Hempstead, NY – The Hofstra wrestling team opened the 2020-21 season from inside the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex with the Hofstra Wrestle-Offs. All available Hofstra wrestlers competed in at least one match today in the intrasquad exhibition.

Junior Dylan Ryder earned a 13-2 major decision win over redshirt sophomore Matthew Templeton. Junior Trey Rogers earned the win in a 19-4 tech fall decision over redshirt freshman Ben Somerville at the 3:40 mark of the match. Later in the Wrestle-Offs, Rogers would wrestle against freshman Ericson Velasquez and earn a 19-3 technical fall win at the 4:38 mark. Redshirt senior Garrett Lambert won a 3-1 decision over sophomore Justin Hoyle before picking up a second win, this time via 10-2 major decision over Templeton.

Redshirt senior Vinny Vespa was victorious over redshirt freshman Mario Biancamano via tech fall decision at 3:25, and later secured a tight 4-1 decision against Hoyle. Redshirt senior and NCAA Championships qualifier Sage Heller earned two wins on the day, first with a tech fall win over freshman James Watterson at 4:38 before securing another tech fall victory over junior Corey Langner.

Redshirt senior and returning NCAA Championships qualifier Ricky Stamm picked up a 3-1 win in a hard-fought match over redshirt freshman Ross McFarland, while he would later score a pin over Watterson at 2:35 of the match. Senior Charles Small also picked up two wins on the day, as he pinned Velasquez at 3:30 and earned a hard-fought 12-7 victory over Langner.

Newcomer Joe McGinty defeated redshirt junior Charlie Kane, 10-3, before suffering a defeat via pin in the first period at the hands of sophomore Holden Heller in one of the final matches of the day. Kane would bounce back from his defeat to McGinty with a pin of Biancamano in the first period.

Redshirt junior and NCAA Championships qualifier Zachary Knighton-Ward wrestled in one match today, but it was a decisive victory over Somerville with a pin in the first period. In one of the final matches of the contest, junior Reece Heller scored a 5-1 decision win over McFarland.

"I'm pleased with what we saw out there. We're happy to finally get out and have our guys compete in a live match," said Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Papadatos. "I'm excited for the season to really start."

Hofstra opens the 2020-21 season on the road against three-time defending EIWA champions Lehigh on January 2 at 4 p.m.