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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. 10 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
157 - Sophomore James Strouse (Levittown, NY), last year’s starter and NCAA qualifier at 149, is bigger and stronger and is the favorite to win this position, left vacant by Paul Siemon’s change in weight class. Strouse was a CAA finalist and posted a 23-12 record last year. He will be challenged by sophomore Chris Vondruska (Bay Village, OH) for the starting spot. Vondruska was 15-11 overall and 5-1 in against CAA opponents last season, and won several big matches for the Pride last year. Between the two wrestlers, they posted an 11-1 record against conference opponents last season. Mike Patrovich 165 - Despite the graduation of three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time conference champion Ralph Everett, Hofstra is deep and talented and has many options at 165 pounds this season. The weight class features the return of 2003 NCAA qualifier junior Mike Patrovich (Bohemia, NY), junior Stefan Serie (Merrick, NY), and either Strouse or Vondruska. Patrovich posted a 28-11 record, finished second at the CAA Championships and earned a spot on the conference’s All-Rookie team in 2003. He returns after a medical red-shirt last season. Serie, who saw limited action last year and posted a 2-2 record, is strong and quick, and adds depth. 174 - The 174-pound weight class also took a hit with the graduation of four-time NCAA qualifier and two-time conference champ Noel Thompson. Senior Paul Siemon (Paramus, NJ), a two-time (2002 and 2004) NCAA qualifier and CAA finalist, moves up from the 157 pound weight class this season. Siemon posted a 28-10 record, despite missing a month of action, and looks Paul Siemon even stronger this year. Junior Billy Simons (Yonkers, NY), who saw limited action last year, will also add depth. Patrovich and Siemon could see time at both 165 and 174 at times this season. 184 - The graduation of last year’s starter Brad Christie, a two-time NCAA qualifier and CAA champion in 2003, has left the 184-pound weight class in the hands of two newcomers. Freshman Joe Rovelli (Wilkes-Barre, PA), a 2004 Pennsylvania state champion from E.L. Meyers High School, and junior college transfer Chris Weidman (Baldwin, NY), who earned All-American honors at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York, will both compete for mat time. 197 - Hofstra senior Chris Skretkowicz (Hamburg, NJ), after two All- American honors, will be looking to go out a national champion in this, his final season. The lanky, 6’5” three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time CAA champion, posted a 41-4 overall record and was a perfect 8-0 in CAA competition last year. His career record entering the 2004-05 season is 109-20. Red-shirt freshman Jordan Reid (Washington, D.C.) and Weidman will be in the wings if Skretkowicz needs a rest. HWT - There will be an interesting battle for the starting job at heavyweight in 2004-05 between junior Dan Garay (Rahway, NJ) and red-shirt freshman Gian Villante (Wantagh, NY). Both student-athletes are members of the Hofstra Football team, with Garay a starting defensive end and Villante a starting linebacker. Garay, last year’s starter, is a former scholastic All-American and New Jersey champion. Villante was an honorable mention All-American as a senior at MacArthur High School and also won a New York state championship in 2003, posting a 43-3 record in his last scholastic season. HOFSTRA PRIDE WRESTLING WRESTLING James Strouse Chris Skretkowicz 11
Page 3 and 4: 2004-2005 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY WRESTL
Page 5 and 6: Hofstra’s C.V. Starr Hall offers
Page 7 and 8: its first ECWA Championship since 1
Page 9 and 10: SUPPORT STAFF STAFF PETER CARIELLO
Page 11: 2004-05 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY WRESTLIN
Page 15 and 16: Dan Garay AMATEUR WRESTLING NEWS As
Page 17 and 18: JON MASA Junior 149 Long Beach, NY/
Page 19 and 20: JOHN MANARTE Sophomore 141 Farmingv
Page 21 and 22: PAUL SIEMON Senior 174 Paramus, NJ/
Page 23 and 24: DAN GARAY Junior Heavyweight Rahway
Page 25 and 26: DAVE TOMASETTE Freshman (RS) 125 Se
Page 27 and 28: STUART RABINOWITZ PRESIDENT OF HOFS
Page 29 and 30: DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JACK HAYES Ja
Page 31 and 32: 2004-05 ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT DIRECTO
Page 33 and 34: CAREER SERVICES Career planning is
Page 35 and 36: The history of athletics at Hofstra
Page 37 and 38: Long Island offers the best of both
Page 39 and 40: HOFSTRA WRESTLING ROOM Located in t
Page 41 and 42: OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY January 30,
Page 43 and 44: 2003-04 HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY WRESTLIN
Page 45 and 46: Paul Siemon (157) Score Won/Lost Op
Page 47 and 48: W 8-0 Jeff Foust (Missouri) NWCA Du
Page 49 and 50: 2004 CAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP REV
Page 51 and 52: Third Place #3 Joe Cristaldi-Drexel
Page 53 and 54: HOFSTRA WRESTLING RECORD BOOK NCAA
Page 55 and 56: THE HISTORY OF HOFSTRA WRESTLING Th
Page 57 and 58: NAME YEAR Abrams, Robert - Albert,
Page 59 and 60: Guy Truicko Passuello, Albert 1963
Page 61 and 62: 2004-05 HOFSTRA MEDIA INFORMATION T

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