With the win, the Panthers improve to 3-1 on the year, while the Mountaineers drop to 0-3. The win was the 38th over West Virginia in program history as Pitt moves to 38-25-2 all-time.
"We wrestled well," said head coach Keith Gavin. "The goal is continual improvement and our guys are buying into that mindset. We are on the right track."
Bonus points played a major factor in the dominant win with three Panthers recording major decisions and one with a technical fall.
Redshirt freshman Louis Newell got things started for the Panthers, recording an 11-1 major decision over WVU's Joey Thomas at 125 pounds. Newell jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first after scoring a takedown and four nearfall. He collected his remaining points via penalty point, an escape, takedown and added his final point with riding time. The major decision gave Pitt a 4-0 lead in the dual.
Moving to 133 pounds, fifth-ranked redshirt sophomore Micky Phillippi improved to 8-0 on the year after recording his third career technical fall. Phillippi downed Lucas Seibert, 20-5, in 4:31. He scored five takedowns, back-to-back four nearfalls and two escapes to give the Panthers a 9-0 lead after two bouts.
Redshirt freshman Cole Matthews continued Pitt's winning ways at 141 pounds, recording a 4-0 decision over Caleb Rea. The 19th-ranked Panther used a takedown, escape and riding time to secure his fifth win of the year.
Redshirt freshman Luke Kemerer returned to the win column Thursday night with an 11-9 decision over Liam Lush at 149 pounds. Kemerer got off to a solid start, leading 6-3 at the end of the first. He built on his lead in the second, escaping off bottom and scoring a takedown to lead 9-3 entering the final frame. In the third, WVU's Liam Lusher escaped off bottom and scored a takedown to bring the score to 9-6. Kemerer escaped but was hit with a second stall warning, awarding a point to Lush. Lush then scored a takedown but it wouldn't be enough as Kemerer added his final point with riding time. The win improved the team score to 15-0 in favor of the Panthers.
At 157 pounds, redshirt senior Taleb Rahmani held off Alex Hornfeck in a 7-6 decision. The 12th-ranked Panther was quickly taken down, but scored a reversal to tie it, 2-2. Rahmani started the second on top and Hornfeck escaped, but was taken down. Hornfeck then reversed Rahmani who then escaped. In the third, Rahmani started on bottom and reversed Hornfeck who then escaped but it wouldn't be enough. Rahmani's win gave the Panthers an 18-0 lead through the first five bouts.
Following the break, redshirt junior Jake Wentzel improved to 7-0 after recording an 11-0 major decision over Brock Godzin. The 11th-ranked 165-pounder struck first in the opening frame and remained on top for the rest of the first. He started the second on bottom and picked up six points off a reversal and four nearfall. In the third, the two started neutral. Wentzel scored a takedown and added his final point with riding time, giving Pitt a 22-0 lead.
Moving to 174 pounds, redshirt junior Gregg Harvey outlasted Scott Joll in a 6-2 decision. Harvey used two takedowns, an escape and riding time to secure the win.
Pitt's final win of the day came at 184 pounds as redshirt freshman Nino Bonaccorsi picked up a 13-3 major decision over Jackson Moomau. Bonaccorsi recorded five takedowns, an escape, penalty point and riding time to improve to 7-1 on the year.
The Mountaineers won the final two bouts, bringing the final score to 29-6.
The Panthers continue action Sunday, Dec. 8 when they travel to Philadelphia to take on Drexel at 1 p.m.
Results:
125: Louis Newell (UP) maj. dec. Joey Thomas (WVU), 11-1 – Pitt leads 4-0
133: #5 Micky Phillippi (UP) tech. fall Lucas Seibert (WVU), 20-5, 4:31 – Pitt leads 9-0
141: #19 Cole Matthews (UP) dec. Caleb Rea (WVU), 4-0 – Pitt leads 12-0
149: Luke Kemerer (UP) dec. Liam Lusher (WVU), 11-9 – Pitt leads 15-0
157: #12 Taleb Rahmani (UP) dec. Alex Hornfeck (WVU), 7-6 – Pitt leads 18-0
165: #11 Jake Wentzel (UP) maj. dec. Brock Godzin (WVU), 11-0 – Pitt leads 22-0
174: Gregg Harvey (UP) dec. Scott Joll (WVU), 6-2 – Pitt leads 25-0
184: #8 Nino Bonaccorsi (UP) maj. dec. Jackson Moomau (WVU), 13-3 – Pitt leads 29-0
197: #11 Noah Adams (WVU) dec. Kellan Stout (UP), 8-6 – Pitt leads 29-3
285: Brandon Ngati (WVU) dec. Cole Rickert (UP), 10-3 – Pitt wins 29-6
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