Hempstead, NY – Junior Cory Damiana recorded a win by fall and sophomore Ryan Burkert posted a tech fall victory to lead the Blue team to an 18-10 victory over the Gold team in the 2016 Hofstra Wrestle-Offs at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center Saturday afternoon.

An enthusiastic crowd watched the 2016 edition of the annual affair, which was shortened to seven matches due to injuries or ailments. After dropping the first match of the day, the Blue team recorded three consecutive wins to build a 12-3 lead.

After freshman Vinny Vespa gave the gold team a 3-0 lead with a 7-2 win over classmate Jacob Martin in the 125-pound match, Blue team red-shirt freshman Connor Burkert majored freshman Charlie Kane, 10-2 in a 141-pound match. Twin brother Ryan followed with a 16-1 tech fall over sophomore Connor Muli at the 5:02 mark in the 149-pound match. Freshman Ricky Stamm then followed with a 6-5 win over red-shirt freshman Jake Kaminsky in the 157 pound match for a 12-3 advantage.

Freshman Sage Heller stopped the Blue run with a 10-2 major decision over classmate Anthony Olivieri in the 165/174 exhibition for the Gold team before junior Cory Damiana pinned red-shirt sophomore Michael Oxley at the 3:13 mark of the 184 pound match to seal the match victory for the Blue team. Red-shirt sophomore Nezar Haddad wrapped up the wrestle-offs with a 6-4 win over his sophomore brother Omar Haddad in the 197/285 match for the gold team.

Hofstra begins the season on Sunday, November 13 when they compete in the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open at Binghamton University.

Hofstra Wrestle-off Results
125- Vinny Vespa (G) dec. Jacob Martin (B), 7-2
141- Connor Burkert (B) maj. dec. Charlie Kane (G), 10-2
149- Ryan Burkert (B) tech fall Connor Muli (G), 16-1 (5:02)
157- Ricky Stamm (B) dec, Jake Kaminsky (G), 6-5
165/74- Sage Heller (G) maj. dec. Anthony Olivieri (B), 10-2
184- Cory Damiana (B) WBF Michael Oxley (G), 3:13
197/285- Nezar Haddad (G) dec. Omar Haddad (B), 6-4