Pitt takes hold of ACC after victory over Virginia

The Pitt wrestling team took control of the Atlantic Coast Conference with its 25-9 victory over No. 13 Virginia Friday night.

Improving to 3-0 in conference, No. 8 Pitt defeated the Cavaliers, who were also undefeated in ACC play before Friday’s match, just five days after its upset win over No. 5 Oklahoma State.

“It was important not to get caught up in all the hype after beating Oklahoma State,” senior Anthony Zanetta said.  “With only five days in between competition, it was important to stay focused on the task ahead.”

The Panthers remained focused as they cruised to a 16-point victory by winning 7-of-10 matches against the Cavaliers.

On a six-match winning streak, Virginia entered the Fitzgerald Field House as a hot team, but the Cavaliers were outpaced Friday night.

“We got outwrestled tonight, no question about it,” Virginia head coach Steve Garland said. “We haven’t been in this position in a while.”

A third-period takedown separated Zanetta from his opponent, Nick Herrmann, to jumpstart Pitt to an early lead.

Virginia’s Joseph Martinez tied the match at three with his 1-0 victory over Pitt’s No. 17 Shelton Mack at 133 pounds.

Once again, Pitt’s two true freshmen in the lineup played a key role in the team’s win.

“Being halfway through the season, I don’t feel like a freshman anymore,” freshman Edgar Bright said.  “I’ve taken on the responsibility of being a collegiate athlete, and I’ve grown a lot mentally since the preseason.”

No. 19 Bright picked up his second-straight victory over a ranked opponent, defeating  No. 16 Joe Spisak 5-3.

“Big wins back-to-back over ranked wrestlers is great,” he said.  “My confidence has grown immensely.”

Fellow freshman Mikey Racciato also capped a successful two matches with a pin over Virginia’s Justin Van Hoose.  Racciato’s pin last week against Oklahoma State was the match’s deciding factor.

“I’m definitely more comfortable now just due to the experience,” he said.  “I feel I’m wrestling the same.  Just a little harder, and we are all getting in better shape”

Virginia narrowed the deficit to just three points, 12-9, with wins at 157 and 165 pounds.

With the match in limbo, the Panthers rolled their two highest-ranked wrestlers onto the mat and they succeeded.

174-pounder No. 7 Tyler Wilps earned a major decision over No. 12 Stephen Doty and took down the ranked Virginia wrestler five times.

It wasn’t as easy for No. 6 Max Thomusseit at 184 pounds, who defeated No. 20 Jon Fausey 5-3.

At 197 pounds, No. 18 Nick Bonaccorsi secured the victory officially for the Panthers with a 3-1 decision over Zach Nye.

The final match of the night was won by Pitt’s P.J. Tasser in overtime.  After Tasser escaped in his down period, he was able to ride out his opponent, Ethan Hayes, for 30 seconds to earn the victory and push the final score to 25-9.

Tasser, who gave up nearly 50 pounds to his opponent, has been involved in several overtime matches this season.

“I think they (overtime matches) play to my advantage with my conditioning,” Tasser said.  “As a team, we prepare for the possibility of overtime.  If and when we have to, we can wrestle those 10 and 11-minute long matches.”

Pitt, now alone at the top of the ACC standings, travels to West Virginia next weekend for an out-of-conference matchup.

The Panthers have two matches against ACC opponents remaining, but the victory over the Cavaliers will go a long way in deciding the ACC’s regular season championship.

“We knew how important this dual was to us,” Racciato said.  “It’s a huge step in winning the ACC.”