Jan. 4, 2008
The No. 20-ranked Pitt wrestling team resumes competition tomorrow when it welcomes Franklin and Marshall and cross-town for Duquesne to Fitzgerald Field House tomorrow at Noon.
The Panthers are hoping to build off a solid showing at the Midlands Championships where the team finished sixth out of 52 teams in attendance. The top-10 finish marked the program's best placing at the prestigious tournament in the program's storied history.
Pitt had four grapplers place at the Midlands. Headlining the group was the nation's top 174-pounder, Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail). The fifth-year senior steamrolled through the opposition, registering six wins - including his 100th career victory - and becoming the school's first champion at the event since two-time NCAA champion Pat Santoro accomplished the feat nearly two decades in 1988 and 1989.
Joining Gavin on the placewinner's podium was fellow All-American Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College). Kocher used three falls and a 10-3 decision over Iowa State's No. 2-seeded Cyler Sanderson to earn a trip to the finals at 157. Amid his journey to the championship bout, Kocher captured his 100th career tournament victory. He went on to take second-place honors for his efforts.
Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) took sixth in the heavyweight division and 125-pounder Ryan Bosso (Pequea, Pa./Penn Manor) grabbed seventh-place for a spot on the podium.
Franklin and Marshall boasts a 2-2 record this season, including an 0-2 mark in the EIWA. The Diplomats are led by Justin Herbert, the nation's 20th ranked wrestler at 174. Herbert is fresh off a victory at the Wilkes Open and carries a 14-1 record into this weekend's match. He is the first F&M wrestler to gain a national ranking since Mike Parziale was ranked 26th in the nation at 157-pounds during the 2004-2005 season.
Duquesne enters the weekend with a 1-0 record in dual matches. The Dukes tamed the Princeton Tigers 32-16 earlier this season at the A.J. Palumbo Center. Sophomore Jayk Cobbs, senior Brad Shrum, senior Cody Midlam and junior Scott Black all earned victories while Nathan Reinhart and Jimmy Ilardi accepted forfeit wins.
