Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra University Athletics Department and Pride Head Wrestling Coach Dennis Papadatos saluted the 2016-17 Wrestling team and this year's standout grapplers at the team's annual banquet at the University Club in David S. Mack Hall on April 22.

The late morning banquet was the perfect time to salute Hofstra's two graduating senior wrestlers as well as several special award winners from the 2016-17 season.

The Pride saluted departing senior Kyle Krasavage, a 141-pounder out of Larksville, Pennsylvania and graduate student Cory Goshkagarian, a 157/165-pounder out of Somerset, New Jersey. Krasavage posted a 6-4 record at 141 pounds before suffering a season-ending injury in December. Goshkagarian, a fifth-year wrestler, returned to the Pride roster for the second semester this year and wrestled in two matches at 165 pounds.

Freshman Vinny Vespa, a native of Monroe, New York, won the two big awards at the banquet as he received both the Most Valuable Wrestler Award and the Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. Vespa was 18-17 overall and placed second in the New York State Collegiate Championships, third in the Journeymen/Blue and Gold Tussle and fifth in the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships at 133 pounds. He also earned a perfect 4.0 in the classroom.

Newcomer Ricky Stamm, from Levittown, New York, earned the Freshman of the Year Award. Stamm was 18-5 overall as a red-shirt and won the Mat Town Open title, placed second in the New York State Collegiate Championship Open (B) Division, third in the Lock Haven Classic and fourth in the Franklin and Marshall Open at 157 pounds.

2016 NCAA Championship qualifier Michael Hughes, who took a red-shirt for the 2016-17 season, was selected the Pride Red-Shirt of the Year. The Smithtown, New York native was 18-2 on the year and captured the New York State Collegiate Championship Open title, the Mat Town Open title and placed fifth at the Southern Scuffle at 285 pounds.

Sophomore Ryan Burkert, a native of Cranford, New Jersey, received Hofstra's Most Improved Wrestler Award. Burkert, who was 8-12 as a true freshman in 2015-16, improved to 20-14 in 2016-17 and placed second at the Lock Haven Classic, third in the New York State Collegiate Championships and fifth in the Journeymen/Blue and Gold Tussle at 149 pounds.

Two Coaches Awards were also presented by Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Dennis Papadatos to freshmen Sage Heller and Jacob Martin. Heller, a native of Riverwoods, Illinois, was 23-17 this season and placed first at the Lock Haven Classic, second in the Journeymen/Blue Gold Tussle Open, third in the Kaloust Bearcat Open and fifth in the New York State Collegiate Championships at 174 pounds. Martin, a native of North Franklin, Connecticut, wrestled in 36 matches in 2016-17 and won 14 of his contests. He placed fifth in the New York Collegiate Championships and eighth in the Journeymen/Blue and Gold Tussle at 125 pounds.

Hofstra will return 18 wrestlers from the 2016-17 roster next season.