With the official start of wrestling season on Sunday, Nov. 7, the Pride gears up to compete in the Clarion Open in Clarion, Pennsylvania.
Bloomsburg University, University at Buffalo, Clarion University, Hofstra University, Kent State University, Lock Haven University, University of Maryland, U.S. Naval Academy, University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University are the ten teams expected to wrestle on nine mats inside Tippin Gym. Pittsburgh is ranked No. 15 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll, while the Naval Academy received 18 votes and West Virginia and Hofstra are in the poll’s receiving votes category with one.
Coach of eight years Dennis Papadatos reflects on the past two seasons and his expectations for the 2021-22 season. His overall goal is growth and health. “I don’t like expectations, it’s early … I’m hoping that we’re healthy,” Papadatos said. “My expectations are to, you know, keep progressing as we have over the last few years, to be better again and make sure we have our lineup the way we want it. So it’s kind of … hard to say what expectations are. So we had a good year two years ago, we had a good year last year and I expect to have a good year, if not better. To quantify it is difficult. It’s just so early, and we’re competing this weekend, and we still have some guys out. So I have just been more focused on developing some of the new guys [and] getting some of the guys that have been around, you know, for a long time, just making sure they feel good and are healthy because they’ve been through the grind so much.”
Papadatos felt confident enough to leave it up to the team to decide as far as captains go. According to Papadatos, the criteria to keep in mind while making this decision were “who do you want leading you?” and “who do you want representing you as a Hofstra Wrestler?”
“I feel like over the last two years, we’ve changed, you know, the culture of our program, and I trust our guys, and I trust the guys that we brought in,” Papadatos said. “If the guys want those guys to lead them, then I’m going to let their voice[s] carry through.”
When it comes to the competition, coming out victorious won’t always be the easiest with teams such as Arizona State University, Virginia Tech, Penn State University, Cornell University, University of Northern Iowa, Rutgers University and University of Wisconsin on the schedule, which are all top 15 programs. Although these schools are competing at such a high level, so is Hofstra, with seven NCAA qualifiers from last season, “We [have] got a little bit of a target on our back, right now,” Papadatos said. “We haven’t wrestled with the target back on our backs in a while, so I’m hoping the guys respond well. The competition will have no choice but to keep Hofstra on their radar.”
Coach Papadatos remains optimistic for this season, especially with eight newcomers, seven first-year students and one transfer, bringing depth and competitiveness to the team.
The next matchup will be in Manheim, Pennsylvania, for the Journeymen Northeast Classic on Sunday, Nov. 14. Then, for their first home matchup, the Pride will take on Bucknell University on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex. Fans can also follow along on the Hofstra Athletics website.
Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics
