Burak, Rahmani Collect First National Bank Weekly Honors

March 7, 2017

PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh student-athletes Kelly Burak and Taleb Rahmani were named First National Bank Athletes of the Week, announced Tuesday.

Burak, a senior gymnast, wowed with a 9.900 on the balance beam in her final meet at Fitzgerald Field House Friday, setting a career high en route to a first place finish on the apparatus. Burak posted a 9.700 in the team's meet just two days later, taking 19th against a trio of top-25 teams. The Alequippa, Pa., native ranks 17th in the region with an average beam score of 9.665 and an RQS of 9.790 (also 17th in the EAGL).

Rahmani, a redshirt freshman, entered his first ACC Wrestling Championship Saturday as the No. 3 seed in the 157-pound weight class and finished the day 3-0 to claim the title. The Marysville, Ohio, native first faced AJ Rechenmacher of North Carolina where he cruised to a 10-2 major decision. In the semifinals, Rahmani faced the No. 2 seed, Thomas Bullard of NC State. Rahmani had previously lost to the No. 21 157-pounder during the regular season, but got revenge as he won in a 4-2 decision. The championship bout featured a dominant performance as Rahmani upset the No. 1 seed and 16th-ranked Sal Mastriani of Virginia Tech in a 13-5 major decision.

The Pitt gymnastics team will face Auburn for its final meet before the EAGL Championships Friday, March 10, at 8 p.m. ET in Auburn, Ala.

Rahmani will make his first trip to the NCAA Championships Thursday, March 16, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. He will be joined by Pitt's other qualifiers in junior Dom Forys (133), sophomore TeShan Campbell (165) and redshirt junior Ryan Solomon (285). Forys and Campbell also left the ACC Championship with individual titles while Solomon finished third.

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Burak, Rahmani Collect First National Bank Weekly Honors

Players Mentioned

Kelly Burak

TeShan Campbell

Dom Forys

Taleb Rahmani

Ryan Solomon

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