Hempstead, NY - Five members of the Hofstra wrestling team found themselves in the second InterMat NCAA Division I preseason rankings in their respective weight classes.

Greg Gaxiola (157), Ricky Stamm (165), Charles Small (184), Trey Rogers (197), and Zachary Knighton-Ward (285) were all ranked in the Top 33 of their weight classes by the national wrestling publication. All five represented Hofstra at the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

An incoming transfer from Fresno State, Gaxiola picked up six wins as the starter at 149 pounds. He finished fourth at the EIWA Championships, qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the second time in his collegiate wrestling career. Gaxiola went 2-2 at the NCAA Championships, picking up wins by decision over Cleveland State's Marcus Robinson and Casey Cobb of Navy. InterMat ranked Gaxiola No. 33 in their preseason 157-pound rankings.

A two-time qualifier for the NCAA Championships, Stamm won eight matches as the 165-pound starter, and picked up three wins over EIWA opponents during the regular season. At the 2021 EIWA Championships, Stamm went 2-2 and finished fifth, tying his previous personal best finish from the 2020 EIWA Championships. Stamm was ranked No. 32 among 165-pound wrestlers by InterMat.

Hofstra's starter at 184 pounds last season, Small won eight matches in 2020-21, and finished third at the EIWA Championships to earn himself a spot at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. Small picked up an upset win in overtime against 10th-seeded Tate Samuelson of Wyoming in the first round. Small received the No. 27 ranking in the 184-pound weight class by InterMat.

A two-year starter for Hofstra at 197 pounds, Rogers finished the 2020-21 season with a 7-5 overall record and a 3-1 mark against EIWA opponents. Rogers finished fifth at the EIWA Championships, and went on to go 1-2 at the NCAA Championships. InterMat ranked Rogers at No. 29 among its 197-pound preseason rankings.

Entering his fourth season in a Hofstra singlet, Knighton-Ward went 8-5 as the starter at 285 pounds, including a third-place finish at the EIWA Championships. He qualified for his second consecutive NCAA Championship, and went 1-2 from St. Louis, Missouri. With a No. 26 ranking at 285 pounds, Knighton-Ward received the highest preseason ranking of the five Hofstra wrestlers from InterMat.

The Pride will kick off the 2021-22 season this Friday at 7 p.m. with the Hofstra Wrestle-Offs from inside the David S. Mack Sport and Exhibition Complex. Admission is free, while fans unable to attend the Wrestle-Offs can view the action via live video stream on the Hofstra Pride YouTube channel.

Following the Wrestle-Offs, Hofstra will travel to Pennsylvania for the Clarion Open on Sunday, November 7 to officially begin the 2021-22 college wrestling season.