Pitt Wrestling
Pitt Wrestling Trounces Duke, 36-9, for First ACC Dual Win
No. 19 Pitt wrestling traveled to Durham, N.C. Friday night for a dual with Duke, where they absolutely dominated, 36-9, for their first ACC dual victory of the season.
The win for the Panthers (8-6 overall, 1-1 ACC) ends a three dual losing streak, where they lost 31-6 to both then ranked No. 5 Oklahoma State on Jan. 12 and No. 8 NC State on Jan. 26, as well as a 21-20 loss on criteria to then ranked No. 24 Arizona State on Jan. 21, all at home. The win against the Blue Devils (4-10 overall, 0-2 ACC) is the 11th straight against them for the Panthers, since joining the ACC prior to the 2013-14 season.
The night did not start great for Pitt wrestling at all, as redshirt senior Colton Camacho (7-9) found himself in a dangerous position almost immediately against Duke senior Logan Agin at 125 pounds. Agin got Camacho on his back and would pin him at just 51 seconds, giving Duke an early 6-0 lead. Camacho has now lost all four matches since the start of 2024, the only Pitt wrestler to do so.
OH YEAAAAA 😈😈😈 @_logiebear2_ #GoDuke
📺 ACCNX pic.twitter.com/FD3CcJcIss— Duke Wrestling (@DukeWRES) February 3, 2024
Despite the initial loss, the Panthers got back on track immediately. No. 23 redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello (13-10) and No. 22 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (11-9) both won on technical fall against their Blue Devils opponents. Santaneillo won 18-3 at 5:42 against first-year Raymond Adams at 133 pounds and Matthews won 20-4 at 6:58, just before the end of the match, against junior Christian Colman at 141 pounds.
Pitt wrestling saw its next three wrestlers win their first matches of the year as well. No. 28 redshirt first-year Finn Solomon (13-7) pinned Duke graduate student Jarred Papscy (4:04) at 149 pounds and redshirt first-year Jared Keslar (13-12) majored Duke junior Logan Ferrero, 11-3, at 157 pounds.
FALL at 149 👏 @Finn_Solomon
No. 28 Finn Solomon (Pitt) PINS
Jarred Papcsy (Duke), 4 : 04Pitt 16, Duke 6
Watch on ACCNX 💻 https://t.co/u2y3Mi8Kvy#H2P » #PINZBURGH pic.twitter.com/0yf1wA4UIs
— Pitt Wrestling (@Pitt_WRES) February 3, 2024
Panthers No. 15 redshirt senior Holden Heller (8-5) would have to work hard to get his victory against sophomore Gaetano Console at 165 pounds. Holden Heller found himself in a jam in the second period, but scrambled out of it to make the takedown to take a 3-1 lead. He would then escape to start the third period, but the refs called him for stalling, making it 4-2. A takedown later on would solidify the 7-2 decision for Holden Heller, who gets a much needed victory, after losing his previous five matches.
Pitt would continue to dominate through the latter stages of the dual. No. 21 redshirt sophomore Luca Augustine (11-3) and No. 9 redshirt senior Reece Heller (15-4) both won 14-3 major decisions against their Duke foes, with Augustine getting his against senior Jack Wimmer at 174 pounds and Reece Heller defeating senior Conor Becker at 184 pounds.
Panthers No. 15 redshirt first-year Mac Stout demolished Blue Devils first-year Kwasi Bonsu, winning a 17-2 technical fall decision at 4:40 in the second period at 197 pounds.
Pitt redshirt junior Geoff Magin (0-2) came in once again for No. 13 redshirt first-year Dayton Pitzer at heavyweight, with Pitzer out for the rest of the regular season due to a dislocated shoulder. Magin took on Duke sophomore Connor Barket, and made shots on him throughout the match, but couldn’t finish any moves. Barket would get two takedowns en route to a 7-1 decision to just the second victory for Duke on the night.
Pitt wrestling will travel again next weekend, as they face North Carolina next Friday, Feb. 9 in Chapel Hill.
Pitt Wrestling Results Vs. Duke
No. 19 Pitt 36, Duke 9
125: Logan Agin (Duke) pins Colton Camacho (Pitt), 0:51 (Duke leads, 6-0)
133: No. 23 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt) tech fall Raymond Adams (Duke), 18-3 (5:42) (Duke leads, 6-5)
141: No. 22 Cole Matthews (Pitt) tech fall Christian Colman (Duke), 20-4 (6:58) (Pitt leads, 10-6)
149: No. 28 Finn Solomon (Pitt) pins Jarred Papcsy (Duke), 4:04 (Pitt leads, 16-6)
157: Jared Keslar (Pitt) maj. Logan Ferrero (Duke), 11-3 (Pitt leads, 20-6)
165: No. 15 Holden Heller (Pitt) dec. Gaetano Console (Duke), 7-2 (Pitt leads, 23-6)
174: No. 21 Luca Augustine (Pitt) maj. Jack Wimmer (Duke), 14-3 (Pitt leads, 27-6)
184: No. 9 Reece Heller (Pitt) maj. Conor Becker (Duke), 14-3 (Pitt leads, 31-6)
197: No. 15 Mac Stout (Pitt) tech fall Kwasi Bonsu (Duke), 17-2 (4:40) (Pitt leads, 36-6)
285: Connor Barket (Duke) dec. Geoff Magin (Pitt), 7-1 (Pitt wins, 36-9)
