Nov. 15, 2009

PITTSBURGH -

The Pitt wrestling team (2-1) dropped its first dual match of the year with a 24-9 loss to No. 17 Lehigh on the road.

The Panthers’ Tyler Nauman got the scoring started for Pitt after Lehigh jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a big 5-3 decision over 18th-ranked Seth Ciasulli at 141. Nauman (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) remains undefeated on the season with an 8-0 record, including 3-0 in dual matches.

Pitt closed the gap to 9-6 following the 149-pound match when Eric Albright (York, Pa./New Lion Area/Virginia) earned a 3-2 decision over Brian Tanen of Lehigh to make it two straight decisions for the Panthers. The Mountain Hawks pulled away though, stringing together four straight decisions to take a commanding 21-6 lead. Sophomore Matt Wilps (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) claimed a 3-1 sudden victory win over Joe Kennedy at 197, bringing the score to 21-9 in favor of the home team.

In the heavyweight division, junior Ryan Tomei (Irwin, Pa./Penn-Trafford) dropped his first match of the season to sixth-ranked Zach Rey, 3-2, in the final match of the day.

Pitt returns to action Nov. 22 for the Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Binghamton, N.Y.

125 John McDonald (Lehigh) dec. Chris Kochinsky (Pitt) 12-5
133 Matt Fisk (Lehigh) Fall Zach Grove (Pitt) 5:41
141 Tyler Nauman (Pitt) dec. Seth Ciasulli (Lehigh) 5-3
149 Eric Albright (Pitt) dec. Brian Tanen (Lehigh) 3-2
157 Sean Bilodeau (Lehigh) dec. Mark Powell (Pitt) 6-3
165 Mike Galante (Lehigh) dec. Karl DiCiantis (Pitt) 8-5
174 Robert Hamlin (Lehigh) dec. David Sullivan (Pitt) 3-1
184 David Craig (Lehigh) dec. Zac Thomusseit (Pitt) 6-3
197 Matt Wilps (Pitt) dec. Joe Kennedy (Lehigh) 3-1, s.v.
285 Zach Rey (Lehigh) dec. Ryan Tomei (Pitt) 3-2