The Hofstra’s wrestling team was back in action this weekend on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Journeymen Collegiate Classic in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at Freedom High School, where the 15 wrestlers from Hofstra finished the competition with a total record of 26-20.
The Journeymen Classic also followed a round-robin style where wrestlers were divided into four-person teams for a competitive event. First, they engaged in one wrestling encounter, followed by three matches with no elimination. After the third session, the bout concluded either when there was a pin or time ran out.
With a 3-0 record in the 133-pound B pool, Chase Liardi won the championship title. The Ohio State transfer earned first place in the pool by defeating Army West Point’s Daniel Urochuck (6-3) and Jake Eckerlee from SUNY at Buffalo (7-1) in his round-robin matches in Pool A. Then, in the final, he defeated University of Pennsylvania’s (UPenn) Evan Mougalian, who had won Pool B, by a 5-4 decision.
After winning Pool B with a big decision over Harvard University’s Luke Rada (17-4) and a 3-1 sudden victory over UPenn’s Max Hale, graduate student Jacob Ferreira was crowned the 184-pound A Division winner after pinning Harvard’s Leo Tarantino at the 6:36 mark.
The third champion from Hofstra, Nikolas Miller, took first place in the 197-pound C Division. Miller won his matches in Pool B over Long Island University’s John Dusza (major decision, 15-6) and Lock Haven University’s Kaleb Snodgrass (fall, 6:34) to progress to the finals. Miller defeated Pitt-Dakota Johnstown’s Rodgers in the championship game 9-5.
With only four competitors in the 157-pound E Division, sophomore Eric Shindel finished second after 2-1 in pool matches. Shindel defeated Sacred Heart University’s Aaron Munford by a 4-3 decision and won by pin over Joey Cyr (Sacred Heart) at the 6:44 mark.
Hofstra captain Trey Rodgers took on Kyle Swartz (Army West Point), pinning him at the 6:59 mark. Rogers also faced UPenn’s Cole Urbas, winning by a 4-2 decision, and finished second in the 197-pound B Division, topping Pool B with a score of 2-0 before he forfeited his final match.
After starting his day strong with a tech fall over Benny Herrera (Sacred Heart), 19-4, sophomore Jacob Moon has to forfeit the match that would’ve landed him a third-place win due to a medical forfeit against Trevon Grey (Pitt Johnstown).
Like Moon, Zachary Knighton-Ward suffered two losses by decision to Oklahoma State’s Josh Heindselman and UPenn’s Ben Goldin. Fortunately, he came away with a decision win of 5-3 to North Carolina State University’s Tyrie Houghton. Knighton-Ward would have placed fifth but had to pull out due to a medial forfeit.
Honorable mention goes to captain Ross McFarland, who competed in 174B Pool A. McFarland placed third after defeating Michael Kistler (UPenn) 9-7 and won his final match against Arizona State’s Cael Valencia by a 2-0 decision.
Graduate student Brinton Simington earned his win in the 165C Pool A over Army West Point’s Joe Metz by a 4-3 decision landing him a third-place win.
While only having three place-winners, almost every wrestler for the Pride came out with at least one win.
Hofstra will resume their tournament-heavy schedule on Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Black Knight Invitational at Army West Point.
Photo courtesy of Mark Lundy/Lutte Lens Photography LLC
