DATE: 11/25/2007 4:03:00 PM

Troy, NY

By Jim Sheehan
Hofstra Sports Information

Sophomore Lou Ruggirello led five Pride wrestlers with perfect 3-0 records, including a victory over the top-ranked grappler in the country, as #13 Hofstra captured two of three matches at the Journeymen/Brute Northeast Duals at Hudson Valley Community College Saturday.

The Pride defeated #25 Bloomsburg, 30-12, and Bucknell, 24-15, around a 20-16 loss to #3 Oklahoma State. Hofstra, which recorded its first dual match victories of the year, is now 2-3 on the young season.

Ruggirello, who entered the 14-team Northeast Duals, ranked fourth in the country at 133 pounds, posted two victories by fall, pinning Bloomsburg’s Jason Guffey in 1:26, and Bucknell’s 14th-ranked David Marble in 2:02, and edged #1 Coleman Scott from Oklahoma State, 3-2. Ruggirello (5-0) could be looking at the number one ranking in the country next week.

Hofstra seniors Dave Tomasette (4-1), at 125, Joe Rovelli (4-1), at 197, and junior Alton Lucas (5-0), at 174, joined Ruggirello with 3-0 marks with two major decisions each. Tomasette ranked eighth in the nation recorded majors over Bloomsburg’s 12th-ranked Mike Sees, 13-3, and Bucknell’s Jose Matos, 11-3. Rovelli posted major decisions over Oklahoma State’s Jared Shelton, 15-4, and Bucknell’s Sean LoCurto. Lucas, who is undefeated this season and ranked 16th in the nation, defeated OSU’s third-ranked Brandon Mason, 5-3 in sudden victory with a takedown just eight seconds into the overtime. Lucas also posted major decisions over Bloomsburg’s Nathan Graham, 15-4, and Bucknell’s Rob Waltko, 11-2.

Griffin, ranked fourth in the nation at 141, also went 3-0 in the Duals and posted a 7-5 decision over Oklahoma State’s second-ranked Nathan Morgan, to go with a 15-3 major win over Bloomsburg’s George Hickman. Hofstra's sole returning All-American is 4-1 on the season.

Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Tom Shifflet shook up the line-up a bit for the Duals, replacing sophomore transfer Jonny Bonilla-Bowman (0-2) with junior Anthony Tortora at 157 pounds, and freshman Jeff Siciliano (0-2) with classmate Justin Danz at 184. Tortora went 1-2 in the three matches with a 4-3 victory over Bucknell’s Ryan Ochalek, as did Danz with a 4-0 win over Bloomsburg’s Jesse Hasseman. Freshman Ryan Patrovich (2-3) also went 1-2 in the Duals with a win by fall over Bloomsburg’s Rickey Schmelyan in 2:57.

The Pride will head to Nevada next weekend for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational Friday and Saturday, November 30 and December 1.