"It was important to get a win in Grace Hall," Santoro said. "It's the first match of the year and I thought we were a little tentative going out. Nerves got the better of a few guys. Nate (Brown) did a great job and Marshall (Peppelman) came out with a lot of energy. Overall our upperweights did an outstanding job, but we have to get better for Sunday. We have to get better next week. We learned a lot about our guys tonight, we just have to continue to move forward from here."
Hofstra (1-1) benefitted from the luck of the draw sending out its two top wrestlers in the first two bouts. At 141, Jamel Hudson spoiled Randy Cruz's return from a deferred year, collecting seven takedowns in a 15-8 decision. A late escape from Cruz helped avoid the major decision.
Freshman Drew Longo then made his varsity debut against Cody Ruggirello at 149. Longo actually scored the opening takedown on a counter move but Ruggirello answered with a takedown and a two point near fall before putting Longo on his back and securing the fall at the 2:42 mark.
Down 9-0, freshman Dylan Milonas made his debut at 157 against Jahlani Callender. Milonas scored early in the first period but in the third period was penalized for locked hands and then gave up a reversal. He was able to escape to tie the bout at four and a 1:54 riding time advantage was enough to earn the 5-4 victory that put Lehigh on the board.
Both of Lehigh's graduate students followed with wins by decision to tie the match at nine heading into intermission. At 165 Santiago Martinez scored takedowns in the first and third periods to defeat Nick Terdick 5-2. At 174 Marshall Peppelman scored an early takedown against Frank Affronti had to rely on a 2:46 riding time advantage to win 3-2.
Brown came out strong in his first official bout since returning from his deferred year, collecting three takedowns and a pair of three point near falls to lead 12-2 after one. In the second period, Brown collected an early takedown and turned John for three near fall, ending the match in 4:30 with a 17-2 victory.
"He's having fun," Santoro said of Brown. "He's not trying to win or lose, he's just trying to wrestle. That's what you have to do. You go out and train so hard all summer, you train all year round and to hold yourself back isn't fair to yourself. Nate has just learned to let it go and have fun. He's fun to watch."
Bolich scored nine seconds into his match with Michael Oxley at 197 and would work from the top position for most of the remainder of the match. He turned Oxley for a quick two point near fall to lead 4-0 after one. Bolich added a second period reversal and an escape and two takedowns in the third. That scoring, plus 5:28 worth of riding time gave Bolich a 12-1 major decision.
"We have two good 197 pounders and we're happy with both of them," Santoro said. "John went out there and was aggressive from start to finish. I thought he was going to get a pin there but he did a great job."
Neither sophomore heavyweight Doug Vollaro nor Hofstra's Mike Hughes showed much offense through seven minutes of regulation, but Vollaro struck for a takedown 11 seconds into overtime to win 3-1.
Freshman Scott Parker was the fifth and final Mountain Hawk to make his Grace Hall debut, taking on Travis Passaro at 125. Parker scored a takedown at the very end of the first period and added 1:04 of riding time to win 3-1.
In the final bout of the night junior Mason Beckman defeated Maverick Passaro 6-3 at 133. Beckman scored takedowns in each of the first two periods but had to work hard on bottom in the third after conceding a takedown.
The Mountain Hawks head to No. 5-ranked and four-time defending National Champion Penn State Sunday afternoon in the 103rd meeting between the longtime Eastern rivals. The match is set for a 2 p.m. start from Rec Hall with Audio coverage on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as ESPNLV.com beginning at 1:45.
Results:
141 – Jamel Hudson (Hofstra) dec. Randy Cruz (Lehigh) 15-8
149 – Cody Ruggirello (Hofstra) Fall Drew Longo (Lehigh) 2:42
157 – Dylan Milonas (Lehigh) dec. Jahlani Callender (Hofstra) 5-4
165 – Santiago Martinez (Lehigh) dec. Nick Terdick (Hofstra) 5-2
174 – Marshall Peppelman (Lehigh) dec. Frank Affronti (Hofstra) 3-2
184 – Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh) tech fall Jermaine John (Hofstra) 17-2, 4:30
197 – John Bolich (Lehigh) major dec. Michael Oxley (Hofstra) 12-1
285 – Doug Vollaro (Lehigh) dec. Mike Hughes (Hofstra) 3-1, s.v.
125 – Scott Parker (Lehigh) dec. Travis Passaro (Hofstra) 3-1
133 – Mason Beckman (Lehigh) dec. Maverick Passaro (Hofstra) 6-3
Attendance – 1,220
Referee – Gary Kessel
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