Pride found themselves down 18-3 after the sixth contest of the match with only a 6-2 Jamel Hudson victory over sophomore Hunter Starner at 141 to their credit.  But junior Frank Affronti started the comeback with an 11-3 major decision over senior Mark Darr at 174.

Sophomore Cory Damiana then followed with his fourth pin of the season, a fall at the 1:50 mark of the contest over redshirt junior Derek Thurman at 184 to close the deficit to 18-13. Freshman Omar Haddad gave Hofstra the lead for good with a forfeit victory at 197 that boosted the Pride on top at 19-18. Junior Michael Hughes ended the Keydets thoughts of an upset with a pin of junior Tasi Mathias at 285 for the 25-18 victory. It was Hughes' sixth pin of the season and sealed the Pride's first win of the year.

The Pride victory spoiled the return of Hofstra alumnus and current VMI Head Coach Chris Skretkowicz as Hofstra celebrated Wrestling Alumni Day on Sunday.

In the Pride's nightcap against Bloomsburg, Hofstra found itself trailing 9-0 after two matches before righting itself with a forfeit win by redshirt junior Jamel Hudson (10-3) at 141 and a pin by sophomore Kyle Krasavage (6-2) in 6:02 over freshman Ryan Snow at 149. But Huskies redshirt freshman Brendon Colbert tied the match with a 5-2 win over junior Jahlani Callender at 157.

But Pride redshirt freshman Bobby Fehr (2-11) started a string of three consecutive wins for Hofstra with an 8-2 decision over Matthew Carr at 165. Affronti (21-8) edged freshman Casey Glunt, 2-1 on the riding time point at 174 and Damiana (10-12) recorded his first tech fall of the year with a 16-1 decision over freshman Kyle Wojtaszek at 184 for a 23-12 lead.

Bloomsburg sophomore Dominic Carfagno topped Omar Haddad, 12-4 at 197 before Hofstra's Mike Hughes (21-5) closed out the match with a 9-0 major decision over freshman Saul Wilkins at 285 for the 27-16 victory.

Hofstra will return to action next Saturday, January 9 when the Pride face North Carolina State at 9 a.m. and Davidson at 1 p.m. in the Pittsburgh Duals.
 

Bloomsburg 20, VMI 18

125       Dalton Henderson (VMI) over Jonathan Haas (Bloomsburg) (Dec 5-3)
133       Andy Schutz (Bloomsburg) over Dominick Gallo (VMI) (MD 12-2)
141       Hunter Starner (VMI) over Sam Holandez (Bloomsburg) (Fall 4:31)                       
149       Emmitt Kelly (VMI) over Ryan Snow (Bloomsburg) (Dec 8-2)       
157       Neal Richards (VMI) over Brendon Colbert (Bloomsburg) (Dec 6-5)
165       Shabaka Johns (VMI) over Matthew Carr (Bloomsburg) (Dec 9-4)
174       Casey Glunt (Bloomsburg) over Mark Darr (VMI) (Dec 7-1)
184       Kyle Wojtaszek (Bloomsburg) over Derek Thurman (VMI) (MD 12-4)
197       Dominic Carfagno (Bloomsburg) over Unknown (For.)
285       Saul Wilkins (Bloomsburg) over Sivaatasi Mathias (VMI) (Dec 5-3)
 
Hofstra 25, VMI 18       
125       Dalton Henderson (VMI) over Bryan Damon (Hofstra) (Dec 3-0)  
133       Dominick Gallo (VMI) over Marcus Begay (Hofstra) (MD 9-0)      
141       Jamel Hudson (Hofstra) over Hunter Starner (VMI) (Dec 6-2)       
149       Emmitt Kelly (VMI) over Ryan Burkert (Hofstra) (Dec 6-5)
157       Neal Richards (VMI) over Jahlani Callender (Hofstra) (MD 21-8)   
165       Shabaka Johns (VMI) over Jermaine John (Hofstra) (MD 8-0)      
174       Frank Affronti (Hofstra) over Mark Darr (VMI) (MD 11-3) 
184       Cory Damiana (Hofstra) over Derek Thurman (VMI) (Fall 1:50)     
197       Omar Haddad (Hofstra) over Unknown (For.)     
285       Mike Hughes (Hofstra) over Sivaatasi Mathias (VMI) (Fall 0:36)

Hofstra 27, Bloomsburg 16      
125       Jonathan Haas (Bloomsburg) over Bryan Damon (Hofstra) (SV-1 3-1)     
133       Andy Schutz (Bloomsburg) over Marcus Begay (Hofstra) (Fall 1:24)        
141       Jamel Hudson (Hofstra) over Unknown (For.)     
149       Kyle Krasavage (Hofstra) over Ryan Snow (Bloomsburg) (Fall 6:02)        
157       Brendon Colbert (Bloomsburg) over Jahlani Callendert (Hofstra) (Dec 5-2)
165       Bobby Fehr (Hofstra) over Matthew Carr (Bloomsburg) (Dec 8-2)
174       Frank Affronti (Hofstra) over Casey Glunt (Bloomsburg) (Dec 2-1)          
184       Cory Damiana (Hofstra) over Kyle Wojtaszek (Bloomsburg) (TF 16-1 5:59)          
197       Dominic Carfagno (Bloomsburg) over Omar Haddad (Hofstra) (MD 12-4)
285       Mike Hughes (Hofstra) over Saul Wilkins (Bloomsburg) (MD 9-0)