Wrestling: Panthers capitalize on first ACC season, earn league title

Pitt’s wrestling team had a new slate of opponents this year and a number of new faces on its roster, but the team’s win-loss record is something the team’s seniors are used to at this point.  

Over the previous four seasons, Pitt wrestling has won its conference, the Eastern Wrestling League, six times — three regular-season and three tournament championships.  But on Friday, the No. 6 Panthers became the first Pitt team to win a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference title by defeating no. 16 Virginia Tech 19-14. The team can clinch the outright title Feb. 22 if it defeats North Carolina, a matchup in which the Panthers are heavily favored. 

“To accomplish a team goal and make history at the same time is something that I’ll never forget,” senior Shelton Mack said.

The Panthers pounced on the Hokies early by winning the first three matches and taking a 9-0 lead with wins by redshirt senior Anthony Zanetta, No. 20 Mack and freshman No. 17 Edgar Bright.

Virginia Tech countered with three wins of its own, including a technical fall at 157 pounds, which led to an 11-9 Virginia Tech lead with four matches remaining.

Luckily for the Panthers, three ranked wrestlers awaited at the next weight class to right the ship and secure the championship.

No. 7 Tyler Wilps, a redshirt junior, earned a major decision, 13-3, putting Pitt up 13-11 — a lead the Panthers would relinquish.

No. 6 Max Thomusseit and redshirt sophomore No. 18 Nick Bonaccorsi each picked up decisions over ranked wrestlers to push the Panthers toward their eventual total of 19 points.

Pitt lost the heavyweight bout because senior P.J. Tasser sat out with the match no longer in question and Pitt’s Mike Gregory lost by a 12-10 decision.

For the upperclassmen who have previously seen success, getting this win and making Pitt history has a special meaning.

“Securing the first-ever ACC title has a better feeling of accomplishment more than any other year I have been on the team,” Zanetta said.

It should come as no surprise that Pitt has taken so quickly to the ACC, given the success it had previously and the lofty goals set by the wrestlers themselves.

“With a team with this much talent, a conference championship is only a small accomplishment of what we really desire,” Zanetta said. “It’s nice to celebrate, but it is important to keep your eye on the ultimate prize — the national title in Oklahoma City.”

Even the underclassmen understand that their older teammates have set a high bar for the team.

“It’s honestly unbelievable to have won the ACC as a freshman,” Mikey Racciato said. “We knew all along it was possible. That’s why it was our goal from the start.”

The Panthers return to the mats next weekend, with two more ranked opponents coming to the Fitzgerald Field House. Pitt hosts former EWL foe No. 14 Edinboro on Friday and No. 11 Michigan on Saturday to conclude its home slate.