By Danny Lovi, Staff Writer

The Hofstra wrestling team sent six competitors to St Louis this past weekend to compete in the NCAA Championship. They returned home with two All-Americans, adding prestige to the already illustrious Hofstra wrestling program.

Juniors Steve Bonanno and Justin Accordino became the 17th and 18th Hofstra wrestlers to earn All-American honors in program history.

Bonanno, seeded 12th in the 125-pound bracket, ended up finishing eighth after defeating Anthony Zanetta of Pittsburgh in a fourth-round consolation match.

Accordino, who started the tournament unseeded, advanced to the semi-finals in the 149-pound bracket, before losing to eventual champion Frank Molinaro of Penn State. He ended the tournament in sixth place.

Hofstra started the tournament hot, winning five of its first six matches. Sophomore Luke Vaith (141) and seniors P.J. Gillespie (165) and Ben Clymer (184) advanced to the round of 16 in their respective brackets, but only Gillespie advanced to the next round. Gillespie lost to Bekzod Abdurakhmonov of Clarion in the round of eight, and then came up short in the consolation round, one win away from earning All-American status.

The wrestling team will celebrate the CAA Championship and honor Bonanno and Accordino at the end of the season banquet on April 22.

Steve Bonanno received All-American honors at the NCAA Tournament. (Cody Heintz/The Chronicle)