Redshirt freshman Taleb Rahmani pinned his eighth opponent of the season, while sophomore TeShan Campbell also picked up a win with bonus points after posting a major decision over his Iowa State opponent.
"Our guys needed [this win] and they are still pulling together,†said co-head coach Drew Headlee. “Our guys are very talented and work hard, so when you can come out with this victory it means a lot."
Forys got this started for the Panthers at 133 pounds, getting revenge over Earl Hall who knocked Forys out of the NCAA Tournament a year ago in the round of 12. The junior used two takedowns, an escape and a stall warning point to capture a 6-2 decision.
Moving to 141 pounds, redshirt junior Nick Zanetta gave the Panthers a 6-0 lead after a 9-4 decision over John Meeks. Zanetta led 1-0 after the opening frame and pulled away in the second after an escape, takedown and four point nearfall. The Pittsburgh native scored just once more in the third with an escape to pick up the win.
Iowa State tied the dual 6-6 after Gabe Moreno pinned senior Mikey Racciato at 149 pounds in 1:25.
Rahmani earned his eighth fall of the season after he pinned Colston DiBlasi in 5:24, giving Pitt a 12-6 boost in the dual.
"Anytime you can get that momentum back it's huge,†Headlee said. “Taleb is always an exciting guy to watch and we knew that going into this match, so when he comes out with the pin, it means a lot to the team.â€s
Campbell followed that with a 15-5 major decision over Logan Breitenbach after recording three two-point nearfalls, three takedowns, two escapes and tacked on one final point with riding time. Campbell's bonus point win extended Pitt's lead to 16-6.
Redshirt sophomore Zach Bruce and redshirt junior Ryan Solomon added two more wins for the Panthers at 184 pounds and 285 pounds, respectively. Bruce used a takedown and reversal en route to a 4-0 decision, while Solomon won in a 3-2 decision.
The Panthers have a quick turnaround as they travel to Charlottesville, Va., Sunday to take on ACC-foe Virginia for a 1 p.m. match-up in Memorial Hall.
Results:
133: #8 Dom Forys (UP) dec. #12 Earl Hall Jr. (ISU), 6-2 – Pitt leads 3-0
141: #31 Nick Zanetta (UP) dec. John Meeks (ISU), 9-4 – Pitt leads 6-0
149: Gabe Moreno (ISU) pins #31 Mikey Racciato (UP), 1:25 – Tied 6-6
157: #33 Taleb Rahmani (UP) pins Colston DiBlasi (ISU), 5:24 -- Pitt leads 12-6
165: #11 TeShan Campbell (UP) maj. dec. Logan Breitenbach (ISU), 15-5 – Pitt leads 16-6
174: #7 Lelund Weatherspoon (ISU) dec. Donovan McAfee (UP), 2-1 – Pitt leads 16-9
184: Zach Bruce (UP) dec. Carson Powell (ISU), 4-0 – Pitt leads 19-9
197: Marcus Harrington (ISU) over John Rizzo (UP), SV-1 6-4 – Pitt leads 19-12
285: #19 Ryan Solomon (UP) dec. #29 Quean Smith (ISU), 3-2 – Pitt leads 22-12
125: Kyle Larson (ISU) dec. #29 LJ Bentley (UP), 3-2 – Pitt wins 22-15
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