Ten Hofstra University wrestlers competed in the Cliff-Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational starting on Friday, Nov. 30. The tournament featured top teams from around the country including No. 2 Ohio State University. Hofstra’s Dylan Ryder (125) was the only wrestler from Hofstra to advance to the second day of the tournament.

The tournament began with a bang for Ryder with an 8-7 win over Shane Metzler of Rutgers, the same wrestler who beat him previously in the season during the teams’ dual meet earlier in November. Ryder would lose his next match 12-5 against Oregon State wrestler Ronnie Bresser. Ryder then beat Josh Jensen of Utah State 12-5 and Nolan Hellickson of Harvard 12-1 in the consolation bracket to secure his spot in the second day of the tournament.

In his first match on Saturday, Dec. 1, Ryder lost 9-1 to Drew Mattin of Michigan University in a hard-fought battle between the two. Mattin scored two quick takedowns and a two-point near fall to jump to an early 6-1 lead in the first period. Ryder would escape the takedown, but Mattin would add another takedown during the second period to make the score 8-1. Ryder finished the tournament with a 3-2 record and was the only Pride wrestler to advance to the Saturday round of the tournament.

Sage Heller (174) posted a 3-2 record at the invitational. All of his wins and losses came by pins. Heller did not advance to the Saturday round of the tournament. His overall record this season is now 7-6.

Pride wrestlers Ricky Stamm (165), Trey Rogers (184), Nezar Haddad (197) and Omar Haddad (285) posted 1-2 records for the Friday session which was not enough to advance to the Saturday round. 

Trent Olson (133), Chris Mauriello (157), Garrett Lambert (141) and Ryan Burkert (149) went 0-3. They also did not advance to the Saturday round of the tournament.

The Pride finished No. 29 out of 42 teams at the Vegas Invitational. Ohio State would finish in first place to win the tournament. The tournament featured over 15 teams ranked in the top 25 of the nation.

The Pride return home Sunday, Dec. 9, to face University of Northern Colorado at 1 p.m. and then Virginia Military Institute at 3 p.m. After that, the Pride will take a month-long hiatus before traveling to Pennsylvania to face Bloomsburg University on Friday, Jan. 4.

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra Athletics