With the victory, the Panthers move to 4-10 on the season and 2-3 against ACC foes, while the Cavaliers drop to 4-10 overall and 0-5 in conference competition.
Seven Pitt wrestlers recorded wins on the night in redshirt senior Ryan Solomon (285), senior Dom Forys (133), redshirt senior Nick Zanetta (141), junior Robert Lee (149), redshirt sophomore Taleb Rahmani (157), redshirt freshman Gregg Harvey (184) and redshirt sophomore Kellan Stout (197).
The dual started at 285 pounds, where Solomon earned a win in his last home match for the Panthers, picking up an 8-0 major decision over Tyler Love. Solomon used two takedowns, an escape, two penalty points and a point for riding time to earn the bonus-point win. The victory gave the Panthers a 4-0 advantage to start the match.
Next up was 125 pounds, where a contentious battle saw Virginia's No. 15 Louie Hayes win in a 5-1 decision over junior LJ Bentley in overtime. The two went into the second period scoreless before Hayes escaped. Bentley evened up the score in the third period with an escape of his own, sending the match into overtime. Hayes captured four points via takedown and two-point nearfall to earn the sudden victory decision. The loss brought the score to 4-3 in favor of the Panthers.
Forys, ranked 11th in the nation, extended Pitt's lead to 9-3 with a dominating victory over Sam Brook. Forys earned a 22-5 technical fall over Book in just the second period.
The Panthers continued their strong day in the 141 pound bout, where Zanetta earned a 3-1 decision against Virginia's Sam Martino. Martino took the first point in the match via an escape in the second period before Zanetta earned a takedown to go into the third period with a 2-1 advantage. Zanetta then earned another point off an escape from bottom in the third period to take the 3-1 decision and push the Panthers lead to 12-3.
Lee continued Pitt's strong night with an 8-3 decision over Jake Keating. Lee's points in the match came from three takedowns, an escape and a riding time point. The victory increased Pitt's lead to 15-3.
Next up was 157 pounds, where Rahmani pinned Virginia's Fred Green in 4:09 to give the Panthers a commanding 21-3 lead. Rahmani held a 6-2 advantage in the second period before completing the pin.
The Cavaliers earned their second overtime victory of the night at 165 pounds. Andrew Atkinson took the 9-7 decision over redshirt freshman Jake Wentzel to move the score to 21-6 in Pitt's favor. Atkinson earned a takedown late in the third period to tie the score before completing another takedown in overtime for the sudden victory decision.
Virginia earned its second consecutive victory at 174 pounds, after Will Schany won in a 7-2 decision over redshirt freshman Austin Bell, cutting Pitt's lead to 21-9.
Harvey got the Panthers back on track after picking up an 11-3 major decision over Drew Peck, giving Pitt a 25-9 lead heading into the last match of the night.
The Panthers finished the night strong at 197 pounds, where Stout earned a 6-1 decision over Virginia's Jay Aiello, giving Pitt the dominant 28-9 victory.
Pitt resumes action Sunday, Feb. 18 at Lehigh. The final dual of the year is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
Results:
285: Ryan Solomon (UP) major dec. Tyler Love (UVA), 8-0 – Pitt leads 4-0
125: No. 15 Louie Hayes (UVA) dec. LJ Bentley (UP), SV-1 5-1 – Pitt leads 4-3
133: No. 11 Dom Forys (UP) tech. fall Sam Book (UVA), 22-5 – Pitt leads 9-3
141: Nick Zanetta (UP) dec. Sam Martino (UVA), 3-1 – Pitt leads 12-3
149: Robert Lee (UP) dec. Jake Keating (UVA), 8-3 – Pitt leads 15-3
157: Taleb Rahmani (UP) pins Fred Green (UVA), 4:09 – Pitt leads 21-3
165: Andrew Atkinson (UVA) dec. Jake Wentzel (UP), SV-1 9-7 – Pitt leads 21-6
174: Will Schany (UVA) dec. Austin Bell (UP), 7-2 – Pitt leads 21-9
184: Gregg Harvey (UP) major dec. Drew Peck (UVA), 11-3 – Pitt leads 25-9
197: Kellan Stout (UP) dec. Jay Aiello (UVA), 6-1 – Pitt wins 28-9
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