Pittsburgh Wreslting Opens 2000-01 Season
11/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Pittsburgh Wreslting Opens 2000-01 Season
11/17/2000
Pittsburgh - The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team, ranked as high as 17th in the preseason polls, will open the 2000-01 regular season when it hosts eight-ranked Lehigh Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m., in Fitzgerald Field House.
Pittsburgh features six wrestlers that have participated in the NCAA Championships, including Shawn Amistade, Rob Loper, Justin Giovinco, Blaise Mucci, Carl Fronhofer and Dan Stine.
Amistade (Washington, Pa./Trinity) redshirted last season after qualifying for nationals at the 133-pound division in 1999. The junior returns this season at 125 pounds, where he is ranked eighth in the preseason in the weight class by InterMat. Loper (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) is a three-time NCAA qualifier and is ranked third in the preseason at 133 pounds. Loper posted an overall record of 38-6 last season, including a perfect 15-0 record in dual matches. Giovinco (Norristown, Pa./Plymouth-Whitemarsh) will wrestle at 141 pounds this season after qualifying for nationals last season at 149 pounds. The sophomore led the team with nine falls last season and was Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) runner-up in the division.
Mucci (Blairsville, Pa./Derry Area), like Giovinco, will wrestle at a different weight class this season. Mucci was the Panther's representative in the 141 division, but will move up to 149 pounds this season. Fronhofer (Salem, N.Y./Salem) earned a wild card to the 2000 NCAA Championships after posting a 29-11 record in his freshman season. He is a two-time Junior National Greco-Roman Champion and placed seventh in the World University Greco-Roman Championships, held earlier this month in Tokyo, Japan. Stine (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) is a two-time national qualifier at 197 pounds. However, this year he will compete in the 184-pound weight class.
Lehigh posted a 19-2 mark last season and finished seventh at the 2000 NCAA Championships. The Mountain Hawks return three wrestlers that posted top 10 finishes at last year's nationals, including Dave Esposito (third in 149 pounds), Rob Rohn (fifth in 184 pounds) and Ryan Bernholz (sixth in 157 pounds).
PRESEASON RANKINGS
Amateur Wrestling News:
Pittsburgh (17th) -- Rob Loper (3rd, 133 lbs.);Blaise Mucci (12th, 141 lbs.);
Justin Giovinco (14th, 149 lbs.); Carl Fronhofer (12th, 165 lbs.);
Dan Stine (11th, 197)
Lehigh (8th) -- Matt Goldstein (13th, 141 lbs.); Dave Esposito (2nd, 149 lbs.);
Ryan Bernholz (7th, 157 lbs.); Rob Rohn (4th, 184 lbs.)
InterMat:
Pittsburgh (20th) -- Shawn Amistade (8th, 125 lbs.); Rob Loper (3rd, 133 lbs.);
Blaise Mucci (12th, 141 lbs.); Justin Giovinco (14th, 149 lbs.);
Carl Fronhofer (12th, 165 lbs.); Dan Stine (11th, 197)
Lehigh (8th) -- Tristan Boyd (Hon. Mention, 133 lbs.); Matt Goldstein (17th, 141 lbs.);
Dave Esposito (2nd, 149 lbs.); Ryan Bernholz (10th, 157 lbs.);
Rob Rohn (3rd, 184 lbs.); Jon Trenge (11th, 197 lbs.);
Shawn Laughlin (16th, Hwt.)