University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Sunday, January 3
Annapolis, Md.
5 PM
Pitt
at
Navy
1/2/2021 11:00:00 AM | Wrestling
PITTSBURGH—The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team opens its 2021 campaign on Sunday evening with an exciting dual matchup against the United States Naval Academy at 5 p.m. in Annapolis, Md.
The Panthers, who were ranked No. 14 by the NWCA Coaches Poll ahead of the 2021 season, haven't faced Navy in wrestling since 1997.
After an offseason of uncertainty amidst the pandemic, Pitt head coach Keith Gavin finally begins his fourth season in charge of the Panthers with a matchup against first-year Navy coach Cary Kolat, who joined the Midshipmen after a successful spell at Campbell.
"We know Navy's new head coach Cary Kolat really well. He's a Pennsylvania great and an outstanding coach," Gavin said. "They have a very good dual meet team with several ranked wrestlers. Navy obviously produces extremely tough and disciplined men, so it should be a great matchup on Sunday."
Following a 2019-20 campaign that finished with Pitt challenging for the ACC Championship and producing three individual conference champions before the NCAA Championships were canceled due to the virus, Coach Gavin and the Panthers are excited to be competing again.
"We've been fortunate to be able to train without any shutdowns," said Gavin. "But it's also been a bit boring without an opponent to wrestle against. The team has been eagerly waiting for the season to start, and we're excited to compete against another team for the first time with this group."
The Panthers enter 2021 with five wrestlers ranked in the Top 25 of their respective weight classes in the preseason FloWrestling individual rankings.
Juniors Nino Bonaccorsi and Micky Phillippi boast the highest rankings. Bonaccorsi is tabbed No. 5 after bumping up to 197 pounds, while returning back-to-back ACC champion Phillippi is placed No. 6 at 133.
Another defending ACC champion, senior Jake Wentzel came in at No. 7 in FloWrestling's preseason rankings for the 165-pound weight class. Sophomore Cole Matthews and senior Gregg Harvey were also placed at No. 16 at 141 pounds and No. 23 at 184 pounds, respectively, ahead of the new campaign.
Navy's lineup features four wrestlers listed in those rankings, with each of them appearing in a weight class that also includes a ranked Pitt student-athlete.
Sunday's potential matchups include Phillippi facing No. 21 Casey Cobb at 133, Matthews challenging No. 21 Cody Trybus at 141, Wentzel meeting No. 8 Tanner Skidgel at 165 and Bonaccorsi squaring off with No. 24 Jacob Koser at 197.
Fans with an ESPN+ subscription can watch Pitt wrestling's 2021 season opener at this link.
Off stream, several other Panthers will begin their 2021 campaign with matchups against the Midshipmen as Pitt and Navy wrestling student-athletes will meet in numerous other head-to-head contests outside of the dual to give additional competitors the chance to wrestle.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Panthers, who were ranked No. 14 by the NWCA Coaches Poll ahead of the 2021 season, haven't faced Navy in wrestling since 1997.
After an offseason of uncertainty amidst the pandemic, Pitt head coach Keith Gavin finally begins his fourth season in charge of the Panthers with a matchup against first-year Navy coach Cary Kolat, who joined the Midshipmen after a successful spell at Campbell.
"We know Navy's new head coach Cary Kolat really well. He's a Pennsylvania great and an outstanding coach," Gavin said. "They have a very good dual meet team with several ranked wrestlers. Navy obviously produces extremely tough and disciplined men, so it should be a great matchup on Sunday."
Following a 2019-20 campaign that finished with Pitt challenging for the ACC Championship and producing three individual conference champions before the NCAA Championships were canceled due to the virus, Coach Gavin and the Panthers are excited to be competing again.
"We've been fortunate to be able to train without any shutdowns," said Gavin. "But it's also been a bit boring without an opponent to wrestle against. The team has been eagerly waiting for the season to start, and we're excited to compete against another team for the first time with this group."
The Panthers enter 2021 with five wrestlers ranked in the Top 25 of their respective weight classes in the preseason FloWrestling individual rankings.
Juniors Nino Bonaccorsi and Micky Phillippi boast the highest rankings. Bonaccorsi is tabbed No. 5 after bumping up to 197 pounds, while returning back-to-back ACC champion Phillippi is placed No. 6 at 133.
Another defending ACC champion, senior Jake Wentzel came in at No. 7 in FloWrestling's preseason rankings for the 165-pound weight class. Sophomore Cole Matthews and senior Gregg Harvey were also placed at No. 16 at 141 pounds and No. 23 at 184 pounds, respectively, ahead of the new campaign.
Navy's lineup features four wrestlers listed in those rankings, with each of them appearing in a weight class that also includes a ranked Pitt student-athlete.
Sunday's potential matchups include Phillippi facing No. 21 Casey Cobb at 133, Matthews challenging No. 21 Cody Trybus at 141, Wentzel meeting No. 8 Tanner Skidgel at 165 and Bonaccorsi squaring off with No. 24 Jacob Koser at 197.
Fans with an ESPN+ subscription can watch Pitt wrestling's 2021 season opener at this link.
Off stream, several other Panthers will begin their 2021 campaign with matchups against the Midshipmen as Pitt and Navy wrestling student-athletes will meet in numerous other head-to-head contests outside of the dual to give additional competitors the chance to wrestle.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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