PITT WRESTLING TEAM TO PARTICIPATE IN WRESTLE-OFFS
11/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 1, 2006
PITTSBURGH - The Pitt wrestling team will participate in wrestle-offs to determine the starters at each weight class for the upcoming 2006-07 season. The intra-squad meet will take place at the Fitzgerald Field House on Thursday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
Four Panthers will compete for the starting position at 125 pounds. Sophomore Brad Gentzle, a 2006 NCAA qualifier, will take on true freshman Zack Fraley, the 2006 West Virginia state champion. True freshman Jimmy Conroy, a four-time New Jersey state place-winner will wrestle fellow true freshman John Sutika, a three-time Pennsylvania regional champion. The winners of each bout will contend for the starting spot.
At the 133-pound weight class, 2005 All-American Drew Headlee will take on junior Zach Bowman for the starting position. Headlee was sidelined last season with a wrist injury while Bowman finished with a 2-6 record.
Three Panthers will compete at 149 pounds. True freshman Mark Generalovich, who complied a 105-39 record at Thomas Jefferson High School, will take on sophomore Julian Warshaw. Warshaw redshirted last year with the Panthers but picked up his first colligate win at the East Stroudsburg Open. The winner of the match will face sophomore Dave Kapetanovich, who finished last season with an 8-11 record.
At 165 pounds, junior Tim Allen will wrestle true freshman Brock Mantella. Allen ended last season with a 4-6 record, while Mantella joins the Panthers as a two-time state place-winner from Georgia. The winner of this bout will face sophomore Sean Richmond. Richmond finished with an 11-16 record last year.
Three Panthers will compete for the starting slot at 174 pounds. Sophomore Kyle Deliere, who compiled a 7-21 overall record last season, will take on true freshman Jake Pelletier. The winner of that match will wrestle junior Keith Gavin for the starting position at 174 pounds. Gavin compiled a 23-7 tournament record last season.
Two Panthers will compete in the 184-pound weight class for the starting slot. Senior Mike Heist, a 2006 NCAA qualifier, will face sophomore Matt Darnell, who compiled a 3-12 record in tournament action last season.
Junior Eric Cassidy and true freshman A.J. Hunte will compete for the staring position at 197 pounds. Cassidy did not complete last season due to a back injury, while Hunte joins the Panthers as the reigning Massachusetts state champion.
The heavyweight matchup will be between 2005 NCAA qualifier and EWL Champion Zach Sheaffer and true freshman Ryan Tomei. A knee injury sidelined Sheaffer last season, while Tomei comes to Pitt as a two-time Pennsylvania state placewinner.
The Panthers will open their season in a 7 p.m. match up at Rider on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Pitt's home opener will be at the Fitzgerald Field House on Wednesday, Nov. 22 against Bloomsburg at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
