Video Interview with Head Coach Jason Mester

BLOOMSBURG—The 22nd-ranked Bloomsburg University wrestling team rallied in the final two matches to score a 24-21 win over Hofstra University on Sunday afternoon at the Nelson Field House. Each team won five matches on the afternoon, but the Huskies had three wins by fall compared with two for the Pride, which proved to be the difference in the match.

The Huskies jumped out to a 12-0 lead after the first two weights with fourth-ranked Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) getting a pin in 2:00 at 197 pounds, while 14th-ranked Justin Grant (Easton/Easton) also followed with a pin in 4:00 to get stake Bloomsburg to the early cushion. The win for Perry was his 20th straight on the season and the 99th of his career.
 
Hofstra came back and won the next four matches to go on top 18-12 before Bloomsburg's Kevin Hartnett (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) scored a 9-4 win at 157 pounds to pull Bloomsburg to within 18-15. The 165-pound match featured two ranked wrestlers with 13th-ranked Joseph Booth winning 5-3 over 15th-ranked Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) making it 21-15 for the visitors.
 
At 174 pounds Bloomsburg's Mike Dessino (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) got a last second, first period pin to knot the score at 21 setting up a final showdown at 184 pounds. The pin was the 42nd of Dessino's career.
 
At 184 pounds Sam Shirey (Beaver Springs/Midd-West) scored a 5-3 win that gave the Huskies the victory. Shirey led 4-3 after two periods and started down in the third. He then worked an escape and then held off his opponent to get the win.
 
Bloomsburg, 5-5, will be back in action on Jan. 25 visiting EWL-rival Edinboro at 7 p.m.
 
 
Match Summary
#22 Bloomsburg 24, Hoftsra 21 (team ranking by Wrestling Report.com)
Match started at 197 pounds
 
197 : #4 Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) (BU) won by pin over Zeal McGrew (Hofstra) 2:01.
285 : #14 Justin Grant (Easton/Easton) (BU) won by pin over Michael Hughes (Hofstra) 4:00.
125 : Jamie Franco (Hofstra) won by decision over Sean Boylan (Seaville, NJ/St. Marks) (BU) 4-0.
133 : Jamel Hudson (Hofstra) won by decision over Nick Wilcox (Greene, NY/Greene Central) (BU) 9-4.
141 : #8 Luke Vaith (Hofstra) won by pin over Matt Rappo (Holland/Council Rock South) (BU) 3:53.
149 : Cody Ruggirello (Hofstra) won by pin over Derek Goodwin (Hamburg/Hamburg) (BU) 2:32.
157: Kevin Hartnett (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) (BU) won by decision over Jahlani Callender (Hofstra) 9-4.
165 : #13 Joseph Booth (Hofstra) won by decision over #15 Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) (BU) 5-3.
174 : Mike Dessino (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) (BU) won by pin over Frank Affronti (Hofstra) 3:00.
184 : Sam Shirey (Beaver Springs/Midd-West) (BU) won by decision over Victor Pozsonyi (Hofstra) 5-3.
 
Individual rankings by Amateur Wrestling News
 
 
Bloomsburg vs. Hofstra Match by Match Summary
 
197- #4 Richard Perry (Meriden, CT/Middletown) vs. Zeal McGrew
Tied up high early….Working from the edge back to the middle…Perry testing his patience…Out of bounds they reset…Perry attempts a shot and forces them out…After a reset Perry with a quick takedown and a finish for a pin at 2:00.
 
285- #14 Justin Grant (Easton/Easton) vs. Mike Hughes
Locked up at the shoulders testing patience…A mutual reset and another tie up…Grant attempts and forces them out…They reset…Both men trying desperately to out-muscle each other…Yet again they  reset after a whistle…End of 1 no score…Grant starts the 2nd on top…Grant maintains control off the restart…Grant overpowers Hughes with an arm bar for a pin at 4:00.
 
125- Sean Boylan (Seaville, NJ/St. Marks) vs. Jamie Franco
Deadlocked up high to start…Both men jousting for hand control…Franco has a leg for an early takedown and a 2-0 lead…Franco maintaining control in the dying seconds…Leads 2-0 after 1…Boylan starts on bottom in the 2nd…Franco controlling early in the 2nd…Still 2-0 halfway through the period…Score remains 2-0 to start the 3rd...Boylan on top…Franco gains a quick escape for a 3-0 lead...Locked up high once again...Franco not giving an inch...Holds on for 4-0 win.
 
133- Nick Wilcox (Greene, NY/Greene Central) vs. Jamel Hudson
Both wrestlers hand checking early...Hudson gets a step for the first takedown of the match...Not wasting any time it's 4-0...Wilcox escapes...4-1...Both men locked up high...Both attempt shots to no avail...They're forced to reset...4-2 after 1...They start the 2nd at neutral...Out of bounds they reset...Hudson with a shot for a takedown...6-3 after a Wilcox escape...3rd period starts 6-3 with Wilcox trailing and starting on bottom...Hudson maintaining control...Wilcox escape makes it 6-4...A Hudson takedown near the edge makes it 8-4...Out of bounds they reset...Hudson holds on for an 8-4 win.
 
141- Matt Rappo (Holland/Council Rock South) vs. #8 Luke Vaith
Hand fighting up high early...Early 2 points for Vaith via takedown...Rappo responds with a takedown to tie it...Vaith trying to turn him...A quick escape and takedown combo puts Vaith up 5-2...The 1st with the score 5-2...Rappo starts the 2nd on bottom...Vaith turns Rappo...Secures the pin at 3:53.
 
149- Derek Goodwin (Hamburg/Hamburg) vs. Cody Ruggirello
Sequence of moves produces no points...Goodwin gains the edge and secures a takedown before they're forced out...Ruggirello takedown brings it to 2-2 halfway through 2...Goodwin forced to his back...Ruggirello pins at 2:32.
 
157- Kevin Hartnett (Staten Island, NY/Monsignor Farrell) vs. Jahlani Callender
Down on the mat they're locked up early...Now they stand and reset...Callender gains a leg but no points awarded...They spin...Whistle forces a reset...Both wrestlers feeling each other out...Hartnett opens the scoring with a hard charging takedown...Hartnett starts the 2nd on bottom with a 2-0 lead...Hartnett able to score an escape...Quickly countered by a Callender takedown...They reset with Hartnett up 3-2...Quick escape and takedown sequence puts Hartnett up 6-2 in the 2nd...3rd starts with Hartnett on top on the mat and the board...Hartnett holds control early...Score holds with 1 minute remaining...Stalling warning to Hartnett forces a reset...Only seconds remain...Hartnett scores a late takedown and a 9-4 decision.
 
165- #15 Josh Veltre (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) vs. #13 Joe Booth
Locked up high early...Showing patience...Hand fighting and waiting for an opportunity...Another tie up...At center they show patience and discipline...They go to the edge then out...No score after 1...Veltre on bottom to start the 2nd...Booth holds control as they roll out of bounds and reset at center...Another reset with still no score halfway through 2...Booth maintains control...0-0 to start the 3rd...Veltre on top...Still looking for the first points...Booth opens the scoring with an escape...He leads 1- 0 with 1 minute to go...Veltre with a masterful reversal...An escape and takedown sequence puts Booth up in the dying seconds...Booth wins 5-3.
 
174- Mike Dessino (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) vs. Frank Affrontith
Tough motion early...After a tough sequence they reset...Both wrestlers trying to out-muscle each other...Tied up at center...Still no score...Dessino tries for a takedown...Affronti holds strong...Affronti gains first points...Dessino turns for a reversal and ultimately a pin at 3:00.
 
184- Sam Shirey (Beaver Springs/Midd-West) vs. Victor Pozsonyi
Shirey has the legs early...A whistle forces a reset...Off the whistle they lock up high...Out of bounds they reset again...Shirey gets a single leg takedown then surrenders a quick escape...2-1 in favor of Shirey after 1...Shirey begins the 2nd on top...A Pozsonyi escape knots it at 2...Shirey with yet another takedown...A whistle forces a reset...Locked up high in the final minute of the 2nd...Near the edge they go out of bounds...Reset at neutral...Shirey leads 4-3 entering the 3rd...Shirey escapes the bottom position for 1...Narrow miss at a takedown for Pozsonyi...45 seconds remain with Shirey up 5-3...High tie up in the final 30 seconds...Stalling warning for Shirey...No avail as Shirey holds on for the 5-3 decision.