University of Pittsburgh Athletics
10/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Full InterMat Release
MINNEAPOLIS – On Tuesday, Oct. 21, InterMat released its NCAA Division I preseason tournament, dual meet and individual rankings. The Panthers were slotted in the top-20 of both team polls and placed five wrestlers in the top-15 of their respective weight classes.
Pitt received 34 points in the Tournament rankings, setting the team at 15th in the country to begin the season. The Panthers were three spots higher in the Dual Meet rankings, coming in at 15th.
All-American redshirt senior Tyler Wilps leads the group of five Panthers in the rankings at the 174-pound weight class. Wilps, who is ranked fifth in his weight class, is a two-time NCAA qualifier and is the first Pitt wrestler to be crowned Atlantic Coast Conference Champion following a successful junior campaign in which he posted a 32-7 record.
Fellow redshirt senior Max Thomusseit is coming off his third NCAA appearance in as many years and is ranked sixth by InterMat at 184 pounds. He was one win shy of All-American status for the second straight season and finished as the ACC runner-up. Thomusseit ended the season with a 21-4 record, with all four of his losses coming to ranked opponents.
After a successful first season in blue and gold, sophomore Edgar Bright was picked eighth in the preseason in the 141-pound division, meaning InterMat thinks Bright has what it takes to earn the All-American title this season. Bright had 19 wins in his rookie season and was both an NCAA qualifier and runner-up at the ACC Championships, losing to eventual national finalist Devin Carter from Virginia Tech.
In his sophomore year, redshirt junior Nick Bonaccorsi qualified for his second NCAA Championship, receiving an at-large bid, and posted a career-high 24 wins on his way to falling one victory short of being an All-American. InterMat put Bonaccorsi 12th at 197-pounds to begin the 2014-15 season.
Rounding out Pitt’s preseason individual rankings is sophomore Mikey Racciato, who is ranked 15th at the 149-pound level. Racciato had a record of 22-15 as a true freshman and qualified for Nationals after advancing to the ACC finals in his weight class.
Eight of Pitt’s opponents were ranked in the Tournament poll while seven held a spot in the top-25 of the Dual Meet rankings. Three of those teams, four-time defending National Champion Penn State, Oklahoma State and Edinboto were fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. The Panthers were the third of four ACC Teams. Virginia Tech led the conference in 11th place, followed by Virginia (t16) and NC State (20). Two other non-conference opponents, Michigan (12) and Lehigh (t16) were also in the polls. NC State was the one school not in the Dual Meet rankings.
Tickets for the Pitt wrestling season are now on sale. Fans are able to purchase season and single dual tickets by going online, calling 800-643-PITT(7488), or visiting the Panthers Ticket Office located in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center. Group rates are available to all matches for 15 or more people and are available by calling the Panthers Ticket Office. Individual match tickets will also be available at the Ticket Office the day of the match, subject to availability. Group rates are not available at the door.
