LAS VEGAS, NV – The Hofstra wrestling team was eliminated on day one of the 2019 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Friday, December 6. Although it was an early exit for the Pride, they faced some tough competition. Over 100 ranked wrestlers and 16 top 25 teams were in attendance, including No. 3 University of Nebraska, No. 4 NC State University and No. 5 Ohio State University.

This was Hofstra’s second consecutive year at the Cliff-Keen Las Vegas Invitational. The event is one of the most competitive wrestling tournaments to take place in the entire country.

A highlight for the Pride was 174-pound junior Sage Heller. Heller went 2-2 in the tournament and was the last remaining member of the Pride to be eliminated from play after dropping an 18-0 tech fall decision to Minnesota University’s Devin Skatzka. Skatzka went on to lose to Nebraska’s Michael Labriola in the third-place match of the 174-pound weight class.

In addition to Sage Heller’s hard-fought performance for the Pride, four Hofstra wrestlers had 1-2 records in the tournament. They were 197-pound sophomore Trey Rogers, 285-pound sophomore Zachary Knighton-Ward, 141-pound junior Vinny Vespa and 149-pound freshman Reece Heller.

Reece is one of three Hellers on the Pride wrestling team. Brother to Sage and Reece Heller is Holden Heller. Holden is a 157-pound sophomore who saw his record for the season fall to 3-6 after going 0-2 in the tournament.

Despite having five wrestlers post 0-2 records, four with 1-2 records and one member of the team with two victories in Las Vegas, the Pride will look to bounce back Sunday, December 22, when they travel to Mountaineer country for the West Virginia Quad. The Pride will take on Edinboro University, VMI University and West Virginia University with hopes of turning their season around and gaining momentum. 

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics