Heading into Saturday afternoon’s championship round at the Colonial Athletic Association wrestling championships, Hofstra held a 9.5-point lead over defending champion Binghamton. The Pride came away with four champions, but the overall team effort – placing all 10 wrestlers in the top four – was enough for Hofstra to reclaim the team title.

Hofstra won its ninth CAA championship since joining the conference from the ECWA/CAA merger in 2002 with 94 points. Binghamton finished second with 78.5, followed by third-place Old Dominion with 52.5

James Nicholson improved to 31-0 on the season and captured his fourth straight CAA championship with a 5-3 victory over Hofstra’s Steve Bonanno at 125 pounds. 

Lou Ruggirello of Hofstra used a tough leg ride in the second period to build two minutes of riding time and held off Kyle Hutter of Old Dominion 2-1. Ruggirello scored a third period escape but was dinged for stalling with 10 seconds to go to tie the score. Ruggirello’s riding time was the deciding factor. 

Anwar Goeres of Binghamton repeated as the CAA Champion, ousting top-seeded Vincente Varela of Hofstra in an exciting 8-6 final. Goeres automatically qualifies for the NCAA Championships, and Varela will have to wait to see if he earns a wild card selection.

Rider’s Zac Cibula upset Binghamton’s Donnie Vinson 6-5 in the tiebreakers. Cibula rode out Vinson in the first 30 second period, then Vinson cut Cibula immediately when it was his turn on top, but couldn’t muster an offensive shot attempt from Cibula’s tight frontheadlock defense. 

Cibula was voted the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler. 

Binghamton’s Matt Kaylor delivered on his feet, picking up numerous takedowns in a 9-5 victory over Rider’s Ramon Santiago. Kaylor will likely be the only qualifier from the conference at the weight. 

A third-period takedown lifted returning All-American Justin Lister to a 3-1 victory over Paul Gillespie of Hofstra at 165 pounds. Lister repeats as the conference champion and has looked sharp during the course of the entire weekend. 

Hofstra captured its second individual championship at 174 pounds where Ryan Patrovich topped Boston University’s Hunter Meys 5-4 in a battle of New York natives. 

Ben Clymer of Hofstra followed up Patrovich’s win, using a third-period escape to break a 4-4 tie and knock off top-seeded Nate Schiedel of Binghamton 5-4 at 184 pounds.

Boston University crowned it’s lone champion at 197 pounds, as John Hall dominated upstart John Paris from the top position en route to an 11-2 major decision at 197 pounds. 

Paul Snyder earned Hofstra’s fourth championship, with an 11-5 victory over Drexel’s Jack Callender. It was the last championship final in the conference for Dragons coach Jack Childs, who is retiring after 35 years at the helm for Drexel. 

Only one true-placement match was held to determine the automatic qualifiers for the conference and Bonanno beat Boston University’s Chris McGinely at 125 to claim the bid. 

Team Scores
1. Hofstra 94
2. Binghamton 78.5
3. Old Dominion 55.5
4. Boston U. 46
5. Rider 43.5
6. Drexel 22.5
7. George Mason 6

Finals
125: James Nicholson (Old Dominion) DEC Steve Bonanno (Hofstra) 5-3.
133: Lou Ruggirello (Hofstra) DEC Kyle Hutter (Old Dominion) 2-1.
141: Anwar Goeres (Binghamton) DEC Vincente Varela (Hofstra) 8-6.
149: Zac Cibula (Rider) DEC Donnie Vinson (Binghamton) 6-5, TB1
157: Matt Kaylor (Binghamton) DEC Ramon Santiago (Rider) 9-5.
165: Justin Lister (Binghamton) DEC Paul Gillespie (Hofstra) 3-1.
174: Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra) DEC Hunter Meys (Boston U.) 5-4.
184: Ben Clymer (Hofstra) DEC Nate Schiedel (Binghamton) 4-3.
197: John Hall (Boston U.) MD John Paris (Binghamton) 11-2.
285: Paul Snyder (Hofstra) DEC Jack Callender (Drexel) 11-5.

Third Place
125: Chris McGinley (Boston U.) DEC Derek Steeley (Binghamton) 10-6.
133: Fred Santaite (Boston U.) DEC Frank Cimato (Drexel) 7-3.
141: Brennan Brumley (Old Dominion) DEC Josh Yurasits (Drexel) 9-3.
149: Joey Metzler (Old Dominion) DEC Zach Clemente (Hofstra) 6-5. 
157: Tyler Banks (Hofstra) DEC Jaaziah Bethea (George Mason) 2-0.
165: Jim Resnick (Rider) DEC Joe Booth (Drexel) 3-1. 
174: Rob Morrison (Rider) DEC Tristan Warner (Old Dominion) 6-3. 
184: Joe Budi (Old Dominion) DEC Brock Mantella (Boston U.) 3-0.
197: Brandon Palik (Drexel) DEC Matt Loew (Hofstra) 8-3. 
285: Grant Chapman (Old Dominion) DEC Evan Craig (Rider) 3-1. 

True-Second Match
125: Steve Bonanno (Hofstra) FALL Chris McGinley (Boston U.) 6:36.

Earning automatic qualifiers from the CAA:
125 (2): James Nicholson (Old Dominion), Steve Bonanno (Hofstra)
133 (3): Lou Ruggirello (Hofstra), Kyle Hutter (Old Dominion) Fred Santaite (Boston U.)
141 (1): Anwar Goeres (Binghamton)
149 (2): Zac Cibula (Rider), Donnie Vinson (Binghamton)
157 (1): Matt Kaylor (Binghamton)
165 (3): Justin Lister (Binghamton), Paul Gillespie (Hofstra), Jim Resnick (Rider)
174 (2): Ryan Patrovich (Hofstra), Hunter Meys (Boston U.)
184 (1): Ben Clymer (Hofstra)
197 (1): John Hall (Boston U.)
285 (1): Paul Snyder (Hofstra)