Following a weekend in which Hofstra was soundly defeated by both Rutgers and Wisconsin at the Garden State Grapple, the Pride successfully took down both Duke University and American University in a tri meet on Sunday, Dec. 5. Hofstra took both matches and evened their record at 2-2 in the process.
Hofstra’s first saw them take on Duke University, and unlike their matches against Rutgers and Wisconsin, Hofstra wasted little time taking control of the contest. Hofstra senior and No. 26 ranked 184 pounder Charles Small put Hofstra on the board first with a 4-3 victory over the Blue Devil’s Vincent Baker.
Junior and No. 28 ranked 197 pounder Trey Rogers followed up Small’s victory with a 7-4 victory of his own over Kaden Russell, and redshirt senior and No. 20 ranked 285 pounder Zachary Knighton-Ward made it three for three for the Pride’s ranked wrestlers as he pinned Duke’s Jonah Niesenbaum. Small, Rogers and Knighton-Ward’s victories gave Hofstra an early and commanding 12-0 lead over the Blue Devils.
Duke, however, did not go down quietly, and the Blue Devils took the following two matches. However, fueled off the victories of Justin Hoyle, Joe McGinty, as well as a forfeit victory by Ricky Stamm, Hofstra was able to hold off Duke and take their first match of the day and the season 25-19.
Hofstra’s match against American wasn’t just their second match of the day, it was also both sides first EIWA match of the season. Both teams had already defeated Duke earlier in the day, so Hofstra and American each wanted to make it two for two on the day.
Much like they did against the Blue Devils, Hofstra’s three ranked wrestlers built Hofstra an early lead with Small, Rogers and Knighton Ward each picking up victories over their American counterparts.
American would take the next two matches, but sophomore Justin Hoyle halted American’s attempted comeback with a major decision victory over American’s Ethan Szerencsits. McGinty, Stamm and McFarland would close out the match with three victories of their own, which gave the Pride a 27-13 victory, as well as a victory in their first EIWA match of the season.
With their two victories today, the Pride bring their record back to 2-2 on the season as well as 1-0 in league competition. Hofstra will look to take their second league match of the season when they travel to Rhode Island to take on Brown University on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Photo courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
