Panthers Host Huskies in EWL Showdown
11/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 18, 2008
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team will host its second straight home dual meet tomorrow, Nov. 19, at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers welcome Eastern Wrestling League rival, Bloomsburg, for a 7 p.m. showdown. Pitt looks to rebound from its season-opening loss to No. 23 Lehigh.
The Huskie Department
Bloomsburg opens its dual season on the road at Pitt. The Huskies only action so far this season came at the Michigan State Open, where 125-pounder Ian Moser and 157-pounder Matt Moley both earned third place finishes. Moser posted a 3-1 record on the day while Moley, the No. 11 ranked wrestler in the latest USA Today/Internmat/NWCA rankings, went 4-1.
Early Start
Pitt opens Eastern Wrestling League action against Bloomsburg in just its second dual match of the season. Although the Panthers start the season off with an EWL match, fans will have to wait just under a month until Pitt finds itself in league action once again.
Up for Grabs
When Pitt and Bloomsburg meet Wednesday, Nov. 19, more than first place in atop the EWL standings is at stake. The Panthers and Huskies enter the 33rd match in the series that started during the 1975-76 season and now stands with each team tied with 16 wins. Pitt has won each of the last two matches and 12 of the past 15, including the last two at Fitzgerald Field House.
Takin' Care of Business
The last meeting between the Bloomsburg Huskies and the Pitt Panthers was settled in dramatic fashion. Heavyweight Zach Sheaffer entered the final match of the night with his team trailing 16-15, needing a decision for the win. Sheaffer took care of business against the No. 6 ranked wrestler in the country, winning 2-1 in overtime to give the Panthers an 18-16 win over the conference rival Huskies.
Domination
Several Pittsburgh wrestlers competed in the 26th annual West Virginia Open Saturday, Nov. 15. The Panthers boasted six place finishers out of 15 wrestlers and also claimed three individual titles. Brad Gentzle posted a 4-0 mark to win the 133-pound bracket while Eric Albright went 3-0 to win the 141-pound bracket. Ryan Tomei was the third and final Pitt wrestler to dominate the field, claiming the heavyweight title after rolling through three straight matches.
At 125, Chris Kochinsky took fourth place after going 3-2. In the 184-pound bracket, teammates Brock Mantella and Andy Vaughan met in the third place match, with Mantella winning 4-2. Mantella collected five wins on the day while Vaughan went 3-2.
Elder Albright Stealing Show
For at least the next two seasons, Pitt wrestling will continue to enjoy a pair of brothers competing on the same team. Last season, Ethan Headlee joined brother Drew as a Panther while this season its the brothers Albright who are stealing the show. Eric Albright, a transfer from Virginia who is redshirting this season, has quickly accumulated a team-high 11 wins over the span of three open tournaments. Alright has won two of those three, placing first at both the EMU Open Nov. 1 and at the West Virginia Open No. 15. The only open Albright has competed in and not won - the Michigan State Open, where he went 3-1 to take second place.
And Boom Goes the Dynamite
Pitt's season-opening dual against Lehigh started off on a good note with freshman Chris Albright giving the Panthers the early 3-0 lead after the first match. Four matches later with the score tied at 6-6, Lehigh turned up the heat with a pin, going on to register five straight wins, including two falls to put the match out of reach. Along with Albright, redshirt freshman Tyler Nauman picked up the first dual win of his career, a 4-1 decision over Seth Ciasulli.