Gavin Claims Title at Las Vegas Invitational
12/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 2, 2007
Keith Gavin, the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the 174 weight class, claimed victory today at the 26th Annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational after battling Michigan's Steve Luke into two overtime periods. Gavin earned the decision by a count of 3-2 and finished the tournament with five victories, including two major decisions and one fall.
Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./ Lackawanna Trail) earned a major decision against Illinois' John Dergo, 13-4, to set up the showdown with Steve, one of only two wrestlers who gave the Panthers' All-American a loss last season. Still unbeaten this season, Gavin was joined by teammates Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) and Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) as Panthers who finished in the top eight of their respective weight classes.
Kocher took fourth in the 157-pound division. His semifinal match up with Edinboro's Gregor Gillespie, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, ended in a 6-1 decision in favor of Gillespie. The nation's No. 6 ranked grappler at 157, Kocher then squared off against Craig Henning of Wisconsin, who grabbed third-place honors by a 4-2 decision.
Sheaffer began the day with a great deal of momentum in the consolation bracket after rattling off four straight victories during yesterday's bouts, but he was unable to muster the same effectiveness in today's action. His first match came against Kyle Massey of Wisconsin and he fell to the Badger, 5-2. In the seventh-place match against Missouri's Mark Ellis, Sheaffer fell with less than a minute gone in the bout and finished eighth.
Gavin, Kocher and Sheaffer's performances helped Pitt earn 68.5 points and a share of eighth place in the team competition. Michigan finished first, followed by Missouri and Ohio State.
The Panthers will return to action on Dec. 16, when they travel to Athens, Ohio for a quad meet against Ohio, UNC Greensboro and Findlay at 9 a.m.