Connect with us

Pitt Wrestling

Pitt Wrestling Falls to ACC Rival No. 13 Virginia Tech, 26-12

Published

2 months ago

on

Pitt Wrestling

PITTSBURGH — No. 22 Pitt wrestling struggled throughout their dual against ACC rival No. 13 Virginia Tech, losing 26-12 Friday night at Fitzgerald Field House.

The Panthers (8-8 overall, 1-3 ACC) drop their fifth dual in the past six to start 2024 and seven out of nine since the National Collegiate Duals in mid-December. This loss drops the Panthers to 3-8 against the Hokies (9-3 overall, 4-0 ACC) and 2-4 at home since joining the ACC ahead of the 2013-14 season.

Pitt wrestling coverage on Pittsburgh Sports Now is sponsored by the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club.
Pittsburgh Wrestling Club

The match started off at 184 pounds, with Pitt No. 9 redshirt senior Reece Heller (16-5 overall, 3-1 ACC) facing off against Virginia Tech redshirt first-year T.J. Stewart (5-2 overall, 1-1 ACC). Both wrestlers kept it close and earned escapes to head into extra time. The referees called Reece Heller for an illegal hold and handed Stewart the 2-1 sudden victory decision.

Panthers No. 16 redshirt first-year Mac Stout (16-5 overall, 2-2 ACC) used two takedowns and an escape to win a 7-4 decision against Hokies No. 21 senior Cody Howard at 197 pounds. Stout had an upper hand over Howard, who normally wrestles at 184 pounds, tying the match up at 3-3.

Virginia Tech No. 20 redshirt junior Hunter Catka (13-5 overall, 4-0 ACC) dominated Pitt redshirt junior Geoff Magin (0-4 overall, 0-4 ACC) at 285 pounds, winning 17-2 on technical fall at 4:53 in the second period.

Redshirt senior Colton Camacho (7-11 overall, 0-4 ACC) has struggled for Pitt wrestling as of late, but started off well against Virginia Tech No. 4 redshirt sophomore Cooper Flynn (13-2 overall, 4-0 ACC) at 125 pounds. He would ride Flynn the entire second period and then escaped to lead off the third period, 1-0. He looked to have the victory, but Flynn went after his legs and got the late takedown to win a 3-1 decision.

No. 23 redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello (13-12 overall, 1-3 ACC) performed well for the Panthers against Hokies No. 13 redshirt junior Sam Latona (16-5 overall, 4-0 ACC) at 133 pounds, leading 1-0 after the second period. Latona used a reversal and a takedown to take a 5-2 lead, but Santaniello would respond with a reversal himself. Latona would win the match after an escape on a 6-4 decision.

Pitt wrestling needed a big win to keep their hopes alive in the dual and especially from No. 15 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (13-9 overall, 4-0 ACC). He took on Virginia Tech No. 13 sophomore Tom Crook (16-4 overall, 2-1 ACC) at 141 pounds, a familiar foe who he faced twice last season.

An escape from each wrestler sent it to extra time. Despite many chances for Crook to score on Matthews, Matthews would evade those attacks and eventually, managed to pin him in sudden victory to give hope to Pitt in the dual, cutting the deficit to 14-9.

This is the first pin for Matthews this season and is his third win against Crook, who he defeated last year in the dual and at ACC Championships. Normally a more defensive wrestler, Matthews had to try something different from his signature hook move and excelled in scrambling, something he said that he’s comfortable doing in any match.

“I felt good,” Matthews said on his win. “Would’ve been nice to end it in three periods like any other match, but it felt good. My energy was still there in overtime and I was ready to roll around the whole time.”

Panthers No. 29 redshirt first-year Finn Solomon (13-9 overall, 1-3 ACC) had a difficult task as he would battle with Hokies No. 2 sophomore Caleb Henson (23-1 overall, 3-0 ACC) at 149 pounds.

Henson started with a takedown, but Solomon escaped and got a takedown himself to earn a 4-3 lead. Henson would get a late reversal to take a 5-4 lead after the first period. Solomon escaped in the second period, keeping it 5-5 going into the third period, but Henson made a takedown and used riding time to win a 10-6 decision.

Redshirt first-year Kelin Laffey (4-5 overall, 0-1 ACC) got the start for Pitt Wrestling at 157 pounds over normal starter in fellow redshirt first-year Jared Keslar (13-13 overall, 1-2 ACC). He took on Virginia Tech first-year Rafael Hipolito and despite a solid start, he didn’t score on any attacks and Hipolito would win a 10-2 decision after riding time.

No. 13 redshirt senior Holden Heller (10-5 overall, 3-1 ACC) excelled in his match for thePanthers against Hokies No. 21 redshirt junior Connor Brady (11-7 overall, 3-1 ACC) at 165 pounds. He used his strengths in scrambling to get himself out of difficult positions and scored on Brady, winning an 11-5 decision.

Holden Heller has had an up-and-down year for Pitt wrestling. He started out 7-0, lost five straight matches and has now won hs past three, getting into good form right before the postseason.

“It feels really good,” Holden Heller said on his recent wins. “I had a little bit of a slump, some would say. Lost a couple matches I don’t think I should’ve, but I kind of just used that opportunity to grow mentally and kind of shake off that fear of losing or being tight and just kind of went out there loose, did my thing and I felt really good.”

First-year Grant MacKay started at 174 pounds for Pitt wrestling over No. 18 redshirt sophomore Luca Augustine. Head coach Keith Gavin wanted to rest Augustine if possible, which was why he chose to start at 184 pounds instead of the usual at 125 pounds.

He stood no chance against Virginia Tech No. 2 Mekhi Lewis (12-0 overall, 4-0 ACC), who defeated him on tech fall, 19-4 at 3:45 in the second period.

Despite the loss, Gavin appreciated the effort from his wrestlers far more than their loss last week to the Tar Heels. With the season winding down and ACC/NCAA Championships coming soon, he wants to see his wrestlers reach the level he knows they can perform at.

“Well, the result was the same, we lost, so I don’t want to say, you know, but no, it was just a little more focus and urgency,” Gavin said. “That’s what I just told them is that your effort and your attitude has to be consistent. Especially, I mean we’re almost done. So we can’t have any more of the, you go out there and you’re lackadaisical.”

Pitt wrestling will compete against Rider next Thursday and Virginia in their final regular season dual next Friday, both at Fitzgerald Field House.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
Related Topics:
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Get PSN in your inbox!

Enter your email and get all of our posts delivered straight to your inbox.

 
Like Pittsburgh Sports Now on Facebook!
Send this to a friend