Pitt entered the dual having received just nine votes in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll on Tuesday while Wisconsin came in at No. 15. Those numbers did not affect the Panthers this afternoon as they never trailed in the team score.
“Rankings are just a number, but it's always nice when people think well of you,†head coach Jason Peters said. “These guys earned it. They worked hard and now they are sitting 5-1 and won a tournament. I think we're getting better week-to-week, so I'm happy for them.â€
Ranked No. 19 by InterMat, redshirt sophomore Ryan Solomon set the tone for the dual at 285 pounds as he pinned Brock Horwath in 1:29, giving Pitt an early 6-0 lead.
Freshman LJ Bentley used Solomon's momentum at 125 pounds to win in an exciting sudden victory match, 14-12 over Johnny Jimenez. Bentley fired first with a takedown and Jimenez escaped in the first period. Jimenez took the lead in the middle of the second period after collecting six total nearfall points. However, Bentley wasn't finished just yet as the Twinsburg, Ohio native, strung together five total takedowns in the third period to bring the score to 12-12 at the end of regulation. A takedown by Bentley in sudden victory gave him the win, extending Pitt's team score to 9-0.
At 133 pounds, No. 19 Dom Forys came out with an impressive win over No. 4 Ryan Taylor. The sophomore defeated the returning All-American in a 10-6 decision. Taylor struck first with an early takedown, but a reversal by Forys would tie the score entering the second period. Forys escaped from the bottom, taking a 3-2 lead. Taylor had another takedown in the second, but Forys escaped and had another takedown, giving him a 6-4 lead entering the final period. Forys finished the match with two more takedowns to secure his win and improving Pitt's score to 12-0.
No. 9 Mikey Racciato carried the winning momentum into his match at 141 pounds, defeating Luke Rowh 9-4. The junior had an early takedown in the first period and Rowh escaped. Racciato wouldn't score again until the beginning of the third period as he dominated with two reversals, a two-point nearfall and had riding time.
At 157 pounds, redshirt senior Ronnie Garbinsky picked up his first dual win of the season as he won in a 4-2 decision over TJ Ruschell. Garbinsky recorded two escapes and a two-point nearfall in his victory.
Freshman TeShan Campbell put on another impressive performance this afternoon at 174 pounds. Campbell defeated No. 16 Rickey Robertson in a 13-5 major decision. The Pittsburgh native opened with a takedown and would have two more in the second period. In the third, a reversal, two more takedowns and riding time secured his eighth win as a Panther.
In the final bout of the day at 197 pounds, redshirt senior Nick Bonaccorsi came out with a convincing 5-3 decision over Eric Peissig. The Pittsburgh native led 2-1 at the end of the first period after an early takedown. An escape and takedown in the third period ensured the victory and a Pitt win as well.
The Panthers return to the mats December 29 as the squad travels to the Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern.
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Results:
285: #19 Ryan Solomon (P) pins Brock Horwath (W), 1:29 – Pitt leads 6-0
125: LJ Bentley (P) SV-1 Johnny Jimenez (W), 14-12 – Pitt leads 9-0
133: #19 Dom Forys (P) dec. #4 Ryan Taylor (W), 10-6 – Pitt leads 12-0
141: #9 Mikey Racciato (P) dec. Luke Rowh (W), 9-4 – Pitt leads 15-0
149: Rylan Lubeck (W) dec. Robert Lee (P), 3-1 – Pitt leads 15-3
157: Ronnie Garbinsky (P) dec. TJ Ruschell (W), 4-2 – Pitt leads 18-3
165: #3 Isaac Jordan (W) dec. Cody Wiercioch (P), 4-3 – Pitt leads 18-6
174: TeShan Campbell (P) m. dec. #16 Rickey Robertson, 13-5 – Pitt leads 22-6
184: Ryan Christensen (W) dec. Zach Bruce (P), 2-0 – Pitt leads 22-9
197: Nick Bonaccorsi (P) dec. Eric Peissig (W), 5-3 – Pitt wins 25-9
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