University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Preview: 125, 133, 141
11/6/2017 5:28:00 PM | Wrestling
No. 24 Panthers Open the Season Saturday, Nov. 11
Quick Facts | Schedule
PITTSBURGH – Entering the first year at the helm of his alma mater, head coach Keith Gavin previews each weight class of the 2017 Pitt Panthers, beginning with the lower weights (125, 133, 141).
These three weight classes feature experienced wrestlers including two returning NCAA qualifiers in LJ Bentley and 2017 ACC Champion Dom Forys.
The Panthers open the 2017-18 campaign Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Pitt finished the 2017 season 11-5 overall with a 2-3 mark against ACC opponents while placing third at the ACC Championships.
125
Probable starter(s): LJ Bentley (Jr.) / Brendan Price (Sr.) / Jake Cherry (Fr.)
Coming off injury, junior LJ Bentley will ease his way back into the lineup. Bentley has been the Panthers' go-to 125-pounder since the St. Edwards (Ohio) graduate stepped foot on campus. The Twinsburg, Ohio, native is 34-25 all-time and qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman in 2016. Also on hand for 125 pounds is senior Brendan Price, a native of Canonsburg, Pa., and freshman Jake Cherry from Central Dauphin, Pa.
Gavin on 125:
"LJ Bentley is our expected starter. He is coming off an injury, so we are bringing him back slowly and making sure that he is ready. In the meantime, we have Brendan Price who should be in the first few duals. We also have Jake Cherry trying to make his way down, so it will be one of those three guys."
133
Probable starter: Dom Forys (Sr.)
Ranked No. 7 in the country entering his final year as a Panther is senior Dom Forys. Forys, a three-time NCAA qualifier, looks to reach the podium in Cleveland for the first time in his career. The Pittsburgh native had a standout junior campaign, going 21-3 overall and capturing the 133-pound ACC title. He won 13-straight matches from Jan. 14 through March 16. His win streak was snapped at NCAA's by 14th-seeded Mitch McKee of Minnesota. Forys also found success in duals a year ago, going 11-1 while finishing a perfect 5-0 against ACC opponents.
Gavin on 133:
"Dom Forys will be our starter at 133. He's working hard and doing well. We are trying to take it day by day with Dom. He's a senior, so he's been through the ringer. With seniors, you want to make sure they're healthy, and he's doing a good job with that, taking care of his body. We have big expectations for him, but we are going to make sure we focus on daily improvement with him."
141
Probable starter: Nick Zanetta (RS-Sr.)
Redshirt senior Nick Zanetta also enters his final season as Pitt's 141-pounder. Zanetta started 10 duals at 141 a year ago, sharing time with junior Robert Lee. The Pittsburgh native has recorded 50 wins during his career and shined in tournaments during the 2016-17 season, going 14-8.
Gavin on 141:
"Our expected starter is Nick Zanetta. Similar to Dom [Forys], Nick is a senior, so he's been through this quite a bit. He's mature, he knows what to expect and we are trying to get him over the hump. We think he has some of the best skills on our team, but we have to get him in the right mindset to compete at a high level consistently."
Up Next
- Middle weights preview (149, 157, 165): Tuesday, Nov. 7
- Upper weights preview (174, 184, 197, 285): Wednesday, Nov. 8
CATCH ALL THE ACTION
New this year, Pitt will be offering a flex season ticket package for $35. Each package will include a total of seven tickets, which can be used for any match. Tickets can be used traditionally (one ticket for each match) or in any combination (two tickets for three matches, seven tickets for one match, etc.).
Benefits for Flex Season Ticketholders include:
Pitt versus Virginia will be the lone dual held in the Petersen Events Center this year. Fans with flex season tickets will have the option to sit in a reserved seating area similar to when Pitt wrestles in the Fitzgerald Field House. Flex season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here. Single tickets for the Virginia dual can be purchased by clicking here. The last time Pitt wrestled in the Petersen Events Center in 2015, the Panthers drew 7,103 spectators when they hosted Penn State.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
PITTSBURGH – Entering the first year at the helm of his alma mater, head coach Keith Gavin previews each weight class of the 2017 Pitt Panthers, beginning with the lower weights (125, 133, 141).
These three weight classes feature experienced wrestlers including two returning NCAA qualifiers in LJ Bentley and 2017 ACC Champion Dom Forys.
The Panthers open the 2017-18 campaign Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Eastern Michigan Open in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Pitt finished the 2017 season 11-5 overall with a 2-3 mark against ACC opponents while placing third at the ACC Championships.
125
Probable starter(s): LJ Bentley (Jr.) / Brendan Price (Sr.) / Jake Cherry (Fr.)
Coming off injury, junior LJ Bentley will ease his way back into the lineup. Bentley has been the Panthers' go-to 125-pounder since the St. Edwards (Ohio) graduate stepped foot on campus. The Twinsburg, Ohio, native is 34-25 all-time and qualified for the NCAA Championships as a freshman in 2016. Also on hand for 125 pounds is senior Brendan Price, a native of Canonsburg, Pa., and freshman Jake Cherry from Central Dauphin, Pa.
"LJ Bentley is our expected starter. He is coming off an injury, so we are bringing him back slowly and making sure that he is ready. In the meantime, we have Brendan Price who should be in the first few duals. We also have Jake Cherry trying to make his way down, so it will be one of those three guys."
133
Probable starter: Dom Forys (Sr.)
Ranked No. 7 in the country entering his final year as a Panther is senior Dom Forys. Forys, a three-time NCAA qualifier, looks to reach the podium in Cleveland for the first time in his career. The Pittsburgh native had a standout junior campaign, going 21-3 overall and capturing the 133-pound ACC title. He won 13-straight matches from Jan. 14 through March 16. His win streak was snapped at NCAA's by 14th-seeded Mitch McKee of Minnesota. Forys also found success in duals a year ago, going 11-1 while finishing a perfect 5-0 against ACC opponents.
"Dom Forys will be our starter at 133. He's working hard and doing well. We are trying to take it day by day with Dom. He's a senior, so he's been through the ringer. With seniors, you want to make sure they're healthy, and he's doing a good job with that, taking care of his body. We have big expectations for him, but we are going to make sure we focus on daily improvement with him."
141
Probable starter: Nick Zanetta (RS-Sr.)
Redshirt senior Nick Zanetta also enters his final season as Pitt's 141-pounder. Zanetta started 10 duals at 141 a year ago, sharing time with junior Robert Lee. The Pittsburgh native has recorded 50 wins during his career and shined in tournaments during the 2016-17 season, going 14-8.
"Our expected starter is Nick Zanetta. Similar to Dom [Forys], Nick is a senior, so he's been through this quite a bit. He's mature, he knows what to expect and we are trying to get him over the hump. We think he has some of the best skills on our team, but we have to get him in the right mindset to compete at a high level consistently."
Up Next
- Middle weights preview (149, 157, 165): Tuesday, Nov. 7
- Upper weights preview (174, 184, 197, 285): Wednesday, Nov. 8
CATCH ALL THE ACTION
New this year, Pitt will be offering a flex season ticket package for $35. Each package will include a total of seven tickets, which can be used for any match. Tickets can be used traditionally (one ticket for each match) or in any combination (two tickets for three matches, seven tickets for one match, etc.).
Benefits for Flex Season Ticketholders include:
- Flexibility to use the tickets in any combination and get the most usage out of them
- Access to a reserved seating area at the center of the mat, available up until 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the match
- A set of Pitt wrestling gifts per Flex Season Ticket Package purchased (to be picked up at a match), which includes a stainless steel Pitt wrestling koozie and rally towel.
Pitt versus Virginia will be the lone dual held in the Petersen Events Center this year. Fans with flex season tickets will have the option to sit in a reserved seating area similar to when Pitt wrestles in the Fitzgerald Field House. Flex season tickets are now on sale and can be purchased here. Single tickets for the Virginia dual can be purchased by clicking here. The last time Pitt wrestled in the Petersen Events Center in 2015, the Panthers drew 7,103 spectators when they hosted Penn State.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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