Hempstead, NY - Alumni, friends, families, and staff helped celebrate the 2019-20 Hofstra wrestling team at the annual Pride Wrestling Banquet, held over Zoom Wednesday evening.
Serving as master of ceremonies, Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Dennis Papadatos and the Pride coaching staff honored the team's lone graduating senior, Jacob Martin (133 lbs.). Additionally, 13 awards were given to members of the Hofstra wrestling team for their performances during the 2019-20 season.
In his first year at Hofstra, freshman Reece Heller won 19 matches in the 149-pound weight class and was named an EIWA Academic Achievement Award recipient. Those accomplishments earned him Hofstra wrestling Freshman of the Year honors.
A transfer from Northwest Kansas Technical College, junior Charles Small was named the Hofstra wrestling Best Newcomer after winning 11 matches for the Pride at 184 pounds and finishing seventh at the EIWA Championships.
Sophomore Trey Rogers received his second consecutive Hofstra wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award after securing a 3.92 grade point average while going 15-9 at 197 pounds. Rogers also earned his second consecutive EIWA Academic Achievement Award and was named an NWCA Scholar All-American.
The 2019-20 Steve Molello Coaches Award, named after the Hofstra alumnus and presented to a Pride wrestler for dedication to wrestling, academics, community service, and all other facets of the program was presented to redshirt junior Ricky Stamm. Stamm went 22-9 in the 165-pound weight class and qualified for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships after finishing seventh at the EIWA Championships. Stamm's work in the community involves working with intellectually disabled adults in Nassau County.
Redshirt sophomore Zachary Knighton-Ward was named Hofstra's Most Improved Wrestler. Following his redshirt year (2018-19) that saw him win 11 matches at 285 pounds in open tournaments, Knighton-Ward went 22-12 and placed fourth at the EIWA Championships, earning him at-large qualification for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament.
Redshirt junior Sage Heller was presented with the Most Valuable Wrestler Award. Heller went 21-8 on the year at 174-pounds and finished fifth at the EIWA Championships, making him a first-alternate for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Heller was also an EIWA Academic Achievement Award recipient and was named an NWCA Scholar All-American.
Other Hofstra wrestling award winners were redshirt junior Garrett Lambert for the Best Attitude Award, sophomore Dylan Ryder for the Most Resilient Award, red-shirt freshman Reggie Poulin for the Strength Training Award, freshman Justin Hoyle for the Biggest Impact Award, redshirt-sophomore Charlie Kane for the Sacrifice Award, redshirt junior Vinny Vespa for the Team Player Award, and sophomore Holden Heller for the Statement Win Award after winning by fall at 4:19 of the first period against nationally-ranked Kolby Ho of George Mason.
Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. addressed the banquet attendees and thanked the entire team for their efforts and accomplishments throughout the year.
