Session 1 Recap: Three Panthers Advance at NCAA Championships

Thursday, March 21

Pittsburgh, Pa.

12 P.M.

Pitt

Session 1

Session 1 Recap: Three Panthers Advance at NCAA Championships

3/21/2019 4:30:00 PM | Wrestling

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PITTSBURGH – Three Pitt wrestlers advanced to the Round of 16 with wins in the opening session of the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday afternoon.

Redshirt freshmen Micky Phillippi (133) and Nino Bonaccorsi (184) and junior Demetrius Thomas (285) all triumphed in their debut matches at NCAAs with impressive performances. The trio will each compete in the second round of the championship bracket on Thursday evening.

Juniors Taleb Rahmani (157) and Kellan Stout (197) also represented the Panthers in the opening round and were defeated in matches that came down to the final seconds. They will each look to advance in the consolation wrestleback brackets beginning later Thursday.

Below is a recap of each session one bout:

133 | #4 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. #29 Gary Joint (Fresno State), 4-2
Phillippi won his debut match at the NCAA Championships as Pitt's 4th-seeded redshirt freshman defeated No. 29 Gary Joint of Fresno State by 4-2 decision. Phillippi secured a late takedown in the opening three-minute frame to lead 2-0 after the opening period. He earned an escape point early in the second period and tallied another escape point after Joint recorded a takedown. The third period was scoreless as Phillippi advanced to the second round.

Next Match: #4 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) vs. #13 Austin Gomez (Iowa State)

157 | #21 Justin Thomas (Oklahoma) dec. #12 Taleb Rahmani (Pitt), 7-1
Rahmani dropped a tough match in the final seconds to Oklahoma's Justin Thomas. The No. 21 seed from the Sooners scored six points late in the third period after Rahmani and Thomas were deadlocked at 1-1 after a hard-fought bout. Looking for the win, Rahmani attempted a late takedown, but Thomas countered well and secured two points for a takedown as well as four nearfall points to advance.

Next Match: #12 Taleb Rahmani (Pitt) vs. #28 Hunter Willits (Oregon State)

184 | #13 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. #20 Will Sumner (Utah Valley), 11-4
Bonaccorsi dominated his first career match at the NCAA Championships, advancing with an 11-4 decision over Utah Valley's Will Sumner. Seeded 13th, Bonaccorsi attacked in the opening seconds and scored the first takedown. He added to that advantage throughout the match with more takedowns and a key reversal in the second period. The Pitt redshirt freshman finished with about three minutes of riding time in the match to secure his place in the Round of 16.

Next Match: #13 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) vs. #4 Emery Parker (Illinois)

197 | #10 Tom Sleigh (Virginia Tech) dec. #23 Kellan Stout (Pitt), 2-1
Stout was unable to upset No. 10 Tom Sleigh of Virginia Tech, falling by a narrow 2-1 decision on a riding time point earned by the Hokies in the third period. Sleigh scored first with an escape in the second frame, but Stout was unable to get out until late in the third period and dropped his opening match at the NCAA Championships.

Next Match: #23 Kellan Stout (Pitt) vs. #26 Anthony McLaughlin (Air Force)

285 | #8 Demetrius Thomas (Pitt) dec. #25 Gannon Gremmel (Iowa State), 11-7
In typical high-scoring fashion, Thomas advanced to the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships with an 11-7 decision over Gannon Gremmel of Iowa State. Coming off winning the ACC title, Thomas made his debut at NCAAs with a

Next Match: #8 Demetrius Thomas (Pitt) vs. #9 Matt Stencel (Central Michigan)

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