Pitt Wrestling
Pitt Wrestling Places Five at Franklin & Marshall Open
Pitt Wrestling saw five athletes place at the Franklin and Marshall Open Friday in Lancaster, Pa. for their first competition in 2024.
No. 29 redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello (11-8) earned First Place honors at 133 pounds for Pitt, winning all five matches he competed in. He only allowed his opponents to score three points the entire day, earning two tech falls in his first two matches. Santaniello also defeated Maryland No. 17 redshirt sophomore Braxton Brown in the semifinals in a 3-1 decision, getting revenge for a loss against him, a 6-3 decision, in the dual on the road on Nov. 20. He won a 5-2 decision against Lock Haven junior Gable Strickland in the final to finish in first place.
Pitt first-year Dylan Evans (10-6), wrestling unattached, finished in second place at the Franklin and Marshall Open at 157 pounds. He had two technical falls, including one against Binghamton sophomore Carter Baer in a 17-1 victory at 3:54 in the semifinals. He also had two close back-to-back wins, in a 3-2 decision against Drexel fifth year Tyler Williams in the Round of 32 and 2-2 in second tiebreakers over Long Island senior Rhise Royster in the Round of 16, to showing his improvement in close situations. He would lose to Penn first-year Jude Swisher in a 10-0 major decision in the Championship match.
No. 27 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (8-8) would win his first four matches at 141 pounds with relative ease, including two technical falls, to make it to the semifinals. He would lose a 7-2 decision to Lock Haven No. 22 redshirt sophomore Wyatt Henson in the semifinals and then suffered another defeat to Maryland No. 9 sophomore Kai Miller, 4-1 in sudden victory, in the third place match to earn fourth place honors. The loss to Miller is the second against him this season for Matthews, who lost a 12-4 major decision in their dual in November.
Pitt redshirt first-year Jared Keslar (12-9) easily won his first two matches at 157 pounds and then took a close 6-5 decision against Lock Haven redshirt first-year Eric Alderfer to make it to the quarterfinals. Facing Maryland No. 31 redshirt senior Michael North, Keslar got pinned at 1:02, making it his second defeat against him this season, as he lost a 4-2 decision against him in November. He would then only need one win in consolations, as two of his matches he won by not contest, to take fifth place honors.
Redshirt sophomore Brock McMillen (8-3) lost his first match against Binghamton sophomore Fin Nadeau at 157 pounds, but found success in the consolations. He would defeat the next five wrestlers, three in major decisions, and won by no contest in his last match to take sixth place, to place three athletes for Pitt wrestling at 157 pounds.
No. 13 Pitt wrestling will return to dual play this weekend, taking on No. 9 Oklahoma State at Fitzgerald Field House, Friday night at 7 p.m.
Pitt Wrestling Results at Franklin and Marshall Open
125 Pounds, Tyler Chappell (unattached), 2-2
Round of 32: Tyler Chappell (Pitt) maj. dec. Jared Chuquilin (Long Island), 16-5
Round of 16: Nick Treaster (unattached) dec. Tyler Chappell (Pitt), 4-1 SV
Consolation: Tyler Chappell (Pitt) med. forfeit Dayton Delviscio (Navy)
Consolation: Brady Pruett (Penn) dec. Tyler Chappell (Pitt), 5-1
125 Pounds, Jordan Villareal, 1-2
Round of 32: Carson Wagner (Binghamton) dec. Jordan Villareal (Pitt), 5-1
Consolation: Jordan Villareal (Pitt) dec. Dominic Flatt (Millersville), 10-5
Consolation: Nico Tocci (Air Force) maj. dec. Jordan Villareal (Pitt), 11-2
133 Pounds, No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello, 5-0, First Place
Round of 32: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) tech. fall Colt Schrader (Army West Point), 15-0 (5:00)
Round of 16: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) tech. fall Sean Logue (Lock Haven), 15-0 (3:11)
Quarterfinal: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) dec. John Hildebrandt (Drexel), 4-0
Semifinal: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) dec. No. 17 Braxton Brown (Maryland), 3-1
Final: No. 29 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) dec. Gable Strickland (Lock Haven), 5-2
141 Pounds, No. 27 Cole Matthews, 4-2, Fourth Place
Round of 64: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. Shane Parcelay (Army West Point), 10-4
Round of 32: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) tech. fall Brandt Fajerman (F&M), 18-3 (6:39)
Round of 16: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) tech. fall Ryan Luna (Presbyterian), 17-2 (5:59)
Quarterfinal: No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. Devin Matthews (Long Island), 8-1
Semifinal: No. 22 Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) dec. No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt), 7-2
Third Place Match: No. 9 Kal Miller (Maryland) dec. No. 27 Cole Matthews (Pitt),4-1 SV
141 Pounds, Briar Priest, 5-1
Round of 64: Briar Priest (Pitt) dec. Wynton Denkins (Campbell), 11-10
Round of 32: No. 9 Kal Miller (Maryland) dec. Briar Priest (Pitt), 6-3
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) tech. fall Aidan Micheli (Millersville), 17-1 (4:25)
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) maj. dec. Chris Martino (Princeton), 12-3
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) tech. fall Trason Oehme (Air Force), 19-4 (5:40)
Consolation: Briar Priest (Pitt) tech. fall Ryan Luna (Presbyterian), 16-1 (5:51)
141 Pounds, Emory Taylor, 1-2
Round of 64: Emory Taylor (Pitt) dec. Michael Pizzuto (Maryland), 7-4 SV
Round of 32: Chris Rivera (Campbell) dec. Emory Taylor (Pitt), 7-3
Consolation: Deon Pleasant (Drexel) pins Emory Taylor (Pitt), 2:53
141 Pounds, Connor Swaim, 0-2
Round of 32: Bryce Kresho (F&M) pins Connor Swaim (Pitt), 3:50
Consolation: Clayton Gabrielson (Maryland) pins Connor Swaim (Pitt), 3:50
149 Pounds, Jack Pletcher, 1-2
Round of 64: Jack Pletcher (Pitt) maj. dec. Mason Lynch (Rider), 13-4
Round of 32: Kaeman Smith (Navy) dec. Jack Pletcher (Pitt), 8-1
Consolation: James Latona (Navy) pins Jack Pletcher (Pitt), 3:24
149 Pounds, Ty Cymmerman, 1-2
Round of 32: Ty Cymmerman (Pitt) dec. Drew Lang (Princeton), 5-3
Round of 16: Hunter Gandy (Penn) maj. dec. Ty Cymmerman (Pitt), 10-1
Consolation: Noah Tapia (Hofstra) maj. dec. Ty Cymmerman (Pitt), 11-1
157 Pounds, Jared Keslar, 6-1, Fifth Place
Round of 64: Jared Keslar (Pitt) tech. fall Kevin McBride (Rider), 16-1 (1:18)
Round of 32: Jared Keslar (Pitt) dec. Billy Templeton (F&M), 7-0
Round of 16: Jared Keslar (Pitt) dec. Eric Alderfer (Lock Haven), 6-5
Quarterfinal: No. 31 Michael North (Maryland) pins Jared Keslar (Pitt), 1:02
Consolation: Jared Keslar (Pitt) wins by no contest
Consolation: Jared Keslar (Pitt) dec. Reed Fullmer (Penn RTC), 5-2
Fifth Place Match: Jared Keslar (Pitt) wins by no contest
157 Pounds, Kelin Laffey, 1-2
Round of 64: Kelin Laffey (Pitt) dec. Micah Hanau (Army West Point), 4-2
Round of 32: Zach Karagias (NC State) dec. Kelin Laffey (Pitt), 7-3
Consolation: Christian Hodges (Navy) dec. Kelin Laffey (Pitt), 4-1 SV
157 Pounds, Brock McMillen, 6-1, Sixth Place
Round of 64: Fin Nadeau (Binghamton) dec. Brock McMillen (Pitt), 11-8 SV
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) dec. Kaden Milheim (American), 11-4
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) maj. dec. Christian Hodges (Navy), 11-1
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) maj. dec. Eric Alderfer (Lock Haven), 13-3
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) maj. dec. Dillon Carlson (Kent State), 13-4
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) dec. Vince Manella (Penn RTC), 11-6
Consolation: Brock McMillen (Pitt) wins by no contest
157 Pounds, Dylan Evans (unattached), 5-1, Second Place
Round of 64: Dylan Evans (Pitt) tech. fall Tyler Shea (F&M), 19-4 (2:13)
Round of 32: Dylan Evans (Pitt) dec. Tyler Williams (Drexel), 3-2
Round of 16: Dylan Evans (Pitt) dec. Rhise Royster (Long Island), 2-2 TB2
Quarterfinal: Dylan Evans (Pitt) dec. Vince Manella (Penn RTC), 7-2
Semifinal: Dylan Evans (Pitt) tech. fall Carter Baer (Binghamton), 17-1 (3:54)
Final: Jude Swisher (Penn) maj. dec. Dylan Evans (Pitt), 10-0
165 Pounds, Grant MacKay (unattached), 2-2
Round of 32: Grant MacKay (Pitt) maj. dec. Jack Ganos (Air Force), 14-3
Round of 16: Dakota Morris (Army West Point) dec. Grant MacKay (Pitt), 2-1
Consolation: Grant MacKay (Pitt) med. forfeit Jonathan Parrilla (Millersville)
Consolation: Cooper Haase (Army West Point) dec. Grant MacKay (Pitt), 6-4
Awesome article; but what does ‘unattached’ mean in college wrestling? I’m not familiar with it.
Wrestling unnattached means that either 1. you’re a true freshman and not trying to burn one of your five allotted competitions. 2. you’re a walk-on and the team doesn’t pay for your expenses. 3. You compete at an open, but your performance won’t count against the team’s final score in that tournament.
Thank you, much appreciated!