Pitt Wrestling
Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi Earns ACC Accolade
Pitt junior Nino Bonaccorsi was named Co-ACC Wrestler of the Week along with Virginia Tech’s Dakota Howard, the conference office announced Tuesday. Bonaccori also took home the Office Depot/Supra Student-Athlete of the Week award earlier this week on Feb. 1.
Bonaccorsi picked up his biggest win of his 2021 campaign last week at 197 pounds, his new weight class, with a thrilling 7-5 decision over previously undefeated and FloWrestling’s then-No. 2-ranked Jay Aiello of Virginia last Friday night.
The Pitt junior, one of four team captains, who was ranked No. 14 in his weight class by entering the bout, recorded one of the most impressive wins of the college wrestling season thanks to a relentless and persistent attacking display versus the defending ACC champion at 197 pounds. The match was featured in Flo’s recent story,”14 Top 10 NCAA Upsets In Week 5.”
Bonaccorsi (5-1) trailed Aiello not once but twice before he rallied in the third period with two late takedowns, including one go-ahead takedown with the score tied in the final seconds to win 7-5.
✌️✌️✌️ @NeenBon
Watch the three key takedowns by Nino Bonaccorsi in his huge victory over No. 3 Jay Aiello from Virginia!#pinzburgh » #H2P pic.twitter.com/kJ0sx505Ss
— Pitt Wrestling (@Pitt_WRES) January 30, 2021
Pitt’s Bethel Park native snapped a 24-dual match winning streak held by Aiello that dated back to January of 2019.
The Panthers have had two ACC Wrestler of the Week winners during the 2021 season thus far. Senior 165-pounder Jake Wentzel also received the recognition in January after leading a comeback win by Pitt in the season-opening dual at Navy.
The No. 15 Pitt wrestling team hosts No. 14 North Carolina in its final home match of the season on Friday night at the Fitzgerald Field House. The 6 p.m. contest is not open to the general public but will be streamed on ACC Network Extra and via the WatchESPN app.
