University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt’s Reece Heller Garners ACC Wrestler of the Week
1/3/2023 5:00:00 PM | Wrestling
PITTSBURGH—For the fourth time already during the 2022-23 college wrestling team, Pitt pulled in an ACC Wrestler of the Week honor as Reece Heller was recognized by the league on Tuesday.
Heller, a redshirt junior from Riverwoods, Ill., won the 184-pound individual title at the 2022 Midlands Championships last week at the prestigious holiday tournament in his home state.
Furthermore, Heller was awarded with the top individual point scorer award from the tournament after he went 6-0 with three bonus-point wins and two victories by fall.
His efforts, which scored 26.5 points for the Panthers, helped Pitt finish tied for second as a team at this year's Midlands Championships, behind only host Northwestern.
Heller's run to the gold medal began with a narrow 9-8 victory by decision over Princeton's Nate Dugan, but he started to turn on the style after that win a technical fall over Air Force's Andrew Wenzel and an amazing pin in the first 30 seconds against Virginia's Hadyn Danals.
In the quarterfinals, he faced a rematch with a previous foe from this season, Dylan Connnell from Illinois. The two had wrestled in Pitt's dual with the Fighting Illini, and Heller again came out on top with a sudden-victory takedown.
His semifinal bout with No. 30 Anthony Carman of West Virginia again produced fireworks, with Heller sticking Carman on his back following a scramble and pinning him in the second period.
Then Heller edged defending Division III national champion Jaritt Shinhoster from Wisconsin-Whitewater by 7-5 decision to earn the prestigious top prize at Midlands for this season.
He was joined by Cole Matthews, the Midlands champ at 141 pounds, in winning gold for the Panthers.
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Jan. 8 for the renewal of the Backyard Brawl rivalry. No. 21 Pitt will also West Virginia at Fitzgerald Field House at 2 p.m. for a dual streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Fans can secure tickets to the 2023 Backyard Brawl on the mat at this link.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Heller, a redshirt junior from Riverwoods, Ill., won the 184-pound individual title at the 2022 Midlands Championships last week at the prestigious holiday tournament in his home state.
Furthermore, Heller was awarded with the top individual point scorer award from the tournament after he went 6-0 with three bonus-point wins and two victories by fall.
His efforts, which scored 26.5 points for the Panthers, helped Pitt finish tied for second as a team at this year's Midlands Championships, behind only host Northwestern.
Heller's run to the gold medal began with a narrow 9-8 victory by decision over Princeton's Nate Dugan, but he started to turn on the style after that win a technical fall over Air Force's Andrew Wenzel and an amazing pin in the first 30 seconds against Virginia's Hadyn Danals.
In the quarterfinals, he faced a rematch with a previous foe from this season, Dylan Connnell from Illinois. The two had wrestled in Pitt's dual with the Fighting Illini, and Heller again came out on top with a sudden-victory takedown.
His semifinal bout with No. 30 Anthony Carman of West Virginia again produced fireworks, with Heller sticking Carman on his back following a scramble and pinning him in the second period.
Then Heller edged defending Division III national champion Jaritt Shinhoster from Wisconsin-Whitewater by 7-5 decision to earn the prestigious top prize at Midlands for this season.
He was joined by Cole Matthews, the Midlands champ at 141 pounds, in winning gold for the Panthers.
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Jan. 8 for the renewal of the Backyard Brawl rivalry. No. 21 Pitt will also West Virginia at Fitzgerald Field House at 2 p.m. for a dual streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Fans can secure tickets to the 2023 Backyard Brawl on the mat at this link.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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