Pitt Hits the Mats for First Day of Practice
9/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Sept. 27, 2007
University of Pittsburgh head wrestling coach Rande Stottlemyer and the Panthers' wrestling team will partake in their first practice of the season on Monday, Oct. 1st. Pitt will be led this season by its three returning All-Americans: Keith Gavin, Drew Headlee and Matt Kocher.
Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) is the returning National Runner-Up in the 174 pound weight class and is considered by many to be the favorite for the NCAA crown this season. He dominated his competition last season, registering a record of 28-4 en route to becoming Pitt's first national semifinalist since Carl Fronhofer in 2003.
Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) garnered his All-America honor during the 2005 season and added to his impressive resume last year when he captured a EWL title and qualified for his second NCAA Tournament. The redshirt senior will look to start 2007 the same way he began 2006 when he recorded 10 consecutive victories, including two in dual meets.
Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) place fifth at last year's NCAA Tournament after being seeded No. 11 heading into the meet. He leads Pitt with 93 career tournament victories and currently ranks seventh in Pitt annals for most career wins with 23.
Other returning starters looking to make a significant impact on the mat this season include NCAA qualifiers Sean Richmond (Emmaus, Pa./Easton)and Brad Gentzle (Easton, Pa./Easton) as well as Joe Ciampoli (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), Mark Generalovich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and former EWL champion Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley).
The Panthers will begin their 2007-08 season at Lehigh on Nov. 11. Their first home meet will be on Dec. 19 when Missouri comes to town.
