Pitt Tops EWL Preseason Rankings
10/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Oct. 24, 2011
PITTSBURGH -The Pitt wrestling team has been selected to finish first in the Eastern Wrestling League this season in the WrestlingReport.com preseason rankings.
Pitt has captured the past two EWL regular season titles and added its first-ever EWL tournament championship last season. The past two regular season titles came down to Pitt's match with Edinboro. That match is once again scheduled to be the final conference tilt for the Panthers this season. Edinboro is ranked fourth in the preseason.
There is a two-way tie for second place between Bloomsburg and West Virginia. Clarion, Lock Haven and Cleveland State round out the teams from fifth to seventh.
Four Pitt wrestlers top the individual rankings, including senior Tyler Nauman, a three-time EWL champion. Nauman, who bumps up to 149 pounds this season, is looking to become the first Pitt wrestler and just the fifth wrestler from any school to win four EWL titles.
Anthony Zanetta is ranked first at 125 pounds after winning the conference title in each of his first two seasons. Both of Zanetta's titles were clinched with wins over West Virginia junior Shane Young, who is ranked second.
Pitt senior Ethan Headlee leads the pack at 165. A three-time national qualifier, Headlee won his first conference title last season. Clarion's Bekzod Abdurakhmanov finished third at the conference tournament and is ranked second in the preseason poll.
Matt Wilps is the fourth Panther wrestler ranked first at his weight. The junior redshirted last season, but was a national qualifier two years ago as a sophomore. While competing in open tournaments last season, Wilps finished 18-2, including a championship run at the highly competitive Midlands Championships. His conference title two years ago came via a 12-4 major decision over Clarion's Alex Thomas, who is ranked second this preseason.
Returning national qualifier Max Thomusseit is ranked second at 184 for the Panthers. Chris Honeycutt, who topped Thomusseit 7-2 to win the EWL title, is ranked first.
Other Pitt wrestlers appearing in the preseason individual conference rankings are returning national qualifier Donnie Tasser (third at 157), Shelton Mack (third at 133), either Tyler Wilps or Karl DeCiantis (third at 174) and either Travis Shaffer or Ronnie Garbinsky (honorable mention at 141).
Fans will get their first chance to view this year's Pitt wrestling team on Thursday when the Panthers host their annual Blue-Gold Match. The match begins at 6 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Field House.
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