Wrestling | 2/6/2021 6:43:00 PM

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The Bloomsburg University wrestling team returned to action for the first time in nearly a calendar year on Saturday afternoon but dropped a 41-6 decision at Hofstra University in the season opener. The Huskies then wrestled ten matches in eight different weight classes against Drexel University and posted four victories against the Dragons.

Bloomsburg's only victory in the opener against Hofstra came at 141 pounds where redshirt sophomore Josh Mason (New Ringgold, Pa./Blue Mountain) picked up where he left off last season by pinning Vinny Vespa 40 seconds into the second period. Mason, who led the Huskies with 10 victories via fall last season, entered the day ranked 21st in the country according to the latest FloWrestling rankings.

The teams wrestled six extra matches following the dual with each team producing three victories. Freshman Antoine Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) picked up his first collegiate win with an 11-5 decision over Matt Templeton at 133 pounds. Mason followed with a 3-2 decision over Justin Hoyle while sophomore Christian Gannone (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) edged Charlie Kane, 9-7, during the extra bouts.

In the nightcap, Bloomsburg wrestled ten matches in eight different weight classes against Drexel.

Junior Alex Carida (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), an NCAA qualifier last season, won both of his matches at 157 pounds against the Dragons. Carida blanked Max Livingston, 9-0, for a major decision victory and then shutout Felix Belga, 4-0, for his second win of the day. Carida went 17-12 last season for the Huskies and clinched the final qualifying spot for the national tournament at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championships with a victory over Ohio's Zac Carson in the true sixth-place match.

Redshirt freshman Tanner Culver (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) posted a 17-5 major decision victory over Nathan Lapinski at 174 pounds while junior Jarrett Walters (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) pinned Derek Rose in just over a minute in the heavyweight bout to end the day for the Huskies. It was Culver's first counted collegiate victory as he went 4-5 as an unattached during his redshirt season last year. Walters, meanwhile, had ten victories last season - four via fall.

The Huskies are now scheduled to travel to the University at Buffalo next Thursday, February 11, for a 3:00 p.m. start against the Bulls.

HOFSTRA 41, BLOOMSBURG 6
125: Dylan Ryder pinned Willy Girard (Williamstown, Pa/Williams Valley) - 5:23
133: Garrett Lambert major decision over Antoine Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) - 13-4
141: Josh Mason (New Ringgold, Pa./Blue Mountain) pinned Vinny Vespa - 3:40
149: Greg Gaxiola major decision over Christian Gannone (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) - 8-0
157: Holden Heller decision over Alex Carida (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) - 5-0
165: Ricky Stamm technical fall over Gavin Hale (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) - 26-10, 6:31
174: Ross McFarland pinned Tanner Culver (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) - 5:17
184: Charles Small technical fall over Bruno Stolfi (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) - 17-2, 5:37
197: Trey Rogers major decision over Chase Dull (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) - 22-9
285: Zachary Knighton-Ward major decision over Jarrett Walters (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) - 17-4

133 (Extra): Antoine Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) decision over Matt Templeton - 11-5
141 (Extra): Josh Mason (New Ringgold, Pa./Blue Mountain) decision over Justin Hoyle - 3-2
149 (Extra): Christian Gannone (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) decision over Charlie Kane - 9-7
157 (Extra): Joseph McGinty decision over Alex Carida (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) - 5-1
165 (Extra): Reece Heller technical fall over Gavin Hale (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) - 16-1, 1:52
174 (Extra): Ricky Stamm pinned Tanner Culver (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) - 4:31

BLOOMSBURG, DREXEL (NO TEAM SCORE)
133: Jaxon Maroney major decision over Antoine Allen (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) - 10-1
149: Jared Donahue major decision over Christian Gannone (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) - 14-0
149: Gabe Onorato pinned Christian Gannone (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor) - 2:12
157: Alex Carida (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) major decision over Max Livingston - 9-0
157: Alex Carida (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) decision over Felix Belga - 4-0
165: Evan Barczak technical fall over Gavin Hale (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) - 24-9, 2:44
174: Tanner Culver (Hartland, Mich./Hartland) major decision over Nathan Lapinski - 17-5
184: Joshua Stillings decision over Bruno Stolfi (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) - 8-4
197: Bryan McLaughlin technical fall over Chase Dull (East Berlin, Pa./Bermudian Springs) - 18-3, 4:36
285: Jarrett Walters (Danville, Pa./Danville Area) pinned Derek Rose - 1:05