Pitt
Illinois
No. 19 Pitt Hosts Illinois for Sunday Evening Dual
12/1/2023 12:00:00 PM | Wrestling
PITTSBURGH—After a successful road trip that included nonconference wins at No. 17 Lehigh and Maryland two weekends ago, the Pitt wrestling team returns for its home opener on Sunday evening with the opportunity to secure another impressive nonconference win.
Having jumped up into the top 20 of the NWCA Coaches Poll, the No. 19 Pitt Panthers will welcome quality Big Ten program Illinois to Fitzgerald Field for a 6 p.m. dual.
Season tickets and individual match tickets are now on sale for the 2023-24 Pitt wrestling season.
Fans attending the Pitt men's basketball game against Clemson on Sunday at 2 p.m. can show their ticket at the door to get free entry to the Pitt wrestling dual at Fitzgerald Field House as well.
Doors will open to the public at 5 p.m. and fans can also pick up a 2023-24 Pitt wrestling schedule magnet as a free giveaway prior to the first home dual of the season.
Sunday's Pitt-Illinois dual will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra. Fans can watch on the ESPN app by logging in with a provider that includes the ACC Network.
This contest marks a return trip after last season's dual in Champaign that Pitt won, 30-6. The Panthers lead the all-time series with the Fighting Illini 5-1 following that lopsided victory in 2022.
For the Panthers (4-1), this dual serves as the team's 2023-24 home opener and the first Fitzgerald Field House match since clinching an ACC dual title by dominating Duke last February.
Coach Keith Gavin's Pitt squad features eight individuals ranked in the InterMat polls this week, led by team captains and seniors Holden Heller (No. 9 at 165 pounds) and Cole Matthews (No. 13 at 141) and redshirt freshman heavyweight Dayton Pitzer (No. 11 at 285).
Vinnie Santaniello (No. 17 at 133), Finn Solomon (No. 23 at 149), Luca Augustine (No. 20 at 174), Reece Heller (No. 15 at 184) and Mac Stout (No. 19 at 197) are also ranked for the Panthers' deep lineup.
The Fighting Illini (3-1) come to Pittsburgh with only one dual loss on their ledger – also to Navy – and a lineup that features four ranked wrestlers, including top-10 All-America candidates in Edmond Ruth, the fourth-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds, and Luke Luffman, ranked eighth at heavyweight.
Updates from the dual will also be available on the X app by following the @Pitt_WRES account.
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