The Hofstra University wrestling team faced another tough opponent in their second dual of the season against the No. 1 Pennsylvania State University Nittany Lions on Sunday, Dec. 10. In the eighth meeting between the two schools, the Pride lost 43-10 to the Nittany Lions. Coming off his win over No. 14 Jordan Williams of Oklahoma State, freshman Noah Tapia earned a win for the Pride as did No. 21 Keaton Kluever. Both Kluever and Tapia earned their fourth victories of the season and their first dual meet win as members of the Pride.
At 149 pounds, Tapia took on Connor Pierce, who made his Penn State dual debut after No. 2 Shayne Van Ness was declared out for the season due to injury earlier in the week. Tapia scored the first takedown of the match using a front headlock to get an ankle pick before using a turk to try to get three back points. Going into the second up 6-0, Tapia chose bottom. After getting an escape, he was quick to start working on attacking the legs again, earning his second takedown of the match. In the third period, Pierce took bottom where Tapia held him for most of the period. Tapia won by a major decision 11-2.
At 285 pounds, the Nittany Lions were represented by AJ Fricchione rather than No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet. Kluever, who returned to competition after missing the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, was quick to the attack and earned a takedown a minute into the match and another before the end of the first period. The two started the second period in neutral where Kluever got a quick ankle sweep for another takedown. Kluever ultimately ended the match at 4:32, earning a win by fall after using an arm bar to secure a pin.
Members of the Penn State team, including Kerkvliet and No. 2 Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds, were absent from competition likely due to the 2023 Senior Nationals starting on Friday, Dec. 15. Multiple members of the Pride were also absent from the starting lineup, most notably Dylan Ryder at 125 pounds and Ross McFarland at 174 pounds.
Dylan Acevedo filled in at 125 pounds and was the only member of the Pride to lose by decision against the Nittany Lions. Acevedo fought hard against Braeden Davis, though ultimately lost the match 11-2.
As for the rest of the Pride, Ryan Arbeit lost by technical fall 21-6 to No. 4 Aaron Nagao at 133 pounds. Alex Turley was beaten by David Evans by technical fall 19-4 at 141 pounds. Dylan Zenion lost by fall at 1:02 to No. 1 Levi Haines at 157 pounds. Matthew Waddell was pinned by No. 14 Mitchell Mesenbrink at 1:24. Eric Shindel, who moved up weight to 174 pounds, lost by technical fall 19-3 to No. 1 Carter Starocci. Will Conlon was pinned by No. 2 Bernie Truax at 1:51 at 184 pounds. Nikolas Miller fell at 4:22 to No. 1 Aaron Brooks at 197 pounds.
The Pride dropped to 0-2 in dual meets while the Nittany Lions improved to 2-0. Hofstra will return to competition against Morgan State University and Bloomsburg University in a double dual on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 2 and 4 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics/Steve Manuel
