The Hofstra wrestling team headed to Tulsa, OK, from March 16-18 for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships. The Pride sent two wrestlers: Jacob Ferreira at 184 pounds, who qualified for the tournament with an at-large bid, and Trey Rogers at 197 pounds, who qualified after placing 5th at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) championships.
Both wrestlers lost their matches in the 1st championship round, before also losing again in the 1st consolation round.
No. 28 seed Ferreira faced 5 seed Marcus Coleman of Iowa State University. The first period was close, ending just 2-0in favor of Coleman. In the next two periods, Coleman proved dominant, winning 12-3 in a major decision win. Ferreira earned his 3 points through escapes.
In his next, match Ferreira took on No. 21 seed Giuseppe Hoose from University at Buffalo. Hoose beat Ferreira twice earlier in the season, 8-4 and again 4-3. This rematch was close, with the score tied 0-0 after the first period and 2-2 after the second. In the third period, Ferreira earned a takedown to put himself up 4-3, before Hoose quickly got a reversal to win 6-4.
Ferreira ended his season with a 22-13 record. Coleman ended the tournament in 6th place.
No. 29 seeded Rogers battled no. 4 seed Ethan Laird of Rider University. Rogers was taken down early in the first but earned an escape to end the first period 2-1. In the second frame, Laird and Rogers traded takedowns and escapes to make the score 6-4. The match ultimately ended 10-5 in favor of Laird. All of Rogers’s points were scored through escapes.
In his next match, Rogers faced no. 20-seeded Evan Bockman from Utah Valley University. Rogers was taken down quickly in the period before earning an escape and being taken down again. Hofstra coaches challenged the second takedown, claiming Bockman used an illegal hold. The referee’s call stayed and after another takedown and near-fall points, Rogers ended the period down 8-2. At the end of the second period, Bockman led 11-3. In the third stanza, Rogers wrestled until the end of the match, earning an escape and takedown before letting Bockman up to try for another takedown, ultimately losing 13-6.
Rogers ended his season with a 22-7 record. Laird ended the tournament in 6th place.
The tournament ended with Pennsylvania State University earning 137.5 team points, followed by the University of Iowa with 82.5 points, and Cornell University with 76.5 points. At 184 pounds Aaron Brooks won the championships for Penn State, earning his 3rd title. At 197 pounds University of Pittsburgh’s Nino Bonaccorsi won the championships.
Photo courtesy of Mark Moore/Darkhorse Photograph ©
