Sunday, December 11
New York, NY
12 PM
Pitt
19
at
18
Columbia
No. 20 Pitt Prevails at Columbia, 19-18
12/11/2022 2:00:00 PM | Wrestling
NEW YORK CITY—The No. 20 Pitt wrestling team faced adversity multiple times on Sunday afternoon but won the last three bouts to prevail 19-18 in dual action at Columbia's Levien Gymnasium.
The Panthers (5-1, 0-0 ACC) have now won four consecutive duals to finish 2022. But Sunday's contest required a significant comeback after the Lions (0-3) twice jumped out to nine-point leads.
With three matches remaining, Pitt trailed 18-9 before James Lledo, Nino Bonaccorsi and Jake Slinger all came up clutch with must-win matches to propel the Panthers to a team triumph in New York City.
"We had some guys that stepped up today," Pitt head coach Keith Gavin said. "Badgett, Lledo and Slinger all pulled out big ones for the team. Really pleased with their efforts for the entire matches. Conditioning was a factor for James against his guy. Slinger got a key reversal after falling behind and was able to put it away late, which was a great moment for him."
Lledo and Slinger both won in comeback fashion themselves, while Bonaccorsi showcased his No. 3 credentials at 197 pounds with a takedown and top clinic to earn bonus points that proved decisive.
Also winning key bouts for the Panthers, No. 9 Micky Phillippi shutout Angelo Rini in a close contest at 133 and No. 17 Holden Heller knocked off No. 12 Joshua Ogunsanya in a crucial match at 165.
Tyler Badgett also continued to show impressive improvement with his third straight individual win, earning a shutout decision at 149 pounds with excellent wrestling in all three phases, especially on top.
"Holden had our best win today," Gavin added. "He wrestled a strong match against a highly ranked guy in a moment of adversity after the swing at 157. And Tyler continues to wrestle really well. We're proud of him for his maturity and growth. His hard work and consistency is really paying off."
The dual appeared to swing Columbia's way with a controversial moment at 157 pounds. Pitt's No. 21-ranked Dazjon Casto was up 14-1 on Cesar Alvan and pursuing a technical fall or pin when Alvan won a scramble and the referee rewarded the Lion with a very quick pin call.
That double-digit point swing in the dual gave Columbia a path to victory, but the Panthers responded by winning four of the last five bouts to survive a thrilling ACC-EIWA matchup.
Full results from Sunday's Pitt-Columbia dual are available below.
After final exams and a few weeks away from action, Pitt will send numerous wrestlers to the 2022 Midlands Championships near Chicago for the prestigious midseason tournament.
The Panthers return to dual action with an exciting start to 2023, hosting the Backyard Brawl against rival West Virginia at Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m.
#20 Pitt 19, Columbia 18
125: Nick Babin (Columbia) dec. #30 Colton Camacho (Pitt), 4-2 (Columbia leads, 3-0)
133: #9 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. Angelo Rini (Columbia), 2-0 (Tied, 3-3)
141: #27 Matt Kazimir (Columbia) wins by forfeit (Columbia leads, 9-3)
149: Tyler Badgett (Pitt) dec. Danny Fongaro (Columbia), 5-0 (Columbia leads, 9-6)
157: Cesar Alvan (Columbia) pins #21 Dazjon Casto (Pitt), 5:48 (Columbia leads, 15-6)
165: #17 Holden Heller (Pitt) dec. #12 Joshua Ogunsanya (Columbia), 4-2 (Columbia leads, 15-9)
174: Lennox Wolak (Columbia) dec. #33 Luca Augustine (Pitt), 3-2 (Columbia leads, 18-9)
184: James Lledo (Pitt) dec. Jack Wehmeyer (Columbia), 10-9 (Columbia leads, 18-12)
197: #3 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) maj. dec. Javen Jovero (Columbia), 15-2 (Columbia leads, 18-16)
285: Jake Slinger (Pitt) dec. Danny Conley (Columbia), 6-2 (Pitt wins, 19-18)
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The Panthers (5-1, 0-0 ACC) have now won four consecutive duals to finish 2022. But Sunday's contest required a significant comeback after the Lions (0-3) twice jumped out to nine-point leads.
With three matches remaining, Pitt trailed 18-9 before James Lledo, Nino Bonaccorsi and Jake Slinger all came up clutch with must-win matches to propel the Panthers to a team triumph in New York City.
"We had some guys that stepped up today," Pitt head coach Keith Gavin said. "Badgett, Lledo and Slinger all pulled out big ones for the team. Really pleased with their efforts for the entire matches. Conditioning was a factor for James against his guy. Slinger got a key reversal after falling behind and was able to put it away late, which was a great moment for him."
Lledo and Slinger both won in comeback fashion themselves, while Bonaccorsi showcased his No. 3 credentials at 197 pounds with a takedown and top clinic to earn bonus points that proved decisive.
Also winning key bouts for the Panthers, No. 9 Micky Phillippi shutout Angelo Rini in a close contest at 133 and No. 17 Holden Heller knocked off No. 12 Joshua Ogunsanya in a crucial match at 165.
Tyler Badgett also continued to show impressive improvement with his third straight individual win, earning a shutout decision at 149 pounds with excellent wrestling in all three phases, especially on top.
"Holden had our best win today," Gavin added. "He wrestled a strong match against a highly ranked guy in a moment of adversity after the swing at 157. And Tyler continues to wrestle really well. We're proud of him for his maturity and growth. His hard work and consistency is really paying off."
The dual appeared to swing Columbia's way with a controversial moment at 157 pounds. Pitt's No. 21-ranked Dazjon Casto was up 14-1 on Cesar Alvan and pursuing a technical fall or pin when Alvan won a scramble and the referee rewarded the Lion with a very quick pin call.
That double-digit point swing in the dual gave Columbia a path to victory, but the Panthers responded by winning four of the last five bouts to survive a thrilling ACC-EIWA matchup.
Full results from Sunday's Pitt-Columbia dual are available below.
After final exams and a few weeks away from action, Pitt will send numerous wrestlers to the 2022 Midlands Championships near Chicago for the prestigious midseason tournament.
The Panthers return to dual action with an exciting start to 2023, hosting the Backyard Brawl against rival West Virginia at Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m.
#20 Pitt 19, Columbia 18
125: Nick Babin (Columbia) dec. #30 Colton Camacho (Pitt), 4-2 (Columbia leads, 3-0)
133: #9 Micky Phillippi (Pitt) dec. Angelo Rini (Columbia), 2-0 (Tied, 3-3)
141: #27 Matt Kazimir (Columbia) wins by forfeit (Columbia leads, 9-3)
149: Tyler Badgett (Pitt) dec. Danny Fongaro (Columbia), 5-0 (Columbia leads, 9-6)
157: Cesar Alvan (Columbia) pins #21 Dazjon Casto (Pitt), 5:48 (Columbia leads, 15-6)
165: #17 Holden Heller (Pitt) dec. #12 Joshua Ogunsanya (Columbia), 4-2 (Columbia leads, 15-9)
174: Lennox Wolak (Columbia) dec. #33 Luca Augustine (Pitt), 3-2 (Columbia leads, 18-9)
184: James Lledo (Pitt) dec. Jack Wehmeyer (Columbia), 10-9 (Columbia leads, 18-12)
197: #3 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) maj. dec. Javen Jovero (Columbia), 15-2 (Columbia leads, 18-16)
285: Jake Slinger (Pitt) dec. Danny Conley (Columbia), 6-2 (Pitt wins, 19-18)
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