Pitt (3-6-1, 3-0-1 EWL) and West Virginia (6-4, 3-0-1 EWL) both remain unbeaten and tied atop the EWL rankings along with Edinboro.
Chris Albright was the first of three straight matches won by Pitt wrestlers to open the night. Albright totaled two escapes and a takedown in the second period to pull away from Kyle Turnbull, tacking on a late third period takedown for the 7-2 decision.
Junior Jimmy Conroy entered this weekend's match as the 17th ranked wrestler in the nation at 133 pounds and proved why is considered among the best. Conroy opened the match with a takedown less than 20 seconds into the first period and jumped out to a 6-2 lead with nearly two minutes of riding time before the opening stanza came to a close. With the match coming to a close and Conroy ahead 9-2 with riding time in his favor, a major decision seemed certain. However, Grant Lowther was able to secure a takedown in the closing seconds to keep Pitt from gaining any bonus points.
After wrestling to a 3-3 draw after one period, redshirt freshman Tyler Nauman turned the heat up, with an escape and takedown in the second period to go ahead 6-3 over Colin Johnson in the 141-pound matchup. Johnson would get within two at 7-5, but Nauman was able to hold off the late shots and give Pitt a 9-0 advantage through three matches.
WVU quickly silenced the crowd and gained momentum with four straight decisions. At 149 pounds, 19th ranked David Jauregui was an 8-6 winner over redshirt senior Mark Powell, closing the gap to 9-3. Ryan Goodman followed suit in the 157-pound match with a 2-1 decision over redshirt freshman Phil Sorrentino. West Virginia knotted the match at 9-9 with Donnie Jones' 4-2 decision over sophomore Ethan Headlee and took its first lead of the night when 12th ranked Kurt Brenner handed redshirt junior David Sullivan a 10-5 defeat at 174 pounds.
Freshman Zac Thomusseit stopped the downward spiral with a 3-2 win at 184. Thomusseit and Lance Bryson were tied at 1-1 with the third period coming to a close before the Panther freshman was able to secure a takedown on the edge of the mat for the win.
Junior A.J. Hunte wouldn't be outdone in the 197-pound match. With just 15 seconds on the clock in the third period and tied 2-2 with Matt Ryan, Hunte put Pitt ahead 15-12 with a takedown which secured the match.
Sheaffer, the 8th ranked heavyweight in the country and Dustin Rogers, the 18th ranked heavyweight battled for nearly seven minutes with neither wrestler able to score a takedown. With under 10 seconds left on the clock and in a flurry of action, Rogers drew the only takedown of the match, going up 3-1. Sheaffer escaped, but was unsuccessful in his ensuing shots to close out the third period.
The Panthers continue EWL action next Friday, Feb. 13 as they hit the road for a dual with Clarion University. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
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