Pitt Wrestling Wins 2 out of 3 at Navy Duels

No. 16 Pitt Wrestling defeated two out of the three teams they faced at Navy Duels in Annapolis, Md. Sunday afternoon in their first duels of the 2023-24 season.

The Panthers (2-1) easily shut out both VMI, 47-0, and Morgan State, 54-0, to start out, but would fall to Navy 21-12 in their final duel of the day. The 54-0 victory over Morgan State, who just restarted their program after a 25-year absence, is one of the largest in program history.

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Pitt redshirt senior Colton Camacho (2-3) initially took the lead against Navy first-year Evan Tallmadge, 2-1, with a reversal in the third period. Tallmadge would respond with a takedown and then held Camacho off for last second takedown to win an 8-3 decision at 125 pounds.

Panthers No. 10 redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello (5-2) battled with No. 17 sophomore Brendan Ferretti of the Midshipmen at 133 pounds. Ferretti made a takedown in the third period, which Santaniello couldn’t battle back from, losing a close 3-2 decision.

Pitt wrestling veteran No. 7 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (2-1) used two escapes to counter Navy No. 23 junior Josh Koderhandt to tie it up at 2-2 at 141 pounds. Despite it looking like the match would go to sudden victory, Koderhandt made a takedown on Matthews with less than five seconds remaining to earn a 5-3 decision.

The Panthers got their first win of the duel, with NC State transfer and No. 24 redshirt sophomore Finn Solomon (8-1) defeating first-year Nicholas Vafiadis 4-1 in sudden victory on a takedown at 149 pounds.

Navy would return the favor in sudden victory, as first-year Jonathan Ley won on a takedown in sudden victory, 4-1 over Pitt redshirt first-year Jared Keslar (5-3) at 157 pounds.

Pitt No. 11 redshirt senior Holden Heller (3-0) used three takedowns en route to a convincing 10-4 decision over Navy first-year Charlie Evans at 165 pounds. No. 22 redshirt sophomore Luca Augustine (3-0) continued the wins for Pitt wrestling with a 9-7 decision, thanks to two takedowns and a reversal, over Navy  No. 30 first-year Danny Wask at 174 pounds.

The Panthers comeback in the duel ended when Midshipmen No. 18 senior David Key pinned No. 13 redshirt senior Reece Heller (7-1) at the 2:47 mark in the first period at 184 pounds, to take an 18-9 lead.

No. 16 redshirt first-year Mac Stout (8-0) continues his great season for Pitt after winning the Clarion Open last Sunday by defeating Navy junior Cael Crebs in a 4-1 decision off of a second period takedown at 197 pounds.

The Panthers finished the duel with No. 9 redshirt first-year Dayton Pitzer (2-1) losing on a late third period takedown to Midshipmen No. 13 senior Grady Greiss on 4-1 decision at 285 pounds.

Pitt wrestling will face in-state rival No. 20 Lehigh next Sunday on the road at 2 p.m. in their next duel.

No. 16 Pitt 47, VMI 0

125: Colton Camacho (Pitt) pins Tony Burke (VMI), 2:06 (Pitt leads, 6-0)
133: No. 10 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) maj. dec. Dyson Dunham (VMI), 11-2 (Pitt leads, 10-0)
141: No. 7 Cole Matthews (Pitt) maj. dec. Patrick Jordon (VMI), 14-3 (Pitt leads, 14-0)
149: No. 24 Finn Solomon (Pitt) maj. dec. Ryan Vigil (VMI), 12-3 (Pitt leads, 18-0)
157: Jared Keslar (Pitt) tech fall Josh Yost (VMI), 18-3 (7:00) (Pitt leads, 23-0)
165: No. 11 Holden Heller (Pitt) maj. dec. Luke Hart (VMI), 11-1 (Pitt leads, 27-0)
174: No. 22 Luca Augustine (Pitt) dec. Braxton Lewis (VMI), 4-2 (Pitt leads, 30-0)
184: No. 13 Reece Heller (Pitt) tech fall Toby Schoffstall (VMI), 19-1 (3:50) (Pitt leads, 35-0)
197: No. 16 Mac Stout (Pitt) pins Isaac Dolph (VMI), 1:19 (Pitt leads, 41-0)
285: No. 9 Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) injury default Tyler Mousaw (VMI), 1:30 (Pitt wins, 47-0)

No. 16 Pitt 54, Morgan State 0

125: Colton Camacho (Pitt) tech fall Julian Dawson (MSU), (Pitt leads, 5-0)
133: No. 10 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) pins Shawn Ryncarz (MSU), 2:20 (Pitt leads, 11-0)
141: No. 7 Cole Matthews (Pitt) tech fall Khalid Brinkley (MSU), 19-4 (Pitt leads, 16-0)
149: No. 24 Finn Solomon (Pitt) pins Aaron Turner (MSU), 5:15 (Pitt leads, 22-0)
157: Jared Keslar (Pitt) pins EJ Tecson (MSU), 1:40 (Pitt leads, 28-0)
165: No. 11 Holden Heller (Pitt) dec. Jacob Marsh (MSU), 14-8 (Pitt leads, 31-0)
174: No. 22 Luca Augustine (Pitt) pins Cortilius Vann (MSU), 4:16 (Pitt leads, 37-0)
184: No. 13 Reece Heller (Pitt) tech fall Kingsley Menifee (MSU), 17-1 (2:47) (Pitt leads, 42-0)
197: No. 16 Mac Stout (Pitt) pins Nathanic Kendricks (MSU), 1:37 (Pitt leads, 48-0)
285: No. 9 Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) wins by forfeit (Pitt wins, 54-0)