Pitt Wrestling Ends Regular Season with Duals Against Rider, Virginia

No. 23 Pitt wrestling ends it regular season this weekend, as they host Rider Thursday night and ACC foe Virginia on Friday for Senior Night at Fitzgerald Field House.

The Panthers come in 8-8 overall and 1-3 in ACC duals so far. Since starting 6-1 in mid-December, the Panthers lost two out of three at National Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tenn. on Dec. 18 and have a 1-5 record in 2024.

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

Pitt lost last Friday to rival No. 13 Virginia Tech at home, 26-12, their fourth straight dual loss at home in 2024 with no wins so far. They also lost the dual prior against North Carolina on the road, 22-12, on Feb. 9, with their sole win coming against Duke in Durham, N.C. on Feb. 2.

Pitt Wrestling vs. Rider Probables

125 Pounds: Redshirt senior Colton Camacho (7-11) vs. senior Tyler Klinsky
133 Pounds: No. 23 Redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello (13-12) vs. graduate student Richie Koehler
141 Pounds: No. 14 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (13-9) vs. junior Will Betancourt
149 Pounds: Redshirt first-year Finn Solomon (13-9) vs. No. 30 redshirt senior Quinn Kinner (12-8)
157 Pounds: Redshirt first-year Jared Keslar (13-13) OR Redshirt first-year Kelin Laffey (4-5) vs. junior Colton Washleski (24-6)
165 Pounds: No. 13 redshirt senior Holden Heller (10-5) vs. graduate student Jake Silverstein
174 Pounds: No. 18 redshirt sophomore Luca Augustine (11-4 overall, 1-2 ACC) OR first-year Grant MacKay (17-8) vs. graduate student Michael Wilson
184 Pounds: No. 10 redshirt senior Reece Heller (16-5) vs. junior Isaac Dean
197 Pounds: No. 15 redshirt first-year Mac Stout (16-5, 2-2) vs. senior Azeem Bell
285 Pounds: Redshirt junior Geoff Magin (0-4) vs. No. 23 junior David Szuba (16-8) 

Pitt vs. Virginia Probables

125 Pounds: Redshirt senior Colton Camacho (7-11 overall, 0-4 ACC) vs. sophomore Kyle Montaperto (9-8 overall, 1-2 ACC) OR sophomore Sammie Hayes (0-3 overall, 0-1 ACC)
133 Pounds: No. 23 Redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello (13-12 overall, 1-3 ACC) vs. No. 28 junior Marlon Yarbrough II (12-6 overall, 3-1 ACC)
141 Pounds: No. 14 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (13-9 overall, 4-0 ACC) vs. sophomore Jack Gioffre (14-5 overall, 2-1 ACC) OR junior Kyren Butler (12-7 overall, 1-1 ACC)
149 Pounds: Redshirt first-year Finn Solomon (13-9 overall, 1-2 ACC) vs. sophomore Michael Gioffre (9-7 overall, 1-1 ACC) OR junior Kyren Butler (12-7 overall, 1-1 ACC) OR junior Erik Roggie (9-10 overall, 0-1 ACC)
157 Pounds: Redshirt first-year Jared Keslar (13-13 overall, 1-2 ACC) OR redshirt first-year Kelin Laffey (4-5 overall, 0-1 ACC) vs. sophomore Nick Sanko (17-8 overall, 1-2 ACC) OR No. 27 senior Dylan Cedeno (12-4 overall, 0-1 ACC)
165 Pounds: No. 13 redshirt senior Holden Heller (10-5 overall, 3-1 ACC) vs. sophomore Nick Hamilton (9-6 overall, 2-2 ACC)
174 Pounds: No. 18 redshirt sophomore Luca Augustine (11-4 overall, 1-2 ACC) OR first-year Grant MacKay (17-8 overall, 0-1 ACC) vs. No. 13 Justin McCoy (16-3 overall, 3-1 ACC)
184 Pounds: No. 10 redshirt senior Reece Heller (16-5 overall, 3-1 ACC) vs. sophomore Griffin Gammell (8-9 overall, 1-1 ACC) OR fifth year Ethan Weatherspoon (4-3 overall, 0-1 ACC) OR senior Hudson Stewart (8-5 overall, 0-1 ACC)
197 Pounds: No. 15 redshirt first-year Mac Stout (16-5 overall, 2-2 ACC) vs. Krystian Kinsey (11-5 overall, 1-3 ACC)
285 Pounds: Redshirt junior Geoff Magin (0-4 overall, 0-4 ACC) vs. Ryan Catka (11-5 overall, 2-2 ACC)

Redshirt senior Colton Camacho has lost all six of his duals for Pitt wrestling since the start of the new year at 125 pounds. He came close in a 1-0 loss to UNC No. 29 redshirt sophomore Spencer Moore and then had a 1-0 lead against Virginia Tech No. 3 redshirt sophomore Cooper Flynn until the final seconds when Flynn got a late takedown.

Facing off against Rider senior Tyler Klinsky and either Virginia sophomores in Kyle Montaperto and Sammie Hayes, Camacho should finally get himself a win this calendar year and build some momentum heading into the ACC Championships.

Panthers No. 23 redshirt first-year Vinnie Santaniello takes on a solid wrestler in Cavaliers No. 28 junior Marlon Yarbrough II at 133 pounds, who defeated Hokies No. 13 redshirt junior Sam Latona and Tar Heels first-year Derek Guanajuato, both of whom Santaneillo lost to.

No. 14 redshirt senior Cole Matthews has had an exceptional run for Pitt Wrestling since duals started back up in early January at 141 pounds. He has five straight wins and a perfect 4-0 ACC record, with three ranked wins and two top five wins in NC State No. 4 junior Ryan Jack and North Carolina No. 5 redshirt sophomore Lachlan McNeil.

He’ll take on Rider junior Will Betancourt Thursday night and then either sophomore Jack Gioffre or junior Kyren Butler of Virginia for his final dual ever at Fitzgerald Field House in a stellar six years with the program.

Panthers Redshirt first-year Finn Solomon dropped out of the rankings for the first time this season at 149 pounds, after getting in during the middle of November, thanks to only one win so far in 2024.

His best opponent comes in Broncs No. 30 redshirt senior Quinn Kinner, who made it to the NCAA Championships this season and pinned Wolfpack No. 3 sophomore Jackson Arrington, who Solomon lost to on a 4-2 decision.

Redshirt first-year Jared Keslar rested last week for Pitt wrestling against Virginia Tech, with fellow redshirt first-year Kelin Laffey taking his place.

He’ll likely come back to the lineup this week at 157 pounds, with two solid wrestlers in Rider junior Colton Washleski and Virginia No. 27 senior Dylan Cedeno. It is likely that sophomore Nick Sanko may wrestle against Keslar, as he has done so for most of the recent duals for Virginia at this weight class.

No. 13 redshirt senior Holden Heller is back to winning ways for the Panthers, with three straight victories, including Hokies No. 22 redshirt junior Connor Brady last Friday.

He takes on Cavaliers sophomore Nick Hamilton, who lost to Brady, and Broncs graduate student Jake Silverstein at 165 pounds.

Pitt No. 18 redshirt sophomore Luca Augustine did not wrestle against Virginia Tech last Friday, as head coach Keith Gavin chose to rest him, since Augustine was dealing with some injuries.

He should come back this weekend, with a great test in Virginia No. 13 graduate student Justin McCoy at 174 pounds. McCoy defeated both UNC No. 17 graduate student Tyler Eischens and NC State No. 30 fifth year Alex Faison, who Augustine both lost to.

Panthers No. 10 redshirt senior Reece Heller lost his first ACC dual against Virginia Tech No. 24 redshirt first-year T.J. Stewart, ending a run of recent good form. He’ll have a great chance to put himself back at the level he is usually at against Broncs junior Isaac Dean and potentially three different wrestlers for the Cavaliers.

Pitt No. 15 redshirt first-year Mac Stout looks to finish the regular season strong and good seeding at ACC Championships with a win over Virginia graduate student Krystian Kinsey at 197 pounds.

Redshirt junior Geoff Magin continues to wrestle at heavyweight for the Panthers. in place of No. 13 redshirt first-year Dayton Pitzer, who dislocated his shoulder against Arizona State No. 4 redshirt junior Cohlton Schultz on Jan. 26 and is out for the rest of the regular season. Magin still hasn’t won a match this season, losing all four.