For Immediate Release
January 11, 2005
Contact: Jim Sheehan
(516) 463-6764PRIDE MOVE UP TO NUMBER SEVEN IN THIS WEEK'S USA TODAY/NWCA
POLL
HEMPSTEAD, New York - The Hofstra Pride moved up one spot in this week's USA
Today/NWCA NCAA Division I Wrestling Poll, announced this evening. The Pride,
who are now ranked seventh in the nation, have posted the second highest
wrestling ranking in school history. Hofstra was ranked fourth in a preseason
poll in 2003-04.
The Pride, following their 43-6 victory over Sacred Heart on Sunday, are now
4-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Hofstra will
face two Top 25 teams this weekend when the 23rd-ranked Black Knights of Army
visit Hofstra Arena Saturday evening at 5 p.m. before traveling down to
Philadelphia on Sunday (January 16) for a match against the 22nd-ranked Quakers
of Pennsylvania at 1 p.m.
Individually, six Hofstra wrestlers are ranked in the Top 20 in their
respective weight classes. Senior Chris Skretkowicz (Hamburg, NJ) remains ranked
second in the country at 197 pounds. Skretkowicz is now 14-1 on the season.
Junior Jon Masa (Long Beach, NY) also holds steady at number five at 149 pounds
this week. Masa is 10-4 on the season. Senior Ricky LaForge (Pompton Lakes, NJ)
moved up one spot to number six at 141 pounds this week. LaForge is 14-3 on the
season.
Three other Hofstra wrestlers, despite wins in their only outings last week,
slipped one position in their respective rankings. Senior Paul Siemon (Paramus,
NJ), who is now 13-3 on the year, slipped to number 10 at 174 pounds. Junior
Mike Patrovich (Bohemia, NY), who is now 3-0 on the year, fell from 13 to 14
this week at 165 pounds. Freshman Charles Griffin (Reading, PA) slipped one spot
to 17th at 133 pounds despite a 13-2 record.
