University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
North Carolina
No. 19 Pitt Falls at North Carolina, 22-12
2/9/2024 9:30:00 PM | Wrestling
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—The 19th-ranked Pitt wrestling team fell in ACC action on Friday at North Carolina, dropping a 22-12 dual decision to the Tar Heels at Carmichael Arena.
The Panthers (8-7, 1-2 ACC) couldn't erase an early 12-3 deficit and lost to North Carolina (8-8, 1-2 ACC) despite another top-five individual victory from senior captain Cole Matthews at 141 pounds.
Matthews, who had already beaten No. 3 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State and No. 4 Ryan Jack of NC State, added No. 5 Lachlan McNeil to his list of highly ranked defeated opponents this season. The senior used a six-point move via reversal and nearfall in the second period to improve to 3-0 in his ACC matches.
Holden Heller at 165 pounds and Reece Heller at 184 pounds also won for the Panthers, with the older Heller brother and Pitt team captain picking up a pin at 165 to giving the visitors a chance in the dual.
But Pitt's slow start and upset defeats at 174 and 197 pounds proved to be too much to overcome.
"We have to be better overall," Pitt head coach Keith Gavin said. "We need more from the first couple of weight classes. We'll get back to work and have to have a better effort moving forward."
"Cole is doing a good job right now," Gavin added of Matthews. "He's excited to compete every time he's on the mat, and that goes a long way for him. We need more of that."
Full results from Friday's Pitt-North Carolina dual are available below.
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.
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.
Gavin's team will return to Chapel Hill on Sunday, March 10 for the 2024 ACC Wrestling Championship.
North Carolina 22, No. 19 Pitt 12
125: No. 29 Spencer Moore (UNC) dec. Colton Camacho (Pitt), 1-0 (UNC leads, 3-0)
133: Derek Guanajuato (UNC) dec. No. 23 Vinnie Santaniello (Pitt), 4-1 (UNC leads, 6-0)
141: No. 22 Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. No. 5 Lachlan McNeil (UNC), 6-2 (UNC leads, 6-3)
149: Jayden Scott (UNC) dec. No. 28 Finn Solomon (Pitt), 3-2 (UNC leads, 9-3)
157: No. 33 Sonny Santiago (UNC) dec. Jared Keslar (Pitt), 11-4 (UNC leads, 12-3)
165: No. 14 Holden Heller (Pitt) pins Isaias Estrada (UNC), 1:49 (UNC leads, 12-9)
174: No. 27 Tyler Eischens (UNC) dec. No. 18 Luca Augustine (Pitt), 3-1 (UNC leads, 15-9)
184: No. 9 Reece Heller (Pitt) dec. Sabino Portella (UNC), 5-2 (UNC leads, 15-12)
197: No. 26 Max Shaw (UNC) dec. No. 14 Mac Stout (Pitt), 5-4 (UNC leads, 18-12)
285: Cade Lautt (UNC) maj. Geoff Magin (Pitt), 15-6 (UNC wins, 22-12)
#pinzburgh | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
