PRIDE CROWNED COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONS;
SIX HOFSTRA WRESTLERS WIN INDIVIDUAL TITLES
HEMPSTEAD, New York (March 8) ? The Hofstra University Wrestling team won their third straight conference championship with a convincing 59-point victory over Sacred Heart University on Friday and Saturday, March 7-8 in front of a crowd of 958 at Hofstra Arena. The Pride crowned six individual champions, while adding a second place finish and two third place finishes.
Hofstra was led by Co-Outstanding Wrestler Ricky LaForge (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Indian Hills), who 3-0 with two pins and a major decision. This will be LaForge's first appearance at the NCAA Championships. Returning to the Nationals for the third time will be Hofstra's 165-pounder Noel Thompson (Freeport, NY/Freeport), who joined LaForge with a perfect 3-0 mark. Thompson advanced to the NCAA's in 2000 and 2001 before redshirting last season with a shoulder injury. The Pride's 149-pounder Jon Masa (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach) had the most dominating effort at the championships as he pinned one opponent in 3:35 and outscored the other two 37-11.
Also advancing to the NCAA Championships from the Pride lineup were: 174-pounder Ralph Everett (Miami, FL/Southridge), 184-pounder Brad Christie (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) and 197-pounder Chris Skretkowicz (Hamburg, NJ/Wallkill Valley Regional). Everett, who won three decisions in the championships, will be making his second straight trip to the Nationals after earning a wildcard last season. Christie will make his first appearance at the NCAA's in his first season on the Pride roster after winning the most exciting bout of the finals. Christie rode out his opponent in the second overtime tiebreaker, after finishing the first four period tied at one. Skretkowicz, Hofstra's highest ranked individual wrestler at number four nationally, had a technical fall in his opening match, added a fall in the semifinals before escaping with a 4-3 decision in the championship bout. Skretkowicz earned the winning point after accumulating over two minutes of riding time in the match.
The Pride added two additional NCAA qualifiers as 125-pounder Pat Flynn (Wheatley Heights, NY/Huntington) earned a wildcard after falling in the semifinals and 157-pounder Mike Patrovich (Bohemia, NY/Islip) qualified as a result of finishing second in his weight class.
Hofstra's eight NCAA qualifiers will now move on the Nationals, which will be held March 20-22 in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Complete Championship Bout Recaps FOLLOW -
FINALS:
125 - Bobby Stinson (Rider) vs. Aaron Suranosky (George Mason)
At the 125-pound bout, third ranked Bobby Stinson of Rider began the match with a takedown in the first period against George Mason?s fourth ranked Aaron Suranosky. In the second period, Stinson chose bottom after the coin flip and escaped to bring the bout score to 3-1. Stinson took down Suranosky and after almost pinning him, Suranosky escaped bringing the score to 8-2 in favor of the Broncs. The third period started slow as both grapplers pushed one another out-of-bounds twice before Stinson was poked in the eye and charged for injury time. The third period ended without either wrestler registering a point, closing the match at 8-2 and making Rider?s Bobby Stinson the 125 lbs. CAA Champion.
133 - Ricky LaForge (Hofstra) vs. Joe Cristaldi (Drexel)
During the 133-pound bout, Hofstra?s top-seeded Ricky LaForge took down second ranked and last year's runner-up, Joe Cristaldi of Drexel and held him down for 30 seconds of riding time before Cristaldi had to take injury time. Cristaldi chose down after the injury time and LaForge next captured a two point near fall. Cristaldi scored two points and LaForge quickly reversed his hold bring the score to 6-3 in favor of LaForge going into the second period. LaForge chose down to start the second period, recorded a reversal and two back points before he let Cristaldi escape bringing the match score to 10-4. LaForge added a takedown before the second period ended. With a 1:15 into the third, LaForge captured his third takedown of the match, which was enough to win the 133 lbs. bout, 15-5 as LaForge had a 2:44 of riding time and Cristaldi had a escape in the closing moments.
141 - Mike Messina (Sacred Heart) vs. Josh Ruff (Binghamton)
During the 141-pound match, top seeded Mike Messina of Sacred Heart matched up against the second ranked Josh Ruff of Binghamton. After a scoreless 2:15, Messina captured a reversal but then released his hold bringing the score to 2-1 in favor of the Pioneers. Messina chose down to begin the second round and quickly escaped in four seconds giving him a two-point advantage. Messina then had a takedown and a near fall almost pinning Ruff. Ruff escaped bringing the score to 8-2 in favor of Messina to finish the second period. In the third period, Ruff chose the bottom position and escaped for one point. Both grapplers had leg holds but could not capitalize off of them before ending the match in a 8-3 decision, making Messina the CAA 141 lbs. bout champion.
149 - Jon Masa (Hofstra) vs. Jason Holder (Boston U.)
At the 149-pound match, Hofstra?s top seeded Jon Masa scored a takedown 54 seconds into the first period over Boston?s Jason Holder. Holder chose the bottom position after going out-of-bounds and escaped Masa?s grip, bringing the match score to within one (2-1). In the final 25 seconds of the first period, Masa had another takedown bringing the score to 4-1 to end the first. Holder chose down to start the second period, tallying three back points to add to his advantage (7-2). Holder escaped after choosing down and was called for stalling before the period ended. Masa was in the bottom position to start the third and escaped for another point. Masa took down Holder at the 5:55 mark and recorded three points for a near fall and two points on a final takedown, extending his advantage to 15-4, finalizing the score at 16-5 with riding time and a late escape from Holder.
157 - Mike Patrovich (Hofstra) vs. Derek Jenkins (Rider)
At the 157-pound bout, top seeded Mike Patrovich of Hofstra, ranked 10th in the nation faced second seeded, defending CAA Champion, Derek Jenkins of Rider, ranked 11th in the nation. In the first ten seconds of the match, Patrovich grabbed hold of Jenkin?s leg, almost taking him down with 52 seconds on the clock, but both grapplers were called for stalemate before any points were scored. After a scoreless first period, Jenkin?s chose down in the second and escaped to take a one point lead, 1-0. From the bottom position, Patrovich escaped at 5:30, to tie the match. Patrovich saved himself from a takedown in the third, by going out of the circle with under a minute remaining. In sudden victory overtime, Jenkins took down Patrovich to win the 157 lbs. CAA Championship.
165 - Noel Thompson (Hofstra) vs. Leighton Brady (Boston U.)
At the 165-lbs. bout, Thompson tallied a takedown two minutes into the first before going out of bounds with Brady. Both wrestlers were called back to the middle after going out of bounds five times and each recording two cautions. Hofstra chose the down position to start the second period, where the only change in score came on an escape by Thompson. Brady was down to start the third and after going out of bounds four times, Thompson was called for stalling as he was pushing Brady out. A change finally came in the third as Thompson let Brady escape from the starting position with a 1:05 remaining in the third. With a 1:53 of riding time, Thompson captured the 165 lbs. weight class with a score of 4-1.
174 - Ralph Everett (Hofstra) vs. Seth Cameron (James Madison)
At the 174-pound weight class, Hofstra?s Ralph Everett took an early lead with a takedown over second seeded, defending CAA Champion, Seth Cameron of James Madison. Cameron scored one point on an escape and Everett returned the favor with another leg hold that secured a takedown bringing the score 4-1 at the end of the first period. From the bottom position, Everett quickly escaped to make the score 5-1. Everett tallied his third takedown of the match at the 3:50 mark. Cameron escaped for one point bring the score 7-2 going into the third period. Cameron tallied his third point on an escape from the bottom position. From a takedown, Everett locked Cameron on his back for a three point near fall extending his lead to 12-3. The final point of the match was scored when Cameron escaped Everett?s grip finalizing the match score at 13-4 including an extra point for riding time. Everett is going to the NCAA?s for the second year in a row.
184 - Ed Strauss (Boston U.) vs. Brad Christie (Hofstra)
At the 184-pound bout, second seeded Ed Strauss of Boston U. started the match with an apparent knee injury. Hofstra?s top seeded Brad Christie scored the first points of the bout as he escaped after starting down in the second period. Christie led going into the final period 1-0 but Strauss tied the match after escaping from the bottom position. After a scoreless remainder of regulation time, the match went into sudden victory when Strauss almost took down his opponent but Christie pulled out of bounds. Strauss was called for a false start with eight seconds left. Christie held on for the tiebreaker victory to become the CAA 184 lbs. Champion.
197 - Chris Skretkowicz (Hofstra) vs. Anthony Reynolds (Sacred Heart)
At the 197-pound bout, top seeded Chris Skretkowicz of Hofstra, ranked fourth in the country matched up against second seeded Anthony Reynolds of Sacred Heart, ranked sixth in the nation. Skretkowicz, who is 2-0 against Reynolds this season, started the match off with a two-point takedown. In the first period alone, Skretkowicz had 1:32 of riding time. Skretkowicz deferred the choice and Reynolds chose down in the second period, where Skrektowicz accumulated another minute-plus of riding time. Reynolds scored a two-point reversal bringing the match score to 3-2 in favor of Reynolds heading into the third period. Skretkowicz escaped from the bottom position tying the match at 3-3. With 2:07 of riding time, Skretkowicz captured the 197 lbs. CAA title.
HWT - Mike Carroll (Drexel) vs. Carmelo Marrero (Rider)
In the final bout of the CAA Championships, heavyweight top seed from Drexel, Mike Carroll, was matched up against second seeded Carmelo Marrero of Rider to determine the last champion. Carroll scored a takedown 1:30 into the first and Marrero came back with an escape to end the first period 2-1. Carroll accumulated 2:35 minutes of riding time with no scoring in the second period, sending the match into the third. Carroll escaped from the bottom position adding to his lead (3-1). With 2:16 of riding time, defending CAA Champion Carroll defended his title, winning the heavyweight bout.
