#10 Pitt Hosts #7 Virginia Tech in Regular Season Finale Saturday

PITTSBURGH -- The 10th-ranked University of Pittsburgh wrestling team [9-4, 2-2 ACC] hosts seventh-ranked Virginia Tech [11-2, 2-2 ACC] Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Field House in the regular season finale.

SENIOR NIGHT

Prior to the beginning of the dual, Pitt will recognize its four seniors:

HOW TO FOLLOW

Saturday's dual will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and streamed the ESPN App or by clicking here.
Live scoring and results will be live on TrackWrestling.
Follow the team on Twitter for in-match updates at @Pitt_WRES.

LAST TIME OUT

Pitt dropped a 22-14 decision to No. 8 North Carolina Friday, Feb. 14.
Pitt captured wins at four weight classes, including the final three bouts.
Redshirt sophomore Micky Phillippi shutout No. 33 Jamie Hernandez, 3-0, for his 22nd win of the year.
Redshirt sophomore Nino Bonaccorsi picked up his 10th major decision of the year at 184 pounds.
Senior Demetrius Thomas also won by major decision, defeating No. 29 Andrew Gunning, 12-4.
Redshirt senior Kellan Stout also earned a win in the dual.

THE SERIES - VIRGINIA TECH

Friday marks the 17th meeting between the Hokies and Panthers.
Pitt leads the all-time series, 11-5.
In the last meeting a year ago, then-ranked No. 13 Pitt fell short to No. 12 Virginia Tech, 27-6, in Blacksburg, Va.
The Hokies have won the past five contests between the teams. The Panthers' last win came in 2014 when Pitt won 19-14 in Pittsburgh.
Virginia Tech has held Pitt to 10 team points or fewer in the past five matches, and to six points or fewer in the last two meetings.

SCOUTING THE HOKIES

Seventh-ranked Virginia Tech enters the match 11-2 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. The Hokies' two losses came against North Carolina and NC State.
In its last time out, Virginia Tech fell to No. 3 NC State, 21-18. The Hokies won four bouts in the loss.
Virginia Tech returned four NCAA qualifiers from a year ago.
The Hokies currently have eight ranked wrestlers in the second coaches' panel rankings of the year. The highest ranking comes at 184 pounds with Hunter Bolen ranked second. The other rankings include 125 (15th), 133 (22nd), 141 (21st), 149 (26th), 157 (17th) and 165 (6th).
Virginia Tech finished the 2018-19 season 9-5 overall and 3-2 against ACC foes.
The Hokies finished second at the ACC Championships and 11th at NCAAs.
Virginia Tech is led by third year head coach Tony Robie.

PITT IN THE COACHES' PANEL RANKINGS

Nine Pitt wrestlers were listed in the second of four NCAA Coaches' Panel Rankings and RPI, announced Thursday, Feb. 13.

Wt.	Name	Rk.	RPI
125	Louis Newell	--	26
133	Micky Phillippi	5	2
141	Cole Matthews	23	--
157	Taleb Rahmani	28	30
165	Jake Wentzel	11	12
174	Gregg Harvey	21	11
184	Nino Bonaccorsi	9	13
197	Kellan Stout	--	25
285	Demetrius Thomas	10	6

The final rankings will be one of the criteria used as part of the selection process to determine qualifiers and seeding for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 19-21 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
The rankings are determined by a vote of 14 head coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the seven conferences.
For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have participated in at least five matches against Division I opponents in the weight class and have wrestled within the last 30 days to be ranked.
The first two rankings (Jan. 24/Feb. 13) are used primarily for educational purposes to promote the selection criteria to coaches, student-athletes, media and fans.
The third ranking (Feb. 27) will be the ranking that will be used by the NCAA Wrestling Committee to assist in determining the advance allocations to each qualifying tournament. The final ranking following conference tournaments will be used to provide the most accurate and up-to-date rankings to the committee as an important element of the selection criteria during the in-person selection meeting.

PITT IN THE TOP 10

Pitt cracked the top 10 of the NWCA Rankings Tuesday, Nov. 26 for the first time since 2015.
The Panthers had previously earned a No. 10 rankings eight times.
This is Pitt's eighth week being ranked No. 10. The Panthers previously ranked No. 10 for seven consecutive weeks earlier this season.

ACC WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets for the 2020 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Championship are now on sale. The Championship, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh, will take place Sunday, March 8 at the Petersen Events Center.

To order tickets, visit theacc.co/20ACCtix.
- Ticket Prices (all seating is general admission):
- Single: $10
- Children (18 & under): $5
- Group (15+ people): $3/person
March 8, 2020 will mark just the second time that Pitt has hosted the conference championship since joining the league in 2013. Pitt served as the host institution on March 8, 2015 and saw three Panthers earn titles.

LOOKING AHEAD

Pitt enters postseason Sunday, March 8 as the Panthers host the 2020 ACC Championship at the Petersen Events Center.
Qualifiers will then head to Minneapolis, Minn., for the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships March 19-21 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

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#10 Pitt Hosts #7 Virginia Tech in Regular Season Finale Saturday

Players Mentioned

Nino Bonaccorsi

Curtis Decker

Gregg Harvey

Cole Matthews

Louis Newell

Micky Phillippi

Taleb Rahmani

Kellan Stout

Demetrius Thomas

Jake Wentzel

#10 Pitt Hosts #7 Virginia Tech in Regular Season Finale Saturday

Players Mentioned

Nino Bonaccorsi

Curtis Decker

Gregg Harvey

Cole Matthews

Louis Newell

Micky Phillippi

Taleb Rahmani

Kellan Stout

Demetrius Thomas

Jake Wentzel

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