New York, NY – Five different Hofstra wrestlers posted victories in the two matches on the day but the Pride dropped two Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association matches, falling to Army West Point, 34-3 at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center in the afternoon before dropping a 24-12 decision to Columbia at University Gymnasium Saturday night.
Hofstra dropped to 5-6 on the season and 1-4 in the EIWA. Army improved to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference while Columbia improved to 2-7 on the year and 1-2 in the EIWA.
In the first match of the day, the Pride hosted the Black Knights of Army West Point (5-3, 3-1) in a EIWA at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center in Hempstead. Starting the match at 149, Army West Point rattled off three consecutive victories, including a win by fall at 157 by 17th-ranked Russell Parsons, to build a 12-0 lead.
Hofstra freshman
Sage Heller ended the run and gave the Pride their only win of the match with a hard-fought 18-11 victory over Ben Harvey. Heller improved to 22-9 on the season as Hofstra cut the deficit to 12-3. But the Black Knights won the next six matches including bonus point wins at 184, 125 and 133.
At 197, red-shirt sophomore
Nezar Haddad battled Rocco Caywood before dropping a 3-1 decision and his brother
Omar Haddad battled Trevor Smith before falling, 4-2 at 285 pounds. Army West Point's Austin Harry also posted a 22-4 tech fall over Pride freshman
Vinny Vespa at 133.
In the nightcap at Columbia, the Pride won four matches but the Lions captured six weigh classes, including three bonus point victories, as Columbia topped Hofstra, 24-12 at University Gymnasium in Morningside Heights Saturday night.
Hofstra and Columbia split the first four matches with the Lions' Johnson Mai winning at 125 and Jacob Macalolooy recording a tech fall at 141 and Pride freshman
Vinny Vespa edging Alec Kelly, 7-6 at 133 and
Ryan Burkert blanking Sam Ward, 5-0 at 149 as Columbia took an 8-6 lead.
But the Lions won the next three weight classes including Tyrel White's major decision at 165 and Max Elling's pin of
Sage Heller at 174 to boost their lead to 21-6.
Hofstra red-shirt sophomore
Michael Oxley edged Jacob Young, 4-3 at 184 and classmate
Nezar Haddad defeated Michael Bulkin, 6-2 at 197 to close the deficit to 21-12 before Columbia's Garrett Ryan closed out the match with a 10-4 decision over
Omar Haddad at 285 for the 24-12 final.
Hofstra returns to action on Saturday, January 28 when the Pride host the Bulls of the University at Buffalo at the David S. Mack Physical Education Center. Match time is 1 p.m.
Army West Point 34, Hofstra 3
125: Trey Chalifoux (AWP) maj. dec.
Jacob Martin (HU), 12-4
133: Austin Harry (AWP) tech fall
Vinny Vespa (HU), 22-4, 5:12
141: Noah Hanau (AWP) dec.
Connor Burkert (HU), 11-7
149: Matthew Kelly (AWP) dec.
Ryan Burkert (HU), 5-4
157: Russell Parsons (AWP) WBF
Jake Kaminsky (HU), 2:19
165: Andrew Mendel (AWP) dec.
Bobby Fehr (HU), 16-9
174:
Sage Heller (HU) dec. Ben Harvey (AWP), 18-11
184: Samson Imonode (AWP) maj.dec. Mike Oxley (HU), 17-7
197: Rocco Caywood (AWP) dec.
Nezar Haddad (HU), 3-1
285: Trevor Smith (AWP) dec.
Omar Haddad (HU), 4-2
(match started at 149)
Columbia 24, Hofstra 12
125: Johnson Mai (CU) dec.
Jacob Martin (HU), 7-1
133:
Vinny Vespa (HU) dec. Alec Kelly (CU), 7-6
141: Jacob Macalolooy (CU) tech fall
Connor Burkert (HU), 17-1
149:
Ryan Burkert (HU) dec. Sam Ward (CU), 5-0
157: Laurence Kosoy (CU) dec.
Jake Kaminsky (HU), 8-5
165: Tyrel White (CU) maj. dec.
Bobby Fehr (HU), 12-1
174: Max Elling (CU) WBF
Sage Heller (HU), 1:14
184:
Michael Oxley (HU) dec. Jacob Young (CU), 4-3
197:
Nezar Haddad (HU) dec. Michael Bulkin (CU), 6-2
285: Garrett Ryan (CU) dec.
Omar Haddad (HU), 10-4
