Pitt Opens Season at Terrapin Duals
10/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Oct. 31, 2015
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team is set to open the 2015-16 season in College Park, Md., as the University of Maryland hosts the Terrapin Duals. Pitt will take on Kutztown, Maryland, and West Liberty on Sunday, Nov. 1, at the XFINITY Center. Competition is set to begin at 10 a.m.
Pitt Schedule
10 a.m. - vs. Kutztown
11:45 a.m. - vs. Maryland (BTN Plus)
3:15 p.m. - vs. West Liberty
The Panthers look to build upon their historical and successful program that has been in existence since 1914. Pitt finished the 2014-15 season 21st at NCAA's that was highlighted by a runner-up finish from then-senior Tyler Wilps at 174 pounds. Although losing Wilps to graduation, the Panthers added the decorated Pittsburgh native to the coaching staff this season as the volunteer assistant coach.
Pitt returns three NCAA qualifiers form 2014-15 and two more from the year prior. Headlining the returners is 141 pound ACC Champion Mikey Racciato who enters the season with bountiful experience as the junior claims a 44-25 career record and is a two-time NCAA qualifier. Sophomore Dom Forys is expected to be a major threat on the mat at 133 pounds after a successful freshman campaign. Rounding out last year's national qualifiers is redshirt sophomore Ryan Solomon who will compete in the 197/285 classes. In his first full season as a Panther, Solomon earned an automatic bid to nationals after a runner-up finish at ACC's. Redshirt seniors Nick Bonaccorsi and Ronnie Garbinsky headline the upperclassmen returners and both wrestlers qualified for NCAA's in 2014.
2015-16 SLATE AT A GLANCE
Pitt is set to face eight teams ranked in the top-25 USA Today/NWCA Coaches preseason poll. As announced on Oct. 27, Oklahoma State came in at the No. 1 spot and will visit Pittsburgh on Jan. 17. The Panthers next opponent, Lehigh, ranks seventh after finishing 13th at nationals last year. Three ACC schools were represented in the top-25 (Virginia Tech [6], NC State [12], and North Carolina [14]) while two other conference teams received votes, including Pitt and Virginia.
PITT IN THE POLLS
After a successful 2014-15 campaign, junior Mikey Racciato and redshirt sophomore Ryan Solomon were ranked in numerous preseason polls. Racciato is ranked as high as 13 by WIN and stands in the top-25 of Amateur Wrestling News, FloWrestling, and Wrestling Report. Solomon was tabbed ninth by WIN, 18 by Wrestling Report and 19 by InterMat. Returning NCAA qualifiers Dom Forys and Nick Bonaccorsi also collected a preseason ranking by Wrestling Report.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Kutztown
Head coach Robert Fisher enters his 16th year at the helm of the wrestling program and will meet the Panthers for the first time on Sunday. Kutztown brings in a young group of 17 freshmen and returns 17 from the previous year. The Bears graduated their most decorated wrestler in program history in two-time national champion Ziad Haddad (285). However, amongst the group of returners is All-American redshirt senior Matt Martoccio (157) who earned a seventh-place finish at 157 pounds at nationals last year. Also bringing experience to the squad is 2012 NCAA qualifier redshirt senior Brandan Clark (197).
Maryland
Pitt and the Terrapins will clash for the 26th time in program history on Sunday as the Panthers lead all meetings, 19-6, as Pitt claimed the last two in 2012 and 2013. Head coach Kerry McCoy enters his seventh year at the helm of the program and owns an 88-48-1 record with the Terrapins. Maryland is ranked fourth out of the 14 Big Ten wrestling squads entering the season.
McCoy returns top wrestlers in redshirt seniors Geoffrey Alexander (133) and Lou Mascola (157), who were both ranked in the top-20 of their respective weight classes by AWN and TOM. Alexander, a Pittsburgh native, is a three-time national qualifier and has recorded over 80 wins as a Terrapin. Mascola recorded two wins in St. Louis last year in his first NCAA Championship appearance.
West Liberty
Former Hilltopper All-American Mitch Smith enters his first year as head coach at West Liberty. WLU returns 13 and welcomes 11 freshmen to the roster.
UP NEXT
The Panthers head to the eastern side of the state for two road competitions starting on Nov. 20 at No. 7 Lehigh, followed by the Keystone Classic on Nov. 22 hosted by Penn.
#H2P
Players Mentioned
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
/ Wrestling
Pitt Wrestling Highlights | Pitt vs. North Carolina
Saturday, March 01
Highlights | Pitt vs. North Carolina
Friday, February 07
Pitt Wrestling | No. 16 Pitt 42, Duke 0 | Highlights
Sunday, February 02
Highlights | Pitt vs. Duke
Saturday, February 01