Returning wrestlers to help Panthers reach top

The Pitt wrestling team has never won an Eastern Wrestling League team title in its history,… The Pitt wrestling team has never won an Eastern Wrestling League team title in its history, but this year may be its best chance.

Head coach Rande Stottlemyer, in his 26th season at the helm, returns seven NCAA qualifiers and two EWL individual champs to a young team that finished third in the EWL last season.

Ron Tarquinio and Josh Birt return as EWL champions and look to defend their titles at the 141- and 197-pound weight classes, respectively.

Birt’s eligibility is up in the air at this time as he awaits word from the NCAA as to whether or not he will gain an extra year of eligibility. Birt competed for two years at North Idaho Junior College before transferring to Pitt, where he wrestled just seven times in 2002-03 before assuming the starting position last season.

Tarquinio is the favorite in his weight class, and has qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of the last two years. He will bring a 72-34 career record into his junior season.

Matt Kocher returns after a freshman season that saw him lead the team in wins, with 32, and advance to the NCAA Championships.

Kocher is joined at 149 pounds this year with All-American transfer from Oklahoma Jeff Ecklof, but Ecklof will redshirt this season and have three years of eligibility remaining when he resumes action next year.

After a fine season at 125 pounds last season, sophomore Drew Headlee bumps up to the 133 weight class, looking to regain the national recognition he received last season.

Junior Francis Iorfido finished second in the EWL Championships last season, making his first national appearance, and returns for his third year as starter at the 174-pound weight class.

Zach Doll and Justin Nestor both will compete at 165 pounds this year, and bring a combined 121 career wins to the weight class. Doll has competed in the NCAA championships three times, while Nestor has made it twice. They will battle it out for the starting nod, but both will see plenty of time on the mat this season.

In the remaining weight classes of 125, 157, 184 and 285, Pitt will place new starters on the mat.

Three freshmen, Dave Morgan, Geoff Moy and Zach Bowman, will all fight for the starting job at 125 pounds. Morgan was a Pennsylvania state finalist in his senior season at West Scranton and is the front-runner for the job.

The 184-pound class is up for grabs between a number of wrestlers, while Keith Gavin, who won 21 matches last season, will most likely start at 157 pounds.

Replacing Travis Shirley at the 285-pound position will be freshman Zach Sheaffer, with sophomore Robert Kail and freshman Devin Derrico pushing for time behind him.

The team will open up its season on the road when it travels to No. 5-ranked Iowa State on Nov. 12 to take on a Cyclone team that is a national powerhouse year after year.

After its road trip, the Pitt return home to begin the EWL season against Bloomsburg at Fitzgerald Field House on Nov. 17.

In addition to the EWL schedule, Pitt will host a Lehigh team that has national championship hopes this season, as well as take on two Big Ten powers in facing Penn State and Ohio State.

The EWL Championships will take place at Clarion March 5 and 6, while the NCAA Championships will be held in St. Louis, Mo., from March 17 to 19.