No. 20 Pitt Wrestling Set for #Midlands53
12/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Dec. 28, 2015
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PITTSBURGH - The Pitt wrestling team will close out 2015 at the 53rd Ken Kraft Midlands Championships hosted by Northwestern University, Dec. 29-30 at Welsh-Ryan Arena.
The No. 20 Panthers will face some of the best wrestlers in the country from Iowa, Rutgers, Nebraska, Oklahoma and many more.
LAST TIME OUT
- The squad collected its first home victory of the season after a 24-9 win over former EWL-foe Edinboro. The victory was highlighted by sophomore Dom Forys at 133 pounds who pinned his opponent in 2:21.
- Two days later, Pitt came back for more as it upset the Badgers 25-9. The dual started with an exciting pin by redshirt sophomore Ryan Solomon at 285 pounds, while Forys defeated No. 4 Ryan Taylor and freshman TeShan Campbell won in a major decision over No. 16 Rickey Robertson.
- Forys' successful weekend earned him ACC Wrestler of the Week (12/16) - Pitt's second WOW this season.
- Pitt jumped into the national rankings for the first time this season on Dec. 15 after its two major victories. The Panthers have been ranked 20th by the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll the past two weeks.
MIDLANDS NOTES
- Northwestern announced its annual top contestants list for the high-profile event, ranking each wrestler by weight class based on InterMat individual rankings.
- Five Pitt wrestlers are on the list including #16 Dom Forys (133), #8 Mikey Racciato (141), TeShan Campbell (174), Nick Bonaccorsi (197), and #20 Ryan Solomon (285).
- Including Pitt, 16 of the top 25 teams in the country will be represented, ten of which are ranked Big Ten teams and five others.
- Iowa has won team titles the last two years and have won more team titles (24) than any other team in the history of Midlands.
PANTHERS AT MIDLANDS
- The Panthers have competed in the Midlands Championships 11 times as a team and are returning for the first time since 2012.
- Pitt has seen 27 top-8 finishes … the most coming in 2010 when seven different Panthers placed.
- Three Panthers have finished first in their respective weight classes: Pat Santoro (142 lbs. - 1987/1988), Keith Gavin (174 lbs. - 2007), Matt Wilps (197 lbs. - 2010).
- Four Panthers finished second in their weight classes: Matt Kocher (157 lbs. - 2007), Zach Sheaffer (285 lbs. - 2008), Zac Thomusseit (285 lbs. - 2012), Matt Wilps (197 lbs. - 2012).
- The Panthers first participated as a team in 1987 … Eventual two-time national champion and four-time All-American Pat Santoro won his weight class at 142 pounds.
- Prior to claiming his first national title, Pat Santoro collected another first place finish in 1988 at 142 pounds. He was also tabbed the Art Kraft Champion of Champions and has been the only Panther to do so.
- Pitt's last national champion (2008), Keith Gavin, won his weight class at Midlands in 2007.
- Current assistant head coach Matt Kocher earned a runner-up finish at Midlands in 2007 at 157 pounds. Kocher was an All-American and four-time NCAA qualifier.
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