Pitt Wrestling To Begin Dual Season Friday
11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 12, 2009
PITTSBURGH -
Pitt looks to their opening weekend of the dual season as the Panthers travel to Drexel Friday for matches with Sacred Heart and Drexel, and Sunday at Lehigh.
Looking At The Panthers
The Panthers are off to a strong start to the season despite competing in no dual matches entering the weekend.
Pitt has attended two opens and has come away with numerous individual titles including three tournament titles at the Buffalo Open and two at the Clarion Open.
Along with 2009 NCAA Qualifiers Jimmy Conroy (133), Tyler Nauman (141) and Ethan Headlee (165), Pitt expects to have some new faces make an impact. Junior Ryan Tomei has stepped on the scene following a redshirt season in 2008-09.
Stottlemyer’s 30-Year Stint
Pitt head coach Rande Stottlemyer is entering his 31st season at the helm of the Panther program. Through 30 seasons, Stottlemyer is the winningest coach in Pitt history, recording a 251-215-11 record, including a 4-7-1 mark last season in dual action.
Stottlemyer helped guide four wrestlers to the NCAA Tournament last season, with three of those returning in 2009-10.
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Pitt vs. Sacred Heart
The Pioneers enter the weekend with an 0-1 dual match record after a 43-0 loss to Rutgers. Sacred Heart concluded the 2008-09 season with a 7-10 dual mark.
Having lost only three seniors to graduation, Sacred Heart is looking to build on last season.
Series History
Pitt and Sacred Heart will have their first meeting on Friday.
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Pitt at Drexel
Drexel opens the weekend with Pitt and Sacred Heart, holding a 1-1 dual record. The Dragons picked up a 37-9 win over York, but fell to No. 10 Maryland 35-6.
In their win over York, Drexel wreslters opened the match with three consecutive falls.
Series History
Pitt and Drexel have faced each other just twice with the Panthers claiming the win each time.
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Pitt at Lehigh
The Panthers will meet up with a familiar face on Sunday as Pitt takes on the 17th-ranked Mountain Hawks and head coach Pat Santoro, who was a Pitt four-time All-American from 1986-89, as well as a two-time NCAA Champion (1988, 1989) for the Panthers.
Lehigh is 1-0 entering the weekend, after a 31-3 win over Rider on Nov. 8. The Mountain Hawks will be hosting No. 15 Penn State on Friday at 7 p.m.
Series History
Lehigh holds a 36-15-2 record over the Panthers, including last season’s 27-9 loss.
Up To This Point
Tyler Nauman (141) and Ethan Headlee (174) claimed titles at the Clarion Open on Nov. 8, while seven others placed. Nauman went undefeated on the day, including a pin (1:43) over Matt Bogusz of Maryland. In the finals, Nauman was to meet up with teammate Dane Johnson, but Johnson, a true freshman, took a forfeit to give Nauman the title. Johnson also had an outstanding tournament as he wrestled unattached, winning four matches prior to the finals.
At 174, Headlee wrestled unattached but won five straight including a pin (6:32) against Robert Doyle of the US Military Academy, and a 7-5 victory over Hayden Harrison of host Clarion in the finals.
Freshman Dane Johnson had a successful first tournament on the collegiate level at the Buffalo Open as the rookie earned a first round bye, then went on to a 4-0 sweep on his way to the 141 title.
In the 197 weight class, sophomore Matt Wilps picked up the second tournament win of his career. Pitt’s most impressive title win of the day came in the heavyweight division as redshirt junior Ryan Tomei earned his fifth career tournament win, setting the pace with three straight bonus-point wins to open the day.
Tomei the Terrible
Junior Ryan Tomei returned from his redshirt season with a bang as he bullied his way to the heavyweight title at the Buffalo Open. For his efforts, Tomei was named the Eastern Wrestling League’s Wrestler of the Week.