
No. 15 Pitt Opens Dual Season with Win at Buffalo
11/12/2021 9:00:00 PM | Wrestling
BUFFALO—The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team opened its 2021-22 dual season with a victory on the road against Mid-American Conference opponent Buffalo on Friday night, 21-12.
Pitt, ranked No. 15 to begin the season by the NWCA Coaches Poll, clinched the win with a pin at heavyweight by Jake Slinger. The Panthers won six of the 10 matches in the dual.
Head coach Keith Gavin has now won all five of his season-opening duals with Pitt since taking over at his alma mater. Pitt improved to 4-2 in the all-time series with Buffalo.
Pitt's lineup was missing four projected starters due to various minor injuries and with Nino Bonaccorsi just coming back from the U23 World Championships in Serbia late this week.
Also winning matches for the Panthers were Colton Camacho, Micky Phillippi, Elijah Cleary, Jake Wentzel and Hunter Kernan – all by decision.
Camacho was impressive in securing takedowns in the first and third periods for a decisive 6-1 win. Phillippi and Wentzel, both ranked in the top five nationally in their respective weight classes, displayed dominance on top to earn comfortable wins.
In his Pitt debut following his transfer from Ohio State, Cleary used a thrilling rally to overcome a 5-1 deficit in his match to win in sudden victory. And Clarion Open champion Kernan continued his undefeated start to the season with a solid win, improving to 6-0 early in the campaign.
Coach Gavin was pleased with how his team gutted out the victory.
"We knew this weekend would be a challenge, but we train guys to be ready to go. Happy to get the win tonight," Gavin said. "Colton got us off to a great start. Slinger has been wrestling really well and we're excited for him. Elijah's ability to stay focused and come from behind was impressive too."
Results: No. 15 Pitt 21, Buffalo 12
125: Colton Camacho (Pitt) dec. Tristan Daugherty, 6-1 (Pitt leads, 3-0)
133: #5 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. #21 Derek Spann, 4-2 (Pitt leads, 6-0)
141: Ben Freeman dec. Ryan Michaels (Pitt), 6-4 SV (Pitt leads, 6-3)
149: John Arceri dec. Dan Mancini (Pitt), 4-1 (Tied, 6-6)
157: Elijah Cleary (Pitt) dec. Michael Petiti, 8-6 SV (Pitt leads, 9-6)
165: #4 Jake Wentzel (Pitt) dec. Noah Grover, 3-0 (Pitt leads, 12-6)
174: Hunter Kernan (Pitt) dec. Giuseppe Hoose, 7-5 (Pitt leads, 15-6)
184: Pete Acciardi dec. James Lledo (Pitt), 3-2 TB (Pitt leads, 15-9)
197: Sam Mitchell dec. Geoff Magin (Pitt), 4-2 (Pitt leads, 15-12)
HWT: Jake Slinger (Pitt) pins Toby Cahill, 4:32 (Pitt wins, 21-12)
The Panthers, who will be back to full strength in the near future, have a quick turnaround for their next dual. Pitt heads to Edinboro for a matchup with the Fighting Scots on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Pitt, ranked No. 15 to begin the season by the NWCA Coaches Poll, clinched the win with a pin at heavyweight by Jake Slinger. The Panthers won six of the 10 matches in the dual.
Head coach Keith Gavin has now won all five of his season-opening duals with Pitt since taking over at his alma mater. Pitt improved to 4-2 in the all-time series with Buffalo.
Pitt's lineup was missing four projected starters due to various minor injuries and with Nino Bonaccorsi just coming back from the U23 World Championships in Serbia late this week.
Also winning matches for the Panthers were Colton Camacho, Micky Phillippi, Elijah Cleary, Jake Wentzel and Hunter Kernan – all by decision.
Camacho was impressive in securing takedowns in the first and third periods for a decisive 6-1 win. Phillippi and Wentzel, both ranked in the top five nationally in their respective weight classes, displayed dominance on top to earn comfortable wins.
In his Pitt debut following his transfer from Ohio State, Cleary used a thrilling rally to overcome a 5-1 deficit in his match to win in sudden victory. And Clarion Open champion Kernan continued his undefeated start to the season with a solid win, improving to 6-0 early in the campaign.
Coach Gavin was pleased with how his team gutted out the victory.
"We knew this weekend would be a challenge, but we train guys to be ready to go. Happy to get the win tonight," Gavin said. "Colton got us off to a great start. Slinger has been wrestling really well and we're excited for him. Elijah's ability to stay focused and come from behind was impressive too."
Results: No. 15 Pitt 21, Buffalo 12
125: Colton Camacho (Pitt) dec. Tristan Daugherty, 6-1 (Pitt leads, 3-0)
133: #5 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. #21 Derek Spann, 4-2 (Pitt leads, 6-0)
141: Ben Freeman dec. Ryan Michaels (Pitt), 6-4 SV (Pitt leads, 6-3)
149: John Arceri dec. Dan Mancini (Pitt), 4-1 (Tied, 6-6)
157: Elijah Cleary (Pitt) dec. Michael Petiti, 8-6 SV (Pitt leads, 9-6)
165: #4 Jake Wentzel (Pitt) dec. Noah Grover, 3-0 (Pitt leads, 12-6)
174: Hunter Kernan (Pitt) dec. Giuseppe Hoose, 7-5 (Pitt leads, 15-6)
184: Pete Acciardi dec. James Lledo (Pitt), 3-2 TB (Pitt leads, 15-9)
197: Sam Mitchell dec. Geoff Magin (Pitt), 4-2 (Pitt leads, 15-12)
HWT: Jake Slinger (Pitt) pins Toby Cahill, 4:32 (Pitt wins, 21-12)
The Panthers, who will be back to full strength in the near future, have a quick turnaround for their next dual. Pitt heads to Edinboro for a matchup with the Fighting Scots on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
Pitt Wrestling Highlights | Pitt vs. North Carolina
Saturday, March 01
Highlights | Pitt vs. North Carolina
Friday, February 07
Pitt Wrestling | No. 16 Pitt 42, Duke 0 | Highlights
Sunday, February 02
Highlights | Pitt vs. Duke
Saturday, February 01