Panthers Place at Two Tournaments Over the Weekend
11/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 8, 2007
PITTSBURGH - The fruits of Pitt wrestling coaching staffs' recruiting labors were evident this weekend as the Panthers competed in two tournaments, the Washington and Jefferson College Open and the Eastern Michigan Open, and came home with multiple placewinners, many of which were freshmen.
The wrestling weekend began on Saturday when 12 Pitt grapplers traveled to Ypsilanti, Mich., to take part in the Eastern Michigan Open. Highlighting the Panthers' contingent were two of the team's incoming freshmen, Tyler Nauman (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) and Ethan Headlee (Wayneburg, Pa./Waynesburg). Nauman finished the tournament with a record of 4-1 and collected a fall and a major decision en route to a second-place finish in the 141 pound division. Headlee also found himself as a placewinner after winning three bouts on the afternoon, one of which came against Central Michigan's Michael Miller, All-American from last season in the 165 division. The frosh garnered a fourth place honor for his efforts.
Two other Panthers placed at Brown Field House on Saturday, as Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and Ryan Bosso (Pequea, Pa./Penn Manor) put on impressive performances and took fifth and sixth place, respectively. Both registered five wins on the day, with Bosso's victories including a fall and a major decision .
The weekend continued on Sunday in Washington, Pa., where eight contestants took part in the Washington and Jefferson College Open. Freshman Kyle Patton (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) stormed through the 149 weight class and finished in third place, tallying five wins on the day. Other notable performances from Sunday included fellow frosh Adam Counterman (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and Phil Sorrentino (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny). Counterman rattled off three victories, including a technical fall and a major decision, during four matches in the 157 pound class before being ousted in the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket. Sorrentino took advantage of a first round bye to make his way to the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket after disposing of two of his opponents.
The Panthers will travel to Bethlehem, Pa., this Sunday to square off against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at 1 p.m.