Pitt
Pitt-Johnstown
Panthers Collect Six Bonus-Point Wins in 32-8 Victory Over Pitt-Johnstown
1/3/2025 7:57:00 PM | Wrestling
PITTSBURGH – The 18th-ranked Pitt Wrestling team opened the new year with a 32-8 win over Division II foe Pitt-Johnstown Friday evening at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers improved to 5-2 in dual meets in their final tune-up before ACC action as six wrestlers scored bonus-point wins.
No. 17 Nick Babin opened the meet with a 12-0 major decision over Trevon Gray, who entered the match 8th in Division II rankings at 125, to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead. He scored an early takedown and added four near fall points to grab a 7-0 lead after the opening period. Babin added a reversal in the third and finished with over four minutes of riding time to improve to 4-2 on the season.
The 133-pound match featured an action packed opening period that saw UPJ's Tyson Cook jump out to a 6-3 lead. Tyler Chappell countered with an early escape and takedown in the second period before riding out Cook for a 7-6 lead entering the final two minutes of action. Chappell continued a strong ride into the third to secure riding time en route an 8-6 victory.
Briar Priest came out on the attack at 141 with an early takedown and release to grab a 3-1 lead 30 seconds into the matchup. He added another opening period takedown and accumulated 1:25 of riding time for a 6-1 advantage. The second period saw a pair of reversals and an escape by Priest as he moved into the third period with a 9-3 advantage. The Pitt redshirt sophomore added a takedown in the third along with four near fall points for a 17-3 victory.
No. 29 Anthony Santaniello secured an 16-1 technical fall win in 6:25 at 149-pounds as Pitt extended its lead to 16-0 after four bouts. The Brick, N.J., native scored an early takedown in the first period and added over two and half minutes of riding time before extending the lead to 8-0 heading into the final two minutes. He continued to pour it on in the third with a pair of takedowns and near fall points for his third tech fall victory of the season.
At 157, Jack Pletcher jumped out to a 6-1 advantage after one period and cruised to an 11-3 major decision for his 25th career victory.
Grant MacKay continued the dominating performance with a 15-0 tech fall in three minutes at 165 to extend the Pitt lead to 25-0. MacKay moved to 20-9 in his career and secured his first tech fall win as a Panther.
Mateo De La Pena jumped out to a 3-1 lead and secured riding time early in the second period at 174-pounds. Macon Myers battled back to erase the riding time but De La Pena added a takedown in the third period to finish with a 6-2 win.
Chase Kranitz grabbed a 6-0 lead after one at 184 pounds and nearly ended the match with a takedown and near pin in the final seconds of the second period. A reversal to start the third gave him an 11-0 advantage and he rode out his opponent for a 12-0 major decision. Kranitz shares the team lead with four major decision victories this season.
Pitt-Johnstown got a strong showing from No. 8 Dakoda Rodgers at 197-pounds as he scored a 18-2 tech fall win in 6:48 over Daniel Gurovich.
In the final match of the night, Mustafa Woodi grabbed an early 3-0 lead against No. 5 Isaiah Vance with a diving takedown near the edge of the ring. Vance countered with a reversal after a near takedown to enter the second period with a 4-3 advantage. Woodi opened the third period with a quick takedown for a 6-5 lead and Vance countered with an escape to tie the score heading into the final 90 seconds of action. Vance fought off a single leg shot by Woodi in the final thirty seconds and worked his way around for the takedown and a 9-6 win.
RECOGNIZING A LEGEND
Pitt honored Pitt-Johnstown Athletic Director and Head Wrestling Coach Pat Pecora, who passed away in September, during Friday's match with the Mountain Cats. In a 48 year career as head coach at Pitt-Johnstown, Pecora became the winningest wrestling coach in NCAA history with 661 dual-meet wins. He was named the National Wrestling Coaches Association National Coach of the Year four times, and led Pitt-Johnstown to two NCAA Division II National Championships. He is also a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
During his career, Pecora coached 170 All-Americans and 15 individual National Champions but his greatest impact was felt far beyond the wrestling mat in the lives of so many who knew him. We ask you now to join the us, and the family and friends of Pat Pecora in attendance tonight in a moment of silence and remembrance.
UP NEXT
Pitt opens ACC action Friday, Jan. 3 at Fitzgerald Field House against conference newcomer Stanford (7 p.m.).
No. 18 Pitt 32, No. 20 Pitt-Johnstown 8
125 – [17] Nick Babin maj. dec. [8] Trevon Gray, 12-0 (Pitt leads 4-0)
133 – Tyler Chappell dec. Tyson Cook, 8-6 (Pitt leads 7-0)
141 – Briar Priest maj. dec. Mason Myers, 17-3 (Pitt leads 11-0)
149 – [29] Anthony Santaniello tech. fall Chad Ozias, 16-1 [6:25] (Pitt leads 16-0)
157 – Jack Pletcher maj. dec. Cooper Warshel, 11-3 (Pitt leads 20-0)
165 – Grant MacKay tech fall Gavyn Beck, 15-0 [3:00] (Pitt leads 25-0)
174 – Mateo De La Pena dec. Macon Myers, 6-2 (Pitt leads 28-0)
184 – Chase Kranitz maj. dec. Noah Gnibus, 12-0 (Pitt leads 32-0)
197 – [8] Dakoda Rodgers tech fall Daniel Gurovich, 18-2 [6:48] (Pitt leads 32-5)
285 – [5] Isaiah Vance dec. Mustafa Woodi, 9-6 (Pitt wins 32-8)
* Pitt-Johnstown Division II rankings
Players Mentioned
