#10 Panthers Clash with #9 Oklahoma State Saturday

PITTSBURGH – The 10th-ranked University of Pittsburgh wrestling team [4-1, 0-0 ACC] heads to Stillwater, Okla., Saturday to take on the ninth-ranked Cowboys [5-1, 1-0 Big 12] at the Gallagher-Iba Arena at 8 p.m. ET.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Saturday's dual will be streamed live on ESPN+ here.
Follow the team on Twitter for updates at @Pitt_WRES.

LAST TIME OUT

Five Panthers reached the podium at the Southern Scuffle Jan. 2, at McKenzie Arena. Pitt finished fourth as a team.
Redshirt junior Gregg Harvey earned the highest finish, placing second at 174 pounds. Three Panthers, redshirt sophomores Micky Phillippi (133) and Nino Bonaccorsi (184) and senior Demetrius Thomas (285), finished third. Redshirt junior Jake Wentzel (165) placed sixth.

THE SERIES - OKLAHOMA STATE

Saturday marks the seventh meeting between the Cowboys and Panthers.
Oklahoma State leads the all-time series, 5-1-0.
The Cowboys defeated the Panthers in their last meeting, 36-9, at the Fitzgerald Field House a year ago.
The last meeting was highlighted by then-ranked No. 4 Phillippi upsetting No. 2 Daton Fix in a 3-1 decision. Phillippi handed Fix his first collegiate loss.
Pitt's only victory came in 2014 when the Panthers upset Oklahoma State 19-18 in Pittsburgh.
The first meeting between the two teams occurred during the 2013 season.

SCOUTING THE COWBOYS

Oklahoma State enters the match 5-1, but will face West Virginia Friday night before hosting the Panthers.
In their last time out, the Cowboys defeated Northern Colorado 36-3 Jan. 12. Oklahoma State captured nine of 10 bouts in the win, recording three major decisions and three technical falls. Oklahoma State's only loss came at 133 when No. 17 Mosha Schwartz defeated No. 16 Reece Witcraft.
The Cowboys return five NCAA qualifiers from a year ago, including third place finisher Nick Piccininni (125) and seventh place Dakota Geer (184).
Oklahoma State currently has six ranked wrestlers. The Cowboys' highest ranking comes at 149 pounds with Boo Lewallen ranked third. The other rankings are at 125 (fourth), 141 (11th), 165 (ninth), 174 (12th) and 197 (10th).
Oklahoma State finished the 2018-19 season 15-0 overall and 8-0 against Big 12 foes en route to winning its 53rd Big 12 Championship and placing third at the NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh.
The Cowboys had six wrestlers claim titles at the Big 12 Championship, including then-freshmen Daton Fix (133) and Kaden Gfeller (149).
Oklahoma State is led by 29th year head coach John Smith.

PANTHERS IN THE POLLS

Pitt returned to the top 10 of the NWCA Rankings Tuesday, Nov. 26 for the first time since 2015.
For the fifth consecutive week, Pitt ranks No. 10 in the country.
The Panthers had previously earned a No. 10 rankings eight times.
Individually, five Panthers are ranked inside the top 20 by InterMat at their respective weight classes:
- Micky Phillippi – 133, #6
- Jake Wentzel – 165, #11
- Gregg Harvey – 174, #17
- Nino Bonaccorsi – 184, #7
- Demetrius Thomas – 285, #8

LOOKING AHEAD

Pitt will make its last stop of a seven-match road stretch when it opens ACC competition versus Duke Jan. 25 in Durham.
The Panthers return home for the first time since Nov. 15 on Jan. 26 when they host Edinboro at the Fitzgerald Field House.

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