Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi Named Co-ACC Wrestler of the Year
3/30/2023 11:00:00 AM | Wrestling
PITTSBURGH—Pitt's 2023 NCAA champion Nino Bonaccorsi was named Co-ACC Wrestler of the Year, making him the first Pitt wrestler to receive the award, the conference office announced Thursday.
Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) finished his final collegiate season by winning the 197-pound national championship at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa. He went 21-0 in 2022-23, becoming just the sixth individual Pitt wrestler to achieve an unbeaten, untied season.
Fifteen of Bonaccorsi's wins came against 2023 NCAA qualifiers, with several victories over top-10 seeds, including each of his final three matches in Tulsa. He clinched the title with a 5-3 decision over No. 7 Tanner Sloan from South Dakota State, overcoming a 3-0 deficit with two late takedowns.
Bonaccorsi became Pitt's first wrestling national champion since now-head coach Keith Gavin stood on top of the NCAA podium at 174 pounds in 2008.
He was also Pitt's 17th individual national champion in program history.
The ACC wrestling coaches agreed to award the conference's top individual award to both Bonaccorsi and North Carolina's Austin O'Connor, the 157-pound NCAA champion, after each completed undefeated seasons with national titles. It was the first time since 1994 that the ACC produced two wrestling national champions in the same year.
Bonaccorsi also won his third consecutive ACC title at 197 pounds in 2023, joining Jake Wentzel as the only Panthers to win a trio of individual conference championships in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Since winning gold in Tulsa, Nino's victory tour in Pittsburgh has included a national championship lunch with Pitt staff and director of athletics Heather Lyke, a visit with head football coach Pat Narduzzi, several interviews on national radio and television programs and appearances on billboards all around the city of Pittsburgh.
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Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) finished his final collegiate season by winning the 197-pound national championship at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa. He went 21-0 in 2022-23, becoming just the sixth individual Pitt wrestler to achieve an unbeaten, untied season.
Fifteen of Bonaccorsi's wins came against 2023 NCAA qualifiers, with several victories over top-10 seeds, including each of his final three matches in Tulsa. He clinched the title with a 5-3 decision over No. 7 Tanner Sloan from South Dakota State, overcoming a 3-0 deficit with two late takedowns.
Bonaccorsi became Pitt's first wrestling national champion since now-head coach Keith Gavin stood on top of the NCAA podium at 174 pounds in 2008.
He was also Pitt's 17th individual national champion in program history.
The ACC wrestling coaches agreed to award the conference's top individual award to both Bonaccorsi and North Carolina's Austin O'Connor, the 157-pound NCAA champion, after each completed undefeated seasons with national titles. It was the first time since 1994 that the ACC produced two wrestling national champions in the same year.
Bonaccorsi also won his third consecutive ACC title at 197 pounds in 2023, joining Jake Wentzel as the only Panthers to win a trio of individual conference championships in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Since winning gold in Tulsa, Nino's victory tour in Pittsburgh has included a national championship lunch with Pitt staff and director of athletics Heather Lyke, a visit with head football coach Pat Narduzzi, several interviews on national radio and television programs and appearances on billboards all around the city of Pittsburgh.
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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