FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Johns Hopkins wrestling team returned to action on Friday at the 2023 Citrus Invitational. Three Blue Jays advanced to the semifinals on day one of the invitational. As a team, Hopkins is in ninth place with 48 points.
Parker, Pimental and Hoffman To Semis
Three Blue Jays advanced to Saturday's semifinal round as
Riley Parker (125),
Freddy Pimental (149) and Jake Hoffman (165) all remain alive in the championship bracket.
Parker won by fall early in the second period over Liberty's Zack Lovell. He then beat Richard Albert (Ferrum) by fall just 17 seconds into the third. Parker then grabbed his spot in the semifinals with a 5-3 decision over Shelton Chastain of the University of the Ozarks. He will face Mac Cafurello (Roanoke) on Saturday.
Pimental beat Ursinus' Ben Allen by fall late in the first. He then needed just 46 seconds to beat Nicholas Palso of Castleton by fall. Pimental won a 9-5 decision over Landon Card of Cornell College to earn his spot in the semifinals. He will take on Roanoke's Jarrod Pominville in Saturday's semifinal.
Hoffman made it three in the semifinal for the Blue Jays. He opened with a win by fall over Jordan Scott of Liberty just 29 seconds into the second period. He then won by major decision (20-7) UNC Pembroke's William Lowery. Hoffman won a 4-2 decision over Roanoke's Hunter More to move onto the semifinals. He will face off against Shawn Marchesano of Ursinus on Saturday.
Consolation Bracket
Max Apsel (141) went 2-2 on the day and finished with an 11-2 loss to St. John's Connor Krueger in the third round of the consolation bracket.
Dillon Heffernan (157) also went 2-2 and ended his day with a major decision loss to Michael Shannon of Southeastern
Connor Powell (157) went 2-2 as well. After dropping an 8-6 decision in his opening match, he bounced back with a pair of wins in the consolation bracket. His run ended in a 15-7 loss to Topher Tryon of Roanoke in the third round.
Nick Hwang (165) went 1-2 on the day and ended with a tough 7-6 loss in the second round of the consolation bracket.
Jacob Pomykata (285) finished the day with a 1-2 record. He fell 10- in the first round of the championship bracket and then received a bye in the opening round of the consolation bracket. He then won a 3-2 decision over Caleb Hardeman (Southeastern) before losing by fall in the first period of the third round.
What's Next
Parker, Pimental and Hoffman will continue in the semifinals on Saturday, December 30.
