#19 Bouzakis Flips Commitment to Pittsburgh

After posting a 25-17 win over rival West Virginia in wrestling’s version of the “Backyard Brawl” on Sunday afternoon, the University of Pittsburgh also got some good news from the recruiting trail. The #19 overall recruit in the Class of 2025, Vince Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary, PA), has flipped his verbal commitment from Ohio State to the Panthers. 

Bouzakis was most recently ranked #3 in the country at 157 lbs. He was dropped from the ranking in late December after missing multiple key events due to an injury. 

During his junior year of high school, Bouzakis won the Walsh Ironman and the Powerade Tournament, before capturing a National Prep championship at 157 lbs. Despite missing time this season, his career is overflowing with national-level accolades. 

Bouzakis has made the Fargo freestyle finals twice in his career - making the 16U finals in 2022 and winning the Junior title in 2023. Also in 2023, Bouzakis placed top-three in both styles at the U17 UWW Trials in Las Vegas. He is also a two-time Super 32 placer - taking second in 2022 and third the following year. 

Initially, Bouzakis committed to Ohio State but rumors of him decommitting from the Buckeyes surfaced after he did not ink with them during November’s signing day. His older brother, Nic, is Ohio State’s starting 133 lber and ranked ninth in the nation. 

Should Bouzakis sign with Pittsburgh, he would become only the third top-30 recruit to sign with them during the last decade. #18 Anthony Santaniello (2023) and #30 Nino Bonaccorsi (2017) are the others. 

At the next level, Bouzakis projects in the 157/165 lb range. The Panthers have plenty of young talent in that range - including #22 Dylan Evans (157); however, no one of Bouzakis’ pedigree. 

Bouzakis will join a Pitt Class of 2025 that now includes two top-100 recruits and four Big Boarders. 

For all of Pittsburgh’s recruits in the Class of 2025 and 2026 - Click Here

Bouzakis’ commitment to Pittsburgh makes him the 19th Big Boarder from the Class of 2025 to flip a commitment. InterMat recently wrote about this phenomenon with the current crop of high school seniors.