Pitt’s Cole Matthews Wins Fifth Career ACC Weekly Honor
2/13/2024 3:00:00 PM | Wrestling
PITTSBURGH—Cole Matthews' penchant for defeating highly ranked opponents continued last Friday and resulted in him receiving his fifth career ACC Wrestler of the Week recognition, the league office announced on Tuesday.
Matthews (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds) defeated his third top-five of the season, all of which have resulted in him garnering the weekly honor from the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.
In the 141-pound bout of the Pitt-North Carolina dual at UNC's Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, Matthews knocked off No. 5 Lachlan McNeil by 6-2 decision.
The winning points came via a six-point move in the second period when Matthews reversed McNeil and nearly pinned him in the same sequence, resulting in two reversal and four near-fall points.
Mr. Top 5 Win was at it again ??? @ColeMatthews9 is on ?? right now#H2P » #PINZBURGH pic.twitter.com/884VyGP6LI
— Pitt Wrestling (@Pitt_WRES) February 10, 2024
Matthews moved up to No. 15 in the InterMat rankings at 141 pounds this week after the result, with Pitt's team captain having beaten No. 3 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, No. 4 Ryan Jack of NC State and now No. 5 Lachlan McNeil each this season.
In total, Matthews owns a 10-1 career record against the top-six wrestlers currently in his weight class.
The Panthers return home for the remainder of the 2023-24 regular season, beginning next Friday night with a marquee matchup with No. 13 Virginia Tech at Fitzgerald Field House at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16.
Ranked No. 22 in the NWCA Coaches Poll this week, Pitt will face the 13th-ranked Hokies at the Fitz.
Pitt concludes its home slate and regular season with a doubleheader on Thursday, Feb. 22 against Rider at 6 p.m. followed by Senior Night in the ACC finale versus Virginia on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.
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