Reece Heller, Ricky Stamm and Sage Heller led the way for the Hofstra Pride wrestling team, all recording wins by fall to secure a 37-7 decision over Davidson College at the David. S. Mack Physical Education Center on Friday, Jan. 31.
The Pride split their first two matches with Hofstra’s Dylan Ryder winning his weight class at 125 pounds over Cian Fischer. This was followed by Kyle Gorant of Davidson getting the victory over the Pride’s Justin Hoyle to even the score after two matches at 1-1.
Hofstra won the next five consecutive matches, which started off with Vinny Vespa’s 7-0 decision over David Loniewski at the 141-pound weight class. Davidson did not receive a decision until the 184-pound weight class when Gavin Henry downed Charles Small, 11-4.
“Vinny [Vespa] had some adversity but battled through it and won it,” said Hofstra head coach Dennis Papadatos.
In the midst of the Pride run, Reece Heller secured his eighth win by fall this season with a pin on Will Baldwin at the 2:26 mark in the match. Holden Heller came on top with a 7-3 decision over Hunter Costa at 157 pounds. Stamm then collected his first pin of the season defeating Noah Satterfield at the 165-pound weight class in 1:46. The eldest brother, Sage Heller, was able to post a come from behind win when he turned Steven Newell on his back at the 3:55 mark in the 174-pound bout.
After Davidson forfeited the 197-pound match, in the 285-pound bout, Zachary Knighton-Ward finished his match with a 13-9 victory over Mitchell Trigg, which was Knighton-Ward’s third consecutive victory. “The happiest thing about today is that we actually had some adversity, and guys stayed tough with their belief and found way to win and win big in most of these cases,” Papadatos said.
The Pride will have a short turnaround and will hit the mat again Saturday, Feb. 1, when they take on Franklin & Marshall at 4:30 p.m., and then Columbia at 6 p.m. Both matches will be at home for the Pride.
“I believe we have seen our worst days, but we still have not seen our best days,” said Papadatos.
Image Courtesy of Adam Flash
