GRANTHAM, PA – Sophomore Jake Hoffmann (165) placed third and freshman Freddy Pimental (149) placed fourth to lead the way for the Johns Hopkins wrestling team at the season-opening Messiah Invitational on Saturday.  The Blue Jays had entries in just seven of 10 weight classes and placed eighth in the eight-team tournament with 46.5 points.  Host Messiah, which entered 30 wrestlers in the tournament, won the team title with 133 points.
 
Hoffmann Grabs Bronze at 165
Hoffmann, whose 28 wins last season rank as the third-most ever by a Blue Jay freshman, went 5-1 on the day with three bonus point wins (two technical falls, one major decision), a victory by injury default (Hoffmann led 8-5 when the match was stopped) and a 10-8 victory over McDaniel's Maximus Bentley in the third-place match.
 
Pimental Excels in Career Debut
Pimental got his career off to a quick start as he won three of his five matches on the day with his two losses coming by a total of three points to the eventual second and third-place finishers.  Pimental scored a 74-second pin of Liberty's Lucas Viana in his first bout and scored a 20-1 technical fall of McDaniel's Joe McKneely to move into the semifinals.  He fell 10-8 in the semis, scored a 9-6 win in overtime in the consolation semis and fell 5-4 to Messiah's Levi Snyder in the third-place match.
 
Other Top Performers
Fritz Maurath (157) – Maurath went 2-2 on the day with a pair of bonus point victories as he had a technical fall and major decision on the day.
 
Elliott Lee (174) – Lee also went 2-2 with a pair of bonus point wins to his credit as he scored a pin and a major decision.
 
Will Shiber (197) – Shiber picked up a pair of wins in a 2-2 day at 197 with both of his wins coming by fall. 
 
What's Next
The Blue Jays will return to action on Saturday, November 11, when they travel to Ursinus to participate in the Racich Rumble.