Pitt Wrestling
Pitt Wrestling Readies to Compete in the National Collegiate Duels
No. 13 Pitt wrestling is gearing up to compete in the National Collegiate Duels in Nashville, Tenn. on Monday, where they will face three great teams.
Pitt will take on No. 6 Iowa State at 3 p.m, No. 5 Cornell at 5 p.m. and then finish off with mid-major Little Rock. Pitt took on Iowa State last season at Fitzgerald Field House, losing 16-15 on criteria. This is the first matchup for Pitt and Cornell since 1971 and the first ever against Little Rock, who just recently started their program.
Pitt Wrestling vs. No. 6 Iowa State Probable Starters
125: Colton Camacho vs. No. 22Â Kysen Terukina or Ethan Perryman
133: No. 23 Vinnie Santaniello vs. No. 8 Evan Frost
141: No. 15 Cole Matthews vs. No. 14 Anthony Echemendia or Zach Redding
149: No. 19 Finn Solomon vs. No. 7 Casey Swiderski
157: Jared Keslar vs. No. 21 Cody Chittum or Jacob Kraisser
165: No. 8 Holden Heller vs. No. 4 David Carr or Connor Euton
174: No. 17 Luca Augustine vs. No. 22 MJ Gaitan
184: No. 14 Reece Heller vs. No. 5 Will Feldkamp or Caleb Helgeson
197: No. 17 Mac Stout vs. No. 25 Julian Broderson or Nando Villaneusca
285: No. 10 Dayton Pitzer vs. No. 3 Yonger Bastida
Pitt Wrestling vs. No. 5 Cornell Probable Starters
125: Colton Camacho vs. No. 5 Brett Ungar or Greg Diakomihalis
133: No. 23 Vinnie Santaniello vs. No. 2 Vito Arujau or Ethan Qureshi
141: No. 15 Cole Matthews vs. No. 16 Vince Cornella
149: No. 19 Finn Solomon vs. Ethan Fernandez or Cole Handlovic
157: Jared Keslar vs. No. 15 Meyer Shapiro or Benny Rogers
165: No. 8 Holden Heller vs. No. 3 Julian Ramirez
174: No. 17 Luca Augustine vs. Benny Baker or Colt Barley
184: No. 14 Reece Heller vs. No. 9 Chris Foca or Christian Hansen
197: No. 17 Mac Stout vs. No. 7 Jacob Cardenas
285: No. 10 Dayton Pitzer vs. No. 19 Lewis Fernandes or Ashton Davis
Pitt vs. Little Rock Probable Starters
125: Colton Camacho vs. Jeremiah Reno or Reid Nelson
133: No. 23 Vinnie Santaniello vs. No. 21 Nasir Bailey or Josh Sarpy
141: No. 15 Cole Matthews vs. Brennan Van Hoecke
149: No. 19 Finn Solomon vs. Kyle Dutton or Cael Keck
157: Jared Keslar vs. No. 28 Matt Bianchi or Chase Tebbets
165: No. 8 Holden Heller vs. Bilal Bailey or Brendan Abdon or Joseph Bianchi
174: No. 17 Luca Augustine vs. No. 15 Tyler Brennan or Kodiak Cannedy
184: No. 14 Reece Heller vs. Triston Willis
197: No. 17 Mac Stout vs.No. 13 Stephen Little or Tanner Mendoza
285: No. 10 Dayton Pitzer vs. No. 27 Josiah Hill or KJ Miley
Pitt wrestling redshirt senior Colton Camacho (5-4) started the season 2-4, but has won his past three matches, which includes a 14-9 decision against then ranked No. 22 Brendan McCrone of Ohio State at 125 pounds last Sunday.
His best opponent comes in Cornell No. 5 sophomore Brett Ungar (8-1), who made it to the Round of 12 at the NCAA Championships last season. He will also face another ranked opponent in Iowa State No. 22 senior Kysen Terkunia (4-3), who is back after suffering an early season-ending injury last season. Camacho will finish his day against either junior Jeremiah Reno or redshirt sophomore Reid Nelson of Little Rock.
Panthers No. 23 redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello (6-5) has a good chance of facing three ranked opponents at 133 pounds on Monday. This includes Big Red No. 2 senior Vito Arujau (2-1), who won the National Title last season, Cyclones No. 8 redshirt first-year Evan Frost (8-1) and Trojans No. 21 first-year Nasir Bailey. Santaniello has lost three of his past four matches, and he will need to bring his best for his foes on Monday.
No. 15 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (4-3) has already accrued the number of losses he had all of last season for Pitt, but a last second 4-2 decision against then ranked No. 3 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State last Sunday may serve as the moment for him to turn his season around.
Matthews will likely face No. 14 redshirt junior Anthony Echemendia (7-3) or senior Zach Redding (5-1) of Iowa State, Cornell No. 16 sophomore Vince Cornella (5-4), who made the NCAA Championships last season, and Little Rock redshirt first-year Brennan Van Hoecke at 141 pounds.
Panthers No. 19 redshirt first-year Finn Solomon transferred in this season from NC State and has done well this season, with a 10-3 record at 149 pounds. The Franklin Regional alum has his toughest matchup with Cyclones No. 7 sophomore Casey Swiderski (12-2) and will also take on either Big Red juniors in Ethan Fernandez (8-3) or Cole Handlovic (3-4) and Trojans redshirt first-years in Kyle Dutton or Cael Keck.
Pitt Wrestling redshirt first-year Jared Keslar (6-6) has lost his past three matches and has a difficult potential schedule on Monday at 157 pounds. He has the opportunity to wrestle three ranked opponents in Iowa State No. 21 first-year Cody Chittum (4-3), Cornell No. 15 first-year Meyer Shapiro (6-2) and Little Rock No. 28 redshirt senior Matt Bianchi. Keslar will need to strategically attack in close matches, as well as staying strong defensively to have a good performance at the National Collegiate Duels.
Panthers No. 8 Holden Heller is perfect on the season at 7-0 but will take on some great opponents Monday at 165 pounds. This includes two top five ranked foes in Cyclones No. 4 senior David Carr (9-1) and Big Red No. 3 Julian Ramirez (8-1) and three potential Trojans in first-year Bilal Bailey or redshirt first-year Brendan Abdon or redshirt sophomore Joseph Bianchi.
Carr defeated Holden Heller last season in a 7-3 decision and finished as runner-up at the NCAA Championships, while Ramirez made the Round of 12 himself. Holden Heller has to wrestle the best he has this season if he is to stay undefeated.
Pitt No. 17 redshirt sophomore Luca Augustine started out the season 5-0, but has lost his past two matches, albeit, against top opponents in then ranked No. 4 Edmond Ruth of Illinois on Dec. 3 and then ranked No. 9 Carson Kharchla of Ohio State.
Augustine will compete against Iowa State No. 22 redshirt first-year MJ Gaitan (6-4), who he defeated in a 6-4 decision last season and Little Rock No. 15 redshirt senior Tyler Brennan. He will also take on either Cornell senior Benny Baker (12-3) or junior Colt Barley (7-5) at 174 pounds.
Panthers No. 14 redshirt senior Reece Heller (11-1) has had a fantastic season so far, with four straight victories, including a major decision, 12-2, over No. 15 Gavin Hoffman of Ohio State last Sunday.
Reece Heller will compete against two top 10 opponents in Cyclones No. 5 senior Will Feldkamp (5-2), who transferred in from Clarion and finished seventh at the 2023 NCAA Championships, as well as Big Red junior No. 9 Chris Foca (5-2), who moved up from 174 pounds after finishing third at the NCAA Championships last season. He will wrestle Trojans redshirt senior Triston Willis to end Monday.
Pitt wrestling No. 17 first-year Mac Stout (10-2) is coming off a 7-1 decision against Ohio State then ranked No. 22 Luke Geog and likely faces three ranked opponents on Monday at 197 pounds.
Stout will wrestle against No. 25 senior Julian Broderson (4-3), who moved up from 174 pounds, or redshirt first-year Nando Villaneusca (2-1) of Iowa State, Cornell No. 7 senior Jacob Cardenas (7-2), who finished eighth at the 2023 NCAA championships, and No. 13 redshirt first-year Stephen Little or senior Tanner Mendoza of Little Rock.
Panthers No. 10 redshirt first-year Dayton Pitzer (6-1) is coming off four straight wins, with three against ranked opponents at 285 pounds. He’ll take on Cyclones No. 3 senior Yonger Bastida (9-0), who moved up from 197 pounds and has looked like one of the best heavyweights in the country, No. 19 Lewis Fernandes (9-4) or Ashton Davis (3-2) of the Big Red and No. 27 Josiah Hill or KJ Miley of the Trojans.
No. 2 NC State, No. 10 Ohio State, No. 25 Northern Iowa and Lock Haven will compete against each other in the other group on Monday as well.
How to Watch
Rofkin will broadcast the National Collegiate Duals, which requires a $14.99 monthly/or $149.99 yearly subscription, along with a $10 pay-per view fee as well.
