WrestleMania ends on feel-good note, sets up fresh future feuds
By Alexa Marzina, Staff Writer
April 9, 2019
In its most off-brand move of the decade, WWE gave its fans three baby face, feel-good winners for its top titles in both men’s and women’s divisions on Sunday at WrestleMania 35.
Pitt wrestlers wrap up NCAA Championships after Day 2
By Jack Clay, Staff Writer
March 23, 2019
Friday’s session included the tournament quarterfinals, semifinals, wrestlebacks and four of Pitt’s own wrestlers.
Phillippi, Bonaccorsi shine at Day 1 of NCAA Wrestling Championships
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
March 22, 2019
The Pitt wrestling team saw two of its five wrestlers — No. 4 Micky Phillippi and No. 13 Nino Bonaccorsi — advance past the first two Thursday sessions of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship.
Five Pitt wrestlers to compete at NCAA Championships
By Griffin Floyd, Staff Writer
March 20, 2019
With Pittsburgh hosting the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1957, it’s fitting that the Panthers will send five wrestlers to enjoy the hometown advantage: Micky Phillippi, Demetrius Thomas, Taleb Rahmani, Nino Bonaccorsi and Kellan Stout.
Weekend Sports: Baseball, wrestling excel down south
By Andrew Kelly, Staff Writer
February 25, 2019
The weekend in Pitt sports saw the wrestling team close the regular season with a win over a ranked opponent and the baseball team sweep its tournament competition.
Weekend Sports: Wrestling rolls, softball stumbles
By Griffin Floyd, Staff Writer
February 18, 2019
The Panthers didn’t fare so well on the diamond — the baseball and softball teams went a combined 1-7 in their respective tournaments over the weekend.
Panther Spotlight: Micky Phillippi, Cassidy Walsh, Kiley Robatin
By Tessa Sayers, Assistant Sports Editor
February 11, 2019
The men’s wrestling, women’s basketball and women’s gymnastics teams have all had their ups and downs this season, but they are each anchored by talented players who give them hope for the future of the season and the program.
Weekend Sports: Wrestling racks up three wins
By Griffin Floyd, Staff Writer
February 11, 2019
Pitt wrestling led the charge over the weekend, racking up three wins after struggling in previous weeks.
Weekend Sports: Tough three days for Pitt athletics
By Griffin Floyd, Staff Writer
February 4, 2019
In an otherwise bleak three days, the tennis and track and field programs provided moments of victory with set wins and podium finishes.
Weekend Sports: Swim team shines in last home meet
By Griffin Floyd, Staff Writer
January 28, 2019
Pitt swimming and diving headlined an eventful weekend in Pitt athletics, dominating the Western Pennsylvania Invitational and breaking multiple team records in the process.
Pitt wrestling shows improvement under Keith Gavin
By Sami Abu-Obaid, Staff Writer
January 23, 2019
When reviewing the resumé of Pitt wrestling head coach Keith Gavin, it’s no surprise that the wrestling program is heading toward success.
Weekend Recap: Swimming and Diving gets only team win of long week
By Tessa Sayers, assistant sports editor
January 21, 2019
Redshirt freshman Micky Phillippi was the lone bright spot of Pitt’s 36-9 loss to No. 3 Oklahoma State this weekend. Phillippi upset the No. 2 ranked 133 pound wrestler in the country, Daton Fix.
Weekend Sports: Wrestling, gymnastics notch quality finishes
By Kate Hall and Trent Leonard
January 14, 2019
Several of Pitt’s athletic teams put on a strong showing over weekend, with the gymnastics team breaking multiple program records and the wrestling team continuing its dominant start to the season.
Panthers prowl during holiday hiatus
By Nick Carlisano, Staff Writer
January 7, 2019
While the students were away, the Panthers’ student-athletes were out to play. You catch up on what you missed and read what Pitt accomplished over break here.
Demetrius Thomas spearheads Pitt’s rise up the rankings
By Jack Clay, Staff Writer
December 6, 2018
Pitt’s wrestling team recently cracked the top 25 national rankings and new transfer Demetrius Thomas has been a big part of the program’s surge.
Weekend Sports: Basketball and wrestling shine amid football and volleyball losses
By Trent Leonard, Sports Editor
December 3, 2018
Men’s basketball beat Duquesne in the annual City Game and the wrestling team performed admirably at the Las Vegas Invitational, injecting some Panther pride into an otherwise bleak weekend.
Weekend Recap: Wrestling starts season and Daigneault continues to roll
By Jack Clay, Staff Writer
November 5, 2018
Valerie Daigneault is undefeated in her swimming events so far this season. The volleyball team improved to 25-1 on the season and the wrestling team only has one more week until their season begins. You can read about all of that and more in this week’s weekend sports recap.
Athletic trainers find balance between sports and medicine
By Ben Zimmer, Staff Writer
September 17, 2018
For athletic trainers like Jennifer Csonka, the career path was the perfect balance between sports and medicine. Whether on the field or off the field, Pitt's athletic trainers are at every game, ready to take on any injuries whenever they occur.
WWE women’s ‘Money in the Bank’ results in another generic outcome
By Alexa Marzina | Staff Writer
June 20, 2018
This year, I spent my Father’s Day the way anybody who feels awkward during family gatherings should — drinking a beer and watching eight beautiful women beat each other up with ladders. Though WWE’s 2018 Money in the Bank pay-per-view Sunday featured results I was in favor of, the show lacke...
Wrestler Bruno Sammartino, Oakland native, dies at 82
By Hannah Schneider, Staff Writer
April 19, 2018
Bruno Sammartino, a former professional wrestler and Oakland native, died Wednesday after battling health issues for the last two months. His wife, Carol, and two of his sons were at his side when he died peacefully. He was 82. Sammartino was born in October of 1935 and immigrated to South Oakland from Pizzo...
Photos: Wrestling against Virginia
By Chiara Rigaud | Staff Photographer
February 19, 2018
Much like last week against Duke, the team registered seven victories to take down the University of Virginia Friday night for the final home match of the season at the Pete. The win moves the team to 4-10 on the season and 2-3 in the ACC. Click here to read the weekend recap ...
Weekend sports: Baseball opens season, wrestling tries to pack the Pete
By Stephen Cuddy | Staff Writer
February 19, 2018
It was a quiet weekend on upper campus as Pitt sports traveled across the states to take on new and familiar foes. While many students stayed in Oakland this weekend, the baseball team travelled to Florida to compete against Oakland University. And while Pittsburgh experienced some snow, baseball and s...
Weekend sports: Panthers experience strong starts, struggling streaks
By Stephen Cuddy | For The Pitt News
February 11, 2018
While some Panthers started off seasons strong this weekend, others continued painful bouts of loss. The softball team dominated their opening weekend in sunny California, and wrestling saw the clouds part on a four-game losing streak, the men’s basketball got drenched in another record-setting ...
Weekend sports: Pitt sets records high and low
By The Pitt News Staff
February 5, 2018
It was a weekend for the record books, as Pitt sports topped past streaks in wins and losses. The track and field team broke two school records with best times, while men’s basketball broke the record for longest losing streak in a season with 11 straight and wrestling, tennis and gymnastics fell...
Weekend sports: records set on the track, in the pool
By The Pitt News Staff
January 29, 2018
Though Pitt athletics experienced a few bright spots this weekend — which included record-setting performances and wins — there were usual losses for Pitt’s struggling teams. While both Pitt men’s and women’s basketball suffered double-digit defeats at home and wrestling lost a grapple to ...
Pitt wrestling icon Rande Stottlemyer dies at 62
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
January 28, 2018
Rande Stottlemyer, an iconic former Pitt wrestler and longtime coach, died today due to complications of early onset Alzheimer's, according to the University. He was 62. Stottlemyer — whose association with Pitt spanned nearly four decades — was a three-time All-American wrestler for the Panthers. Enrolling...
Weekend sports: Gymnastics sets records, wrestling gets pinned
By The Pitt News Staff
January 22, 2018
It was a packed weekend for Pitt sports, as teams both claimed historic victories and continued prolonged losing streaks. Pitt gymnastics made history setting a new program record, and the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams claimed decisive victories. Still, men’s basketball continued ...
Weekend sports: swimmers compete at nationals, volleyball goes dancing
By TPN Staff
December 4, 2017
It was a high-stakes weekend for Pitt sports, with celebrated wins and heartbreaking losses. As the volleyball team went dancing at the NCAA tournament, the swim team competed against former Olympians and men’s basketball reclaimed the City Game title. Volleyball Despite winning the ACC champion...
Weekend sports: women sweep, while men suffer
By Trent Leonard and Jordan Mondell | TPN Staff
November 20, 2017
As the fall sports teams near the end of their regular seasons and the winter teams get underway, five teams took the field, court, pool and mat this weekend. Women’s basketball triumphed over Towson in double digits, and volleyball swept two ACC teams in straight sets, but the wrestling team was pinne...
Weekend sports: wrestling opens season, cross country wraps up, with wins
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
November 13, 2017
Pitt’s revenue teams may not have fared so well this weekend, but other teams made up for it with quality showings. The cross country season wrapped up with top performances from the men’s and women’s teams, while Pitt wrestlers impressed in their season debut. Women’s volleyball collected two mo...
Pitt wrestling season ends, promising future awaits
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
March 21, 2016
Dom Forys nearly reached his goal of earning All-American status over the weekend, but the sophomore wrestler came up just one win short. While Forys still put together a strong showing at the NCAA Wrestling Championships Friday, his performance reflected the Pitt wrestling team’s up-and-down season...
Pitt wrestlers fall at competitive NCAA Tournament
By Steve Rotstein / Staff Writer
March 18, 2016
For the first time, Pitt competed in the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden in New York City on Thursday. On a stage bigger than ever inside “the world’s most famous arena,” it would be unfair to blame Pitt’s 133-pounder Dom Forys for starting...
Panthers win four matches to sweep Pitt Duals
By Chris Puzia / Assistant Sports Editor
January 9, 2016
Teams from all over the region traveled to Pittsburgh to wrestle on Saturday, but the Panthers had no trouble with any of their competition after a close opening match. In Pitt Duals at the Fitzgerald Field House on Saturday, the No. 20 Panthers defeated Duke, Davidson, Brown and Franklin and Marsha...
After bodybuilding career, King making impact as strength and conditioning coach
By Jessie Wallace / Staff Writer
November 11, 2015
At the Fitzgerald Field House, a former bodybuilding champion works tirelessly to groom Pitt athletes into top-tier talent. And she does a fine job of it. Kim King, the head strength and conditioning coach for Olympic sports at Pitt, boasts a professional athletic career — one that transcends gend...
Wrestling ready for opening slate this weekend
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
October 28, 2015
Eight months after watching Tyler Wilps climb down from the podium at nationals following his devastating NCAA championship loss, the Pitt wrestling team is primed to start another season. The Panthers open action this Sunday at the Terrapin Duals in College Park at the University of Maryland, whe...
Former Pitt wrestler Bright arrested following Friday incident
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
September 22, 2015
The Pittsburgh Police department arrested former Pitt wrestler Edgar Bright following an incident Friday night. Bright was charged with seven total counts including aggravated assault, firearm violations and drug possession. According to E.J. Borghetti, Pitt’s associate athletic director for media re...
Pitt wrestling seeks revival following a disappointing season
By Chris Puzia / Contributing Editor
August 30, 2015
Pitt assistant wrestling coach Drew Headlee recognizes that last season was a major disappointment — especially by the team’s self-created standards. “Anyone not standing on that championship podium would say last season was a letdown,” Headlee said of the team’s 8-8 campaign in 2014. “They...
Looking back: a topsy-turvy year in Pitt Athletics
By Chris Puzia / Contributing Editor
May 28, 2015
Everybody wants to brag about their school.Maybe it’s just human nature to want your friends to know that your school’s sports teams are better than theirs. Regardless, you better make sure that if you’re going to brag about Pitt athletics, you know what you’re talking about.That being said, le...
Wilps, Thomusseit look back on prolific Pitt careers
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
April 14, 2015
When Max Thomusseit and Tyler Wilps joined Pitt’s wrestling team, each was joining forces with an older brother. But by end of their careers, they would be like brothers themselves.The pair of redshirt seniors will leave behind countless hours of blood and sweat, handfuls of accolades and their home for the last f...
Wilps recounts controversial championship finish
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
April 1, 2015
Less than six inches separated Tyler Wilps from the top spot of the podium at the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 21.Wilps, a redshirt senior, only needed to position his hands about six inches further apart on his opponent to secure a national championship. Instead, he fell to Penn State’s Mat...
Wilps loses national championship on last-second miscues
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
March 22, 2015
The last 10 seconds of Tyler Wilps’ wrestling career might have been his most memorable — and his most heartbreaking.The redshirt senior, who had wrestled his way to the 174-pound national championship bout on Saturday night against Penn State’s No. 2 Matt Brown, finished as runner-up in a controve...
Wrestlers make final push as baseball, softball enter crunch time
By Dan Sostek / Assistant Sports Editor
March 19, 2015
Baseball Pitt heads into its next ACC series with some momentum, coming off a series win against the then-No. 11 North Carolina Tar Heels as well as taking one of three from the No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers. The Panthers (9-10, 3-3 ACC) will travel south to Durham, N.C., to take on the Duke Blue Devils (...
Backyard wrestling: West Virginia tops Pitt in latest Backyard Brawl
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
February 22, 2015
The West Virginia wrestling team traveled only 77 miles from Morgantown to Pittsburgh to add on to a disappointing season for the Pitt wrestling team.After falling to the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines earlier in the weekend, the Panthers (8-8, 2-3 ACC) closed out their dual season with a 24-14 loss to th...
Pitt blanks Clarion in one of program’s most lopsided wins
By Chris Puzia /Sports Editor
February 8, 2015
After a blowout loss at Virginia Tech and a long bus ride home, Pitt’s wrestling team returned to the friendly mats of the Fitzgerald Field House to try and make up for the loss. It did, in overwhelming fashion, two days later.On Sunday, the No. 13 Panthers (8-5, 2-2 ACC) shut out Clarion 51-0 in ...
Music a critical aspect of athletes’ gameday rituals
By Jessica Boddy / For The Pitt News
February 3, 2015
The crowd in the Fitzgerald Field House was dynamic and lively the entire wrestling meet – fans feeding off of athletes, athletes feeding off of fans. While a deafening roar encouraged one wrestler, another, Nick Bonaccorsi, waited his turn behind the bench. The audible buzz of a full crowd and a tigh...
Panthers lose first-ever ACC match at No. 14 Virginia
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
January 25, 2015
The Pitt wrestling team faced a blow on Sunday that it had yet to meet in its program: an ACC loss.The team’s first-ever ACC conference loss came against No. 14 Virginia, 17-16, on the road Sunday.The No. 10 Panthers (7-4, 2-1 ACC) won eight straight ACC matches dating back to 2013, when the team jo...
Pitt unable to rebound from slow start, lose to Oklahoma State
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
January 20, 2015
Despite a string of victories from redshirt upperclassmen Tyler Wilps, Max Thomusseit and Nick Bonaccorsi, the Pitt wrestling team couldn’t climb out of an early hole against a top-ranked adversary.A few pivotal moments did not fall in favor of the Panthers (7-3, 2-0 ACC) as they lost in Stillwater,...
Solomon grabs heavy win for Panthers in Pitt Duals
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
January 11, 2015
Despite moving up a weight class, head coach Jason Peters asked Ryan Solomon twice on Sunday to win a match for the Pitt wrestling team. And, both times, he delivered.The redshirt freshman, forced to wrestle often larger opponents, won twice against North Carolina and Duke to clinch team wins in both mat...
What you may have missed: Winter break rundown
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
January 5, 2015
Students are just returning from break, about to begin the spring semester, but Pitt varsity sports have continued to compete during the intermission. Men’s and women’s basketball played a handful of home games each, preparing for the upcoming ACC schedule. The football team played its last game of ...
Winter Wonderland: Armed Forces Bowl, Louisville bookend winter schedules
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
December 8, 2014
With most students going home for the winter holidays, some Pitt students may forget about the sports that still compete over break. With that said, here are what different Pitt sports will be up to over the winter break.Men’s basketballThe Pitt men’s basketball team (5-3, 0-0 ACC) will be active ov...
Early major decision helps Pitt wrestling to big win over Maryland
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
December 5, 2014
Despite its No. 11 ranking, Pitt had lost its last two dual matches entering Friday night. Dom Forys knew the team needed a win to stop the skid.“It’s all about who wants it more and who is willing to work hard for it,” Forys said.The freshman started Pitt off with a 17-4 major victory at 125 po...
Pitt faces Maryland following loss to No. 5 Penn State
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
December 4, 2014
As the semester draws to a close, the Pitt wrestling team will return to the mat from a turkey-filled hiatus. The No. 11 Panthers (3-2, 0-0 ACC) face Big Ten opponent Maryland (4-3, 0-2 Big Ten) on Friday night in the Fitzgerald Field House for a final tune-up before the holiday break and conference ...
Just desserts: Pitt teams continue to compete over break
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
November 25, 2014
While most students return to their respective homes for Thanksgiving break, the athletes on varsity sports still continue their business as usual. The break for Pitt sports will be highlighted by the football team’s game at Miami on Saturday, in which the team plays a big game with postseason ramificatio...
Penn State doubles up Pitt in marquee wrestling matchup
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
November 22, 2014
The last time Pitt and Penn State faced off on the wrestling mat, they set a new NCAA attendance record of 15,996 at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center.Pitt did not disappoint in its turn, filling the lower bowl at the Petersen Events Center on Friday night with a raucous mix of Pitt and Penn State fa...
Pitt loses first match against No. 15 Lehigh
By Logan Hitchcock / Staff Writer
November 16, 2014
Pat Santoro got the homecoming he wanted.Santoro, No. 15 Lehigh’s head wrestling coach, was a four-time All-American and two-time national champion at Pitt, and his Mountain Hawks came out of the Fitzgerald Field House Saturday with a 19-12 victory.Despite consecutive wins over ranked opponents by r...
Pitt beats Bucknell, improves winning streak to three
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
November 9, 2014
After a big win over a top-10 Edinboro team, some might have worried that the Pitt wrestling team would suffer a letdown loss against Bucknell.But Max Thomusseit, ranked No. 5 in the nation, and the rest of the No. 14 (3-0, 0-0 ACC) Panthers made sure that didn’t happen as they beat Bucknell 22-11 in th...
Pitt wrestling knocks off No. 10 Edinboro
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
November 7, 2014
Pitt defeated No. 10 Edinboro Thursday night, proving that the Panthers earned their No. 14 preseason ranking.Despite an early 10-3 deficit, Pitt came back to win the final five bouts and win the match 25-13.Dom Forys set the tone for Pitt, starting the match with a 6-0 win over No. 18 Kory Mines of Ed...
Pitt wrestling wins first match of season
By Chris Puzia / Sports Editor
November 3, 2014
Pitt wrestling started its season Sunday with a road match at Bloomsburg University. While the season was just beginning, the team seemed to have no trouble focusing on Bloomsburg despite Pitt’s upcoming match against No. 10 Edinboro.Pitt, which entered the season ranked No. 14 in the nation, defea...
Feature: Senior All-American does everything for Panther Wrestling Club
By Dustin Gabler / Senior Staff Writer
April 9, 2014
Between working to keep his teammates’ weights in check, helping with coaching, setting up practice schedules, planning tournament trips and all of the other odds and ends of building a developing wrestling squad, Scott Schretzenmaier had little time left to work on his own wrestling. “Scott did a ...