University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Preview: 149, 157, 165
11/7/2017 4:43:00 PM | Wrestling
No. 24 Panthers Open the Season Saturday, Nov. 11
Quick Facts | Schedule
PITTSBURGH – First-year head wrestling coach Keith Gavin previews the middle weights (149, 157, 165) ahead of the No. 24 Pitt Panthers opening the season Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Eastern Michigan Open.
These three weight classes feature returnees junior Robert Lee, 2017 ACC Champion Taleb Rahmani as a redshirt sophomore and redshirt freshman Jake Wentzel.
Pitt finished the 2017 season 11-5 overall with a 2-3 mark against ACC opponents while placing third at the ACC Championships.
149
Probable starter: Robert Lee (Jr.)
A native of Kaukaua, Wis., junior Robert Lee will get the starting nod at 149 pounds this year. Since joining the Panther squad, Lee has spent time at 141 and 149 pounds, and split time with redshirt senior Nick Zanetta at 141 a year ago. Lee started six duals for Pitt last season recording wins over Virginia Tech and VMI.
Gavin on 149:
"Our expected starter is Robert Lee. We also have some decent freshmen at that weight, giving us a lot of depth at that weight. We have some options, but Rob is the oldest guy of that group. He's a veteran and also has some good skills, so it's about developing and keeping his mind right so he can perform at a consistent high level."
157
Probable starter: Taleb Rahmani (RS-So.)
Ranked No. 15 in the country at 157 pounds, 2017 ACC Champion Taleb Rahmani returns to the spot he left a year ago. Rahmani jumped into the starting lineup Dec. 4, 2016 at Oklahoma State after then-starter Jake Wentzel went down with an injury. The Marysville, Ohio, native ended up having a stellar season, finishing with a team-high 25 wins and 10 falls. Rahmani is one of four returning NCAA qualifiers in 2017-18 and looks to continue his winning ways.
Gavin on 157:
"Taleb Rahmani is the expected starter. Similar to 149, we do have a lot of guys on the team that are around that weight, so we'll have quite a few options there. Taleb is the returning ACC champion so he's expected to be our starter there. With him, it's about consistency. He's had some big wins in the past and now we have to try to do that week in and week out."
165
Probable starter: Jake Wentzel (RS-Fr.)
After suffering a season-ending injury in late November of 2016, Wentzel is back and up a weight class from a year ago. The Pittsburgh native started the first four duals for the Panthers but was unable to bounce back from injury.
Gavin on 165:
"Jake Wentzel is our expected starter. He was a freshman last year and got injured about midway through, which he was unable to return from, so he didn't have much of a season last year. Jake put in a great summer though. He was one of our hardest workers and we are really happy with the work ethic and the consistency that he is showing throughout training, so we expect him to do well this year. He's young, but he's a winner and a competitor so we are looking forward to watching him compete."
Up Next
- 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:
PANTHERS IN THE PETE
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 – First-year head wrestling coach Keith Gavin previews the middle weights (149, 157, 165) ahead of the No. 24 Pitt Panthers opening the season Saturday, Nov. 11 at the Eastern Michigan Open.
These three weight classes feature returnees junior Robert Lee, 2017 ACC Champion Taleb Rahmani as a redshirt sophomore and redshirt freshman Jake Wentzel.
Pitt finished the 2017 season 11-5 overall with a 2-3 mark against ACC opponents while placing third at the ACC Championships.
149
Probable starter: Robert Lee (Jr.)
A native of Kaukaua, Wis., junior Robert Lee will get the starting nod at 149 pounds this year. Since joining the Panther squad, Lee has spent time at 141 and 149 pounds, and split time with redshirt senior Nick Zanetta at 141 a year ago. Lee started six duals for Pitt last season recording wins over Virginia Tech and VMI.
"Our expected starter is Robert Lee. We also have some decent freshmen at that weight, giving us a lot of depth at that weight. We have some options, but Rob is the oldest guy of that group. He's a veteran and also has some good skills, so it's about developing and keeping his mind right so he can perform at a consistent high level."
157
Probable starter: Taleb Rahmani (RS-So.)
Ranked No. 15 in the country at 157 pounds, 2017 ACC Champion Taleb Rahmani returns to the spot he left a year ago. Rahmani jumped into the starting lineup Dec. 4, 2016 at Oklahoma State after then-starter Jake Wentzel went down with an injury. The Marysville, Ohio, native ended up having a stellar season, finishing with a team-high 25 wins and 10 falls. Rahmani is one of four returning NCAA qualifiers in 2017-18 and looks to continue his winning ways.
"Taleb Rahmani is the expected starter. Similar to 149, we do have a lot of guys on the team that are around that weight, so we'll have quite a few options there. Taleb is the returning ACC champion so he's expected to be our starter there. With him, it's about consistency. He's had some big wins in the past and now we have to try to do that week in and week out."
165
Probable starter: Jake Wentzel (RS-Fr.)
After suffering a season-ending injury in late November of 2016, Wentzel is back and up a weight class from a year ago. The Pittsburgh native started the first four duals for the Panthers but was unable to bounce back from injury.
"Jake Wentzel is our expected starter. He was a freshman last year and got injured about midway through, which he was unable to return from, so he didn't have much of a season last year. Jake put in a great summer though. He was one of our hardest workers and we are really happy with the work ethic and the consistency that he is showing throughout training, so we expect him to do well this year. He's young, but he's a winner and a competitor so we are looking forward to watching him compete."
Up Next
- 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.
PANTHERS IN THE PETE
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.
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