HOFSTRA ALL-AMERICAN MIKE PATROVICH RETURNING FOR 2006-07 SEASON


HEMPSTEAD, New York - Hofstra University 2006 All-American wrestler Mike Patrovich has been granted a medical hardship waiver by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and will wrestle for the Pride during the 2006-07 season, it was announced this week.

Patrovich, a native of Bohemia, New York, earned his first All-America honor last March by placing fourth at 174 pounds at the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City. He advanced to the championship semifinals before losing to eventual national champion Ben Askren (Missouri). In the consolation semifinals, Patrovich defeated Penn's Matt Herrington 9-4 before dropping an 11-2 decision to Iowa's third-seeded Mark Perry in the third place match. He finished the 2005-06 season with a 34-5 record.

A three-time NCAA qualifier, Patrovich is a three-time CAA Championship finalist and a two-time champion, capturing titles at 165 pounds in 2005 and 174 pounds in 2006. He was also selected the 2006 Colonial Athletic Association Wrestler of the Year in a vote by conference coaches. Patrovich's CAA Wrestler of the Year award marks the fourth straight year that a Pride wrestler has been named the CAA Wrestler of the Year following Chris Skretkowicz in 2003 and 2004 and Jon Masa in 2005.

"I am fired up about returning to the Hofstra team this season," Patrovich said. "I am excited to be working with Coach (Tom) Shifflet and being part of a very talented team. I sincerely believe that we have a top 10 caliber team this year."

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Jim Sheehan
Associate Athletic Director for Communications
Hofstra University
516-463-6764 - Office
516-463-5033 - Fax
Jim.Sheehan@hofstra.edu