Wrestling Hosts Hofstra for Senior Day, Regular Season Finale Saturday
2/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown University wrestling hosts Hofstra University for Senior Day in its regular season finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. in an EIWA dual inside the Pizzitola Sports Center as the Bears face one last test before embarking on their postseason.
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LAST TIME OUT
Brown earned a 24-17 win over Roger Williams University after dropping a 25-10 decision to Harvard in the Bears' second Beauty and the Beast meet alongside Brown gymnastics on Sunday afternoon at the Pizzitola Sports Center.
The Bears (4-10, 2-8 EIWA) topped the visiting Hawks (22-2) after falling to their Ivy and EIWA foe Crimson (6-4, 4-3 EIWA) earlier in the afternoon before a standing-room-only crowd at the Pizzitola.
Junior Justin Staudenmayer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), ranked No. 20 at 157 lbs. according to Intermat, led Brown with two wins on the day, notching bonus points in both victories and increasing his season win total to 25. Seven other Bears won bouts on the day.
SCOUTING THE PRIDE
Hofstra carries a 5-11 overall record into the weekend with a 1-5 mark in EIWA matches. Last weekend, the Pride fell to Drexel, 26-9, and will compete against Harvard on Friday prior to facing the Bears. Among the team's probable starters, heavyweight Mike Hughes leads the team with 32 wins while 174-pounder Frank Affronti has tallied 27 wins.
IN THE RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA coaches' panel rankings through matches of Feb. 7, junior Justin Staudenmayer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) ranked No. 18 at 157 lbs. and junior Steven Galiardo (Chicago, Ill.) checked in at No. 29 at 149 lbs. In the NCAA RPI rankings, Staudenmayer checked in at No. 10, Galiardo ranked No. 17, and freshman Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) stood at No. 28 at 165 lbs.
STAUDENMAYER PACING BEARS
Junior Justin Staudenmayer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) – the No. 20 ranked wrestler in the nation at 157 lbs. according to Intermat – has paced the Bears in 2015-16 in wins (25), dual wins (12), technical falls (six), dual points (44), and dual EIWA wins (nine). Staudenmayer placed first at the F&M Open, second at the Navy Classic, and fifth at the ESU Open.
SALVO SOLID AT 133
Sophomore Zeke Salvo (Baltimore, Md.) has provided Brown with a steady presence at 133 lbs. as he leads the team with seven falls and ranks second on the team with 31 dual points to go along with 17 overall wins. He placed second at the ESU Open and fifth at the Navy Classic.
THE CAPTAINS
Head coach Todd Beckerman can turn to his four captains – juniors Steven Galiardo (Chicago, Ill.), Richard Muniz (Corona, Calif.), and Justin Staudenmayer (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) and senior Augustus Marker (Castle Rock, Colo.) – for leadership within the team's ranks.
LABRIE TWINS ON THE RISE
Sophomore twin brothers Christian LaBrie and Andrew LaBrie (Exeter, R.I.) have made an impact for the Bears this season at 165 and 174 lbs. respectively. Christian has totaled 18 wins on the season, second on the team, and leads Brown with six major falls. He placed first at the USC Wildcat Open and second at the Navy Classic. Andrew has logged 12 wins and took first at the ESU Open and third at the Navy Classic.
VIRUET LEADING FRESHMAN CLASS
Freshman Jon Viruet (Springfield, Mass.) has led the Bears' rookie class, accounting for 15 wins and ranking second on the team with seven EIWA dual wins and third with 24 dual points. At 165 lbs., he placed third at the F&M Open.
COMING SOON
After hosting Hofstra, Brown will next compete at the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Championships at Princeton from Saturday, March 5 to Sunday, March 6.
PROBABLE STARTERS
Brown vs. Hofstra (Feb. 20, 2016 | Pizzitola Sports Center)
125: Michael Russo (10-13) vs. Bryan Damon (17-18)
133: Zeke Salvo (17-12) or Jimmy Bell (3-6) vs. Marcus Begay (0-11)
141: Charlie Banaszak (8-19) vs. Jamel Hudson (16-6)
149: Steven Galiardo (15-7) or William McDonald (4-5) vs. Kyle Krasavage (14-8)
157: Justin Staudenmayer (25-6) vs. Jahlani Callender (13-15)
165: Jon Viruet (15-10) or Christian LaBrie (18-6) vs. Bobby Fehr (4-15)
174: Andrew LaBrie (12-9) vs. Frank Affronti (27-11)
184: Austin Pfarr (10-14) or Tucker Ziegler (9-12) vs. Cory Damiana (13-18)
197: Augustus Marker (7-13) or Josh Durso-Finley (10-11) vs. Omar Haddad (8-19)
285: Ian Butterbrodt (3-5) vs. Mike Hughes (32-7)
