WRESTLING PREPARES FOR CORNELL BODY BAR
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 17, 2006
PITTSBURGH - The Panthers are headed to Cornell on Saturday for the annual Body Bar tournament. Looking to improve upon their fifth-place finish from last season, the Panthers are bringing several top wrestlers as they take 18 team members this weekend.
Last season Pitt had five tournament placewinners and one champion when Justin Nestor won the 165-pound bout. The Panthers' only returning placewinner is redshirt sophomore Kyle Deliere (Cecil, Pa./Canon-McMillan) who finished fifth at 184 pounds.
Still, the Panthers have several undefeated competitors and are coming of a 21-13 win over Rider last week. Three of Pitt's wrestlers have made early runs this season as heavyweight Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) is 6-0 having one fall and two major decisions already. Wrestling at 157 pounds, Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) is 5-0 with two falls and a major decision. And at 165 pounds, Sean Richmond (Emmaus, Pa./Easton) is also 5-0 so far this season.
Also successful early on is Pitt's 133-pounder Drew Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) who pinned his opponent at Rider to put the Panthers ahead early on. Freshman Jimmy Conroy (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) won his first collegiate dual match last week, and Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) won his match at 174 pounds against Rider as well.
While the Panthers have a lot of talent on their side, they'll be facing a tough Cornell team that placed fifth at the NCAA tournament last year. The Body Bar is known for bringing in top-notch regional and national competitors each year and tends to be a good preview of many of the upcoming winter tournaments.
Players Mentioned
