Friday's matches mark the final tune-up for the Panthers before they travel to the Michigan State Open on Nov. 9. Although Pitt fields a young squad that features just two returning seniors, it hopes to continue the momentum from last season's team that finished with a record of 13-4. The Panthers capped their strong 2007-08 campaign with a 16th-place finish at Nationals and a 174-pound NCAA champion in Keith Gavin.
Two true freshmen will battle at 125 pounds, as Chris Albright (York, Pa./Red Lion Area) and Chris Kochinsky (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) will take to the mat for the starting job. Junior Jimmy Conroy (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) returns at 133 pounds after earning an EWL title and qualifying for Nationals in 2008. Conroy faces challengers for the top spot in sophomore Eric Rosencranz (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown Community) and freshmen Zach Grove (York, Pa./Central York).
At 141 pounds, Tyler Nauman (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) looks to earn the top spot after posting a stellar record during his redshirt freshman season but will be tested by fellow redshirt freshmen Christian Fagan (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) and true freshman Victor Konno (Kempton, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh). A transfer from Purdue, senior Mark Powell (Washington, Pa./Trinity (Purdue)) will be in the hunt for the starting role at 149 pounds along with true freshman Donnie Tasser (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon).
In the 157-pound weight class, the winner between sophomore Adam Counterman (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) and junior Jeff Warusz (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) will man the starting position. 2008 NCAA qualifier Ethan Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) returns at 165 pounds, although redshirt freshman Phil Sorrentino (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) will push Headlee throughout the season.
Last season's starter at 184 pounds, redshirt junior Dave Sullivan (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley (East Stroudsburg)) looks to gain the top spot after dropping to the 174-pound division. Sullivan will battle redshirt freshman A.J. Brentzel (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford) and true freshman Karl DeCiantis (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) for the starting job. Four wrestlers will fight for starting time at 184 pounds this season, as true freshmen Zac Thomusseit (St. Paris, Ohio/St. Paris Graham) and Keith Dickey (Harrisburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff), redshirt freshman Andy Vaughan (Gibsonia, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) and redshirt sophomore Brock Mantella (Alpharetta, Ga./Blessed Trinity) will try to fill the slot.
At 197 pounds, the starter will be either junior A.J. Hunte (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) or true freshman Matt Wilps (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley). Two-time EWL champion and National qualifier Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) enters the year ranked as high as seventh in preseason polls. The fifth-year senior will face true freshman Dan Nickoli (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) at wrestle-offs.
Pitt opens it regular season dual meet schedule on Nov. 15, hosting in-state rival Lehigh. Last season, the Panthers topped Lehigh 24-9 in Bethlehem. This year's match marks a homecoming for Pat Santoro, who is in his first year at the helm of the Mountain Hawk program. A two-time NCAA champion for the Panthers in 1988 and 1989, Santoro leads Pitt in all-time career wins and pins. The match against Lehigh is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start in the Peterson Events Center.
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