As it has for the past two years, the dual match between Pitt (2-0) and Edinboro (0-1) came down to the wire. The Fighting Scots raced out to a 10-3 lead, getting bonus point victories at 133 and 141 pounds. But in the end, it was the Panthers' strength in the middle and heavy weights that gave Pitt the win.
With Pitt holding a 19-13 lead going into the final match at 285 pounds, sophomore John Rizzo had his back against the wall after a near fall was called against him. However, in a turn of events, Rizzo was the one who recorded the fall in 4:53 to clinch the match for the Panthers. In his two bouts this season, Rizzo has recorded a fall in each.
Freshman Dom Forys opened the match with a 6-0 decision against Edinboro's No. 18 Kory Mines at 125 pounds, giving Forys his first career win over a ranked opponent and Pitt an early 3-0 lead.
After the Panthers suffered bonus defeats to individually ranked No. 1 A.J. Schopp and No. 2 Mitchell Port at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively, sophomore No. 16 Mikey Racciato got Pitt back into the match with a 12-4 major decision against Jensen Lorea at 149 pounds. Edinboro would get only one more win on the night at 157 pounds after Racciato's victory for Pitt.
Beginning with redshirt freshman Cody Wiercioch's 5-3 decision over Casey Fuller at 165 pounds, the Panthers claimed the final five bouts of the night. Redshirt senior Troy Reaghard followed Wiercioch with a come-from-behind, 6-5 decision versus Patrick Jennings at 174 pounds, in which Reaghard outscored Jennings 3-1 in the final 15 seconds. That bout evened the team score at 13-13.
The next two bouts featured Pitt's top two active wrestlers, including the showcase of the night between redshirt senior No. 5 Max Thomusseit and No. 10 Vic Avery at 184 pounds. For the third time since February, Thomusseit got the best of Avery in a 5-3 decision, giving the Panthers the lead for good. The last time the pair met was at Nationals. At 197 pounds, sophomore No. 7 Nick Bonaccorsi earned a 4-1 decision against Vince Pickett.
Pitt has a quick turnaround and will host Bucknell on Saturday, Nov. 8 for the home opener at Fitzgerald Field House at 7 p.m.
Results:
125: Dom Forys (P) dec. #18 Kory Mines (E), 6-0; Pitt leads, 3-0
133: #1 A.J. Schopp (E) m. dec. Nick Zanetta (P), 10-0; Edinboro leads, 4-3
141: #2 Mitchell Port (E) fall Travis Shaffer (P), 5:10; Edinboro leads, 10-3
149: #16 Mikey Racciato (P) m. dec. Jensen Lorea (E), 12-4; Edinboro leads, 10-7
157: #15 Austin Matthews (E) dec. Ronnie Garbinsky (P), 7-4; Edinboro leads, 13-7
165: Cody Wiercioch (P) dec. Casey Fuller (E), 5-3; Edinboro leads, 13-10
174: Troy Reaghard (P) dec. Patrick Jennings (E), 6-5; Match tied, 13-13
184: #5 Max Thomusseit (P) dec. #10 Vic Avery (E), 5-3; Pitt leads, 16-13
197: #7 Nick Bonaccorsi (P) dec. Vince Pickett (E), 4-1; Pitt leads, 19-13
285: John Rizzo (P) fall Warren Bosch (E), 4:53; Pitt wins 25-13
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