Hempstead, NY – Hofstra Head Wrestling Coach Dennis Papadatos today announced that three outstanding high school seniors have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University and wrestle for the Pride beginning in the fall of 2018.

Current 138-pounder Holden Heller from Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois, 197-pounder Trey Rogers from Hastings High School in Hastings, Minnesota, and 125-pounder Dylan Ryder from Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, New York have announced their intentions to attend Hofstra next fall.

Heller, whose brother, Sage, is a sophomore member of the Pride Wrestling team, is in his first year at Marian Catholic after two years at Deerfield High School in Deerfield, Illinois and his freshman year at Montini High School in Lombard, Illinois. He is a three-time scholastic state championship qualifier and a two-time state place-winner. Heller, who was the team Most Valuable Wrestler as a junior and the Most Valuable Underclassman Wrestler as a sophomore, has placed fourth in the Illinois High School State Championships the past two seasons.

"We are excited about having Holden and the style that he brings to Hofstra," Papadatos said.  "He is very likeable, and will be a huge addition to our program. Holden's brother Sage has done well for us, and we expect even more as his career continues. Holden's high school credentials are ahead of Sage's scholastic accolades, so we believe his ceiling is really high as well. The brothers are really coachable, and it was important for them to stay together."

Rogers, who was a five-year member of the wrestling team and a three-year member of the football team at Hastings, attended the same high school as former Pride wrestler Luke Vaith, Last season, Rogers, a two-time state championship place-winner, was 42-6 with a single season record of 247 takedowns with 13 tech falls and 11 pins on the way to his second-place finish in the Minnesota High School State Championships. He also earned the Iron Man Award, all-conference, the Section IAAA championship, and Wells Fargo State All-Tournament Team honors for the second consecutive year. He was also team Most Valuable Wrestler and captain as a junior.

As a sophomore, Rogers was 43-6 with 223 takedowns and placed fourth in the state championship. He is also a two-time all-conference football player, at linebacker as a junior and quarterback as a senior. An outstanding student, he was class president and had the highest grade point average in his class the last three years.

"Trey is the absolute total package," Papadatos says. "Class President, starting quarterback, champion wrestler, class valedictorian, just everything you want and need in someone in your program. We are unbelievably excited and lucky to have him. Trey wrestles the style we want and is one of the most mature athletes I have ever recruited. The fact that he is nationally-ranked is a nice addition to our program. He is the kind of student-athlete that makes everyone proud."

Ryder is a local Long Island product wrestling for the Colts of Half Hollow Hills West High School for five years. He captured the championship at the 2017 High School Nationals to cap off a great junior year. Ryder is a two-time New York State High School Championship place-winner, including winning last year's New York State title at 106-pounds, and a two-time Suffolk County champion. He was also a Fargo All-American in 2016. He was 41-1 as a junior and became just the second Colt wrestler to win a state title. He was also Hills West's first national wrestling champion as well.

"Dylan is a local standout athlete that we felt we needed to keep home," Papadatos commented.  "We are unbelievably lucky to be able to do that.  He is a county champion, state champion, and High School National Champion.  He has done well at many national events and is also nationally-ranked.  I have personally witnessed his work ethic, and I can honestly say it is unmatched.  He will be someone we can rely on lead by example to the rest of the roster."