University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Panthers Host Lehigh in Home Opener
11/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 11, 2008
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PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team opens its dual season this Saturday, Nov. 15, against the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks. Pitt seeks to win its third straight season-opening dual match and second straight match over Lehigh. Lehigh first-year head coach Pat Santoro returns to his alma mater where he won back-to-back National Championships for the Panthers in the late 1980s under the guidance of Rande Stottlemyer.
HOMECOMING
Lehigh first-year head coach Pat Santoro returns to his alma mater, only now leading one storied program against the one he was a part of. Santoro won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 1987-88 and 1988-89 under the guidance of Pitt head coach Rande Stottlemyer.
Santoro, the EWL Wrestler-of-the-Year in his final two seasons at Pitt was a four-time NCAA qualifier and ranks as one of the most decorated Panther wrestlers in the program's history. He ranks first in career wins (167), single season wins (49), career pins (43), single season pins (18) and holds the longest winning streak at 54 matches between his junior and senior seasons.
Santoro enters this week's match 1-0 after leading Lehigh to a 21-15 upset over No. 17 ranked Maryland back on Nov. 9.
ALL-AMERICAN AVENUE
When Pitt and Lehigh meet on the mat in the Petersen Events Center, few other programs' coaching staffs could combine to produce a better track record. Pitt front man Rande Stottlemyer was a three-time All-America honoree during his collegiate career at Pitt. Joining Stottlemyer on the Pitt bench is first-year assistant coach Keith Gavin. Gavin was a two-time All-American at Pitt and was the first National Champion to dawn a Pitt singlet since Santoro nearly 20 years ago.
Lehigh's coaching staff, led by Pitt's only four-time All-American in Santoro, is assisted by Brad Dillion, a two-time All-American from Lehigh and John Hughes, a three-time All-American and National Champion in 1995 for Penn State.
PITT'S FINEST
The last two national champions at the University of Pittsburgh will be front and center come Saturday night. Lehigh's first-year head coach is Pat Santoro, a two-time national champion in the 142-pound weight class in 1987-88 and 1988-89 for Pitt. On the Panthers bench is first-year assistant coach Keith Gavin. Gavin was a two-time finalist and 2007-08 national champion at 174 pounds.
MEDIA COVERAGE
PantherVision Productions will produce the match and it will be streamed live for free in Panthers All-Access on www.pittsburghpanthers.com. Streaming video will begin shortly before 7:00pm with former Pitt wrestler Shawn Amistade calling play-by-play. Click here to watch the Pitt vs. Lehigh match.
