NCAA WRESTLING

Hofstra's Skretkowicz CAA Wrestler of the Year

Rider's Stinson Rookie of Year, Hofstra's Ryan Coach of the Year

Chris Skretkowicz of Hofstra University was named the Colonial Athletic Association Wrestler of the Year, and Hofstra Head Coach Tom Ryan was named the CAA Coach of the Year. Rider University freshman Bobby Stinson was named the CAA Rookie of the Year.

Skretkowicz, a sophomore from Hamburg, NJ, won his first three bouts at Nationals and went on to place sixth in the 197 pound weight class to earn All-America honors. Skretkowicz was a Freshman All-American last year, and was the CAA Champion this season. Skretkowicz finished his sophomore season with an overall record of 37-7, including 18-2 in duals.

Stinson, of Berlin, NJ, was the third seed at 125 pounds at the CAA Championships but upset the second seed in the semi-finals, and beat the fourth seed 8-2 in the finals to make his first trip to Nationals as a CAA Champion. Stinson won his first bout at Nationals, before losing to the second seed and again in the consolations. Stinson finished his rookie season with a record of 28-11, including 12-5 in dual meets.

Last year Ryan was the 2002 CAA Co-Coach of the Year. This year he led Hofstra to its second CAA title in as many years in the conference with six individual champions.

2003 NCAA WRESTLING SEMIFINALS

Attendance at Kemper Arena:

Kansas, City, MO Hofstra’s Chris Skretkowicz (Hamburg, NJ) lost to Jon Trenge of Lehigh in the semifinals in front of a crowd of 15,818. Skretkowicz will wrestle for third place at the NCAA Wrestling Championships on Saturday, March 22 at Kemper Arena. All-American’s Skretkowicz and Jon Masa are the only Hofstra wrestlers left in the competition.

In the semifinals of the 197-pound weight class, 4th seeded Skretkowicz from Hofstra was defeated by top seeded Trenge 5-3. Trenge got on the board first with a takedown in the first. Skretkowicz escaped and was taken down again by Trenge but escaped before the whistle ending the first period 4-2. After a scoreless second, Skretkowicz brought the score to within one (4-3) after starting from the bottom position and escaping but could not tally a takedown to win and move on to the NCAA Wrestling Finals. Trenge accumulated 1:27 of riding time ending the match score at 5-3. Skretkowicz will wrestle for third place against 2nd seeded Lawal Muhammed of Oklahoma State.

CONSOLATION QUARTERFINALS:

In the consolation quarters, Ohio’s Jake Percival defeated Masa by a score of 9-7. Percival got on the board first with a takedown and rode Masa for 2:23 before Masa score a reversal and a near fall taking a 4-2 lead at the end of the first. Percival took a 5-4 lead in the second tallying an escape and takedown. In the third, Masa came back with an escape and a takedown almost gaining control as time expired but Percival held strong winning 9-7 adding an extra point for 3:55 of riding time.

FOURTH ROUND OF CONSOLATIONS:

In the fourth round of consolations, Masa proved to be victorious being named All-American in 2003. However, junior’s Noel Thompson and Ralph Everett fell short as they were knocked out of contention from gaining All-American status and a chance for a top eight finish.

At 149 lbs. Hofstra’s sophomore Jon Masa defeated Karl Nadolsky of Michigan State by a score of 12-5. Masa took an early lead in the first with a takedown and added three more points with another takedown and an illegal hold against Nadolsky for a 5-3 lead to end the second period. In the third, Nadolsky was called for his second illegal hold, while Masa broke the scoring open with a nearfall, takedown and three escapes to earn All-American status and advance to the

Hofstra’s junior Noel Thompson at 165 lbs. fell short to Missouri’s Tyron Woodley, 4-2 as Woodley came back in the third after trailing Thompson 1-0 after the second period. Woodley recorded an escape from the bottom position and a takedown in the third and added his fourth point with 1:19 of riding time knocking Thompson from All-American status.

At 174 lbs. Hofstra’s Ralph Everett could not hold on to Arizona State’s Curtis Owen in the final five seconds in the third as Owen pulled out the 5-3 victory. Everett trailed Owen 4-3 after the second period but took a 5-4 lead in the third with a takedown with just 15 seconds remaining in regulation, however Owen escaped Everett’s hold to win 6-5, earning All-American status.

Skretkowicz and Masa will wrestle for third place and seventh place respectively, Saturday morning at 8 a.m. at Kemper Arena.

Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Phone (516) 463-4933

E-mail - stephen.gorchov@hofstra.edu

EVERETT'S UPSET OVER NUMBER ONE SEED HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST SESSION OF COMPETITION AT NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

KANSAS, CITY, Missouri – With eight national qualifiers, the Hofstra Wrestling team began competition at the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on Thursday morning at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. Hofstra went 2-5 in their opening matches, but the biggest news of the tournament came from Hofstra's own Ralph Everett. Everett took the number one ranked wrestler at 174 to a second overtime before pulling the huge upset and defeating Chris Jones of West Virginia, 3-2 in a tiebreaker.

After a scoreless first round, Everett tallied the first point of the bout after taking the bottom position to start the second period. Everett entered the third period with a 1-0 lead, but Jones quickly tied the match at one after escaping Everett’s hold. Each wrestler gained another point in the third period, sending the match into sudden victory overtime tied at two. With no points scored in the first overtime, Jones and Everett brought the match into tiebreaker overtime where Everett chose down. With 15 seconds remaining in second overtime, Everett broke free of Jones' grip and upset the top ranked wrestler at the 174 pound weight class.

Jones, who was the defending NCAA Champion, was undefeated in his career at West Virginia with a school record 46 consecutive matches without a loss and was a perfect 28-0 this season heading into the NCAA Tournament. In addition, Jones entered the match with a 2-0 record in overtime bouts.

Everett, who was not seeded in the top 12 of his weight class at the NCAA's, improves his record to 34-7 and will face Matt Erwin of Virginia Military Institute in the second round. Everett defeated Erwin, 5-3, at the Midlands tournament early this season.

Number four seeded Chris Skretkowicz won his bout at 197-pounds with a 14-3 victory over Ryan Cummins of Penn State. Sketkowicz accumlated 5:38 of riding time and had three takedowns, two two-point near falls, two escapes and a reversal as he cruised past Cummins. Skretkowicz will take on David Schenk of Cal Poly in the second round.

Seventh seeded 149-pounder Jon Masa received a first round bye and he will take on 10th seeded Dustin Manotti of Cornell in the next round. Moving to the losers brackets for the Pride are Pat Flynn at 125 lbs., Ricky LaForge at 133 lbs., Mike Patrovich at 157 lbs., Noel Thompson at 165 lbs. and Brad Christie at 174 lbs.

In the first round of 125-pound weight class, Flynn took on the 11th seed and 2002 All American, Chris Rodriguez of North Carolina. Rodriguez had a 5-1 lead going into the third period. Flynn chose down and escaped to bring the score to 5-2 in favor of the Rodriguez. Flynn then tallied a takedown bringing the score to within one, at 5-3, but fell short and dropped his opening match 6-4. Flynn will take on Adam Smith of Penn State in the wrestle back preliminaries.

At 133-pounds, 10th-seeded LaForge took on Sam Hiatt of Northern Illinois. LaForge came out strong in the first period, scoring a takedown right after the whistle before allowing Hiatt to escape. After a scoreless second period, LaForge chose down to start the third and escaped to add to his lead. Hiatt then took down LaForge tying the match at three, but LaForge took a 4-3 lead with an escape. Another takedown by Hiatt and an escape by LaForge left the match tied at five, sending it into sudden victory overtime where Hiatt tallied his third takedown of the bout to win 7-5. LaForge will face the winner of Bernard Gardner of Army and Jesse Brock of Boise State in the preliminaries.

At 157 lbs., Patrovich had a tough match-up as he faced third-seeded and 2002 All American Shane Roller from Oklahoma State. Roller led 3-0 heading into the third period when he broke the scoring open to finish the match with a 12-2 major decision. Patrovich will face Labe Black of Buffalo tonight in the preliminary rounds.

At the 165-pound weight class, eighth-seeded Thompson matched up against Frank Edwards of Navy. Thompson came out strong recording the first takedown of the bout. Edwards would later escape, bringing the match score to 2-1 in favor of Thompson. After a scoreless second period, Edwards tied the match at two after escaping from the bottom position in the third. With the score tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation, Thompson was taken down in sudden victory overtime by Edwards, ending the match at 4-2. Thompson will face Mike Kulczycki of Michigan in the preliminaries.

At 184 lbs., Christie was pitted against Alex Clemsen of Edinboro in the first round. Clemsen got on the board first in the second period after choosing the bottom position and escaping. To start the third, Christie choose down but could not escape and Clemsen accumulated 1:55 of riding time for a 2-0 win. Christie will take on Clint Wattenburg of Cornell tonight in the wrestle backs.

The second round competition will begin at 6:30 p.m. After second round is completed the wrestle back preliminaries will follow.