Hofstra wrestling redshirt-senior Sage Heller is about to embark on his final season for the blue and gold. It will be his fifth year with the program. “I don’t think I could have asked for a better experience overall these past four years,” said Heller.
A large part of this experience has been a family connection. Sage’s brothers, Holden and Reece Heller, in their junior and sophomore years, respectively, have been a big part of Sage’s time at Hofstra. “I love having my brothers here,” Heller said. “It’s a good motivator to have that family energy. Having brothers on the team makes everyone closer.”
The 2019-20 season was a return of sorts for Heller. After a back injury early the season before, he returned to the mat and had his best season, going 21-8 and finishing ranked 30th in the country by WrestleStat. He credits his rehab as a reason for his career year. “It was a lot of core and back strengthening,” Heller said. “Doing that stuff really helped my wrestling overall and I had much better results.”
Headed into the season, Heller had a newfound confidence in himself and his abilities. “I just felt like it was my time and I knew when I stepped on the mat, I could compete with and beat everyone I wrestled,” Heller said. “I just wanted to wrestle fearless and attack nonstop and put myself in a position to win every match.” His mindset helped him win the team MVP award.
This year, Heller wants to focus on the little things in pursuit of his larger goals. “Obviously I want to be an All-American and National Champion in my last year here but I feel like it’s more important to focus on the little goals more,” he said. “I feel like that is something I didn’t do my first few years and that’s why I didn’t make as many gains and get better.” Heller hopes he can build on these goals to push him to the top of the mountain. “Those things are more important than my end goal in my mind because focusing on those is what’s going to get me to the end goal,” Heller said.
Apart from competing at Hofstra, Heller participated in the 2017 Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, which is open to Jewish athletes around the world. “That was a really cool experience,” he said. “I got to be with a whole different group of guys, a whole different dynamic halfway across the world.” He won a bronze medal that year and hopes to return after completing his career with the Pride. “The next one is next year,” Heller said. “It will be my retirement party.”
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics