Wrestling layout 04-05 - Home Page Content Goes Here

With seven NCAA qualifiers from the past two seasons returning this
year, including two All-Americans, the Hofstra University wrestling team
is looking to win its fifth consecutive conference championship and
break into the Top 10 at the NCAA championships in St. Louis, Missouri,
in March.
The Pride, who posted a 15-5 dual match record last season, including
an 8-0 conference dual mark that extended one of the longest
conference undefeated streaks to 35 matches, graduated four NCAA
qualifiers at the end of last season. Those losses were three-time
qualifier Tom Noto at 125, two-time honorable mention All-American
Ralph Everett at 165, four-time NCAA qualifier and two-time conference
champion Noel Thompson at 174, and two-time NCAA qualifier Brad
Christie at 184.
But Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Tom Ryan has the cupboard far from
empty with the return of two-time All-American, senior Chris
Skretkowicz at 197 pounds, 2003 All-American, junior Jon Masa, who
returns after an Olympic red-shirt year, and a total of seven NCAA
qualifiers. “We want to focus on the preparation required to be
successful at this level,” Ryan says. “This team has plenty of talent and
will be guided by our two returning All-Americans Chris Skretkowicz and
Jon Masa. We have a few weight classes that need to be filled. The 174
and 184 pound classes are question marks for us. We will be young but
talented at 125 and 133. Our talent, however, guarantees us nothing. We
will take one day and one match at a time.”
The Pride will boast one of its most difficult dual match schedules in
school history in 2004-05. Hofstra will square off against the top three
teams in the preseason polls in defending national champions Oklahoma
State in February, second ranked Lehigh right after Thanksgiving, and
number three Nebraska to open the season, as well as nationally ranked
Cornell, Pennsylvania and Rider. In addition, the Pride will wrestle in the
Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in December, which features many of
the top programs in the country, and the NWCA/Cliff Keen National
Duals in Cleveland in January, where they placed sixth last year. “These
events allow us the challenges necessary to compete and win at the
National Championship,” Ryan said.
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Jon Masa
2004-05 HOFSTRA WRESTLING PREVIEW
WEIGHT CLASS BREAK DOWN:
125 - At 125 pounds Dave Tomasette (Sewell, NJ), a high school
standout at Washington Township, New Jersey, looks to make his mark
after red-shirting during the 2003-04 season. Tomasette won a New
Jersey state title and finished second at the High School Nationals as a
senior. He will be challenged by true freshman standout Bryan Nunziato
(East Rutherford, NJ) from Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey.
Nunziato was a four-time all-state wrestler and a Cadet National
Champion.
133 - Freshman Charles Griffin (Reading, PA), the 2003 Outstanding
Wrestler in Pennsylvania, is expected to get the starting nod at 133
pounds this season. Griffin ended his scholastic career at Reading High
School with a dominant performance while earning the title at the High
School Nationals. Griffin could be challenged by the odd man out at 141
pounds, who would have to drop down a class.
Ricky LaForge
141 - The 141-pound weight class has two NCAA qualifiers battling for
the starting job. Returning starter sophomore John Manarte
(Farmingville, NY), a 2004 NCAA qualifier and CAA finalist at 141
pounds last season, will be challenged by senior Ricky LaForge
(Pompton Lakes, NJ), a 2003 NCAA qualifier and CAA Champion, who
moves up from 133 pounds. Manarte posted a 24-20 record in 2003-04.
LaForge, the 2003 CAA Championship Co-Outstanding Wrestler Award
winner, posted a 10-7 last year before missing the last two months of
the season. Both of these athletes have great skills. The odd man out
here may drop a weight class to challenge Griffin at 133 pounds.
149 - After an All-American season in 2003 and an Olympic red-shirt
year last season, Jon Masa (Long Beach, NY) returns to Hofstra and
will look to bring home an NCAA Championship. He recorded a 27-8
record, won the CAA championship at 141 pounds and earned freshman
All-American honors as a newcomer in 2001-02. Masa’s sophomore
season saw him post a 38-7 record, win the CAA title at 149 pounds and
earn All-American honors at 149 pounds in 2002-03. Many experts
believed his next step would be national champion. He gained valuable
experience last year with the national team of Puerto Rico in preparation
for the Olympic Games in Athens. He placed 13th in the World
Championships last year and is ready to return to the All-American
podium and possibly the top of the victory stand. Sophomore Doug
Thomas (Bedford, OH) will add depth and back up Masa.
OFSTRA PRIDE WRESTLING