March 16, 2007

DETROIT - Pitt's No. 2 Keith Gavin and No. 11 Matt Kocher are 2-0 in the NCAA Championships, advancing into tomorrow's quarterfinals. Wrestling in consolations, both Drew Headlee and Sean Richmond were eliminated after their second matches.

Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) faced Indiana's Brandon Becker at 157 pounds. The two were scoreless in the first period. Kocher earned two in the second on a takedown. In the final period, Kocher scored on two more takedowns while holding Becker to two escapes for the 6-2 decision. Kocher is slated to wrestle No. 3 James Strouse of Hofstra in tomorrow's quarterfinals. At the Las Vegas Invitational, Kocher won a 3-2 decision over Strouse en route to a fourth-place finish.

At 174 pounds, Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) won a major decision over Wisconsin's Matt Maciag in their second meeting this season. In the first period, Gavin took a 2-1 lead with a takedown. He picked up five more points in the second period with two takedowns and an escape. In the final period, Gavin came through with five more points, including one for riding time, for the 12-5 major decision. In tomorrow's quarterfinals, Gavin will wrestle No. 10 Matt Herrington of Penn. The two have not faced each other this season. Herrington is coming off a 6-4 win in the second round.

Richmond (Emmaus, Pa./Easton) lost his second bout of the tournament to Bryan Tice of Cal State Fullerton. Tice opened up with a 2-1 start after a takedown. Richmond tied it up with an escape in the second period. He had one more escape in the final period, but Tice scored on an escape and a takedown for the 5-3 decision. Richmond closes out his sophomore campaign with a 21-14 record, five falls and five major decisions.

At 133 pounds, Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) came into the tournament as the No. 11 seed, but tonight he fell in his second bout after a 4-2 decision to Virginia's Eric Albright. Headlee still concluded his season with a 22-9 record and the league title in his weight class. He additionally move up to 12th among Pitt's career pin leaders this season .

Tomorrow's quarterfinals and consolations are scheduled for 11 a.m. in the Palace at Auburn Hills.

NOTES--Kocher moved up to tie for fourth among Pitt's career win leaders with a 122-35 record. He also holds the school record for most career tournament victories at 91. Gavin is now tied for ninth for most wins by a junior in Pitt's record books.