Jan. 10, 2008

Off to a 7-1 start - the program's best in 20 years - the No. 20-ranked Pitt wrestling team will look to rack up two more victories this weekend when it travels to Oklahoma for matches against the No. 19-ranked Sooners and Michigan State. Action is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. at Howard McCasland Field House.

The Panthers clamed wins against both Duquesne and Franklin and Marshall this past weekend by scores of 49-0 and 38-12, respectively. In its eight matches this season, Pitt has outscored opponents by a score of 259-79.

No. 4 Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) had yet another a strong showing against the Dukes and Diplomats, registering two falls in the 157-pound bouts and elevating his career win total to 138, which is second on Pitt's all-time list.

No. 11 Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) recorded two wins of his own and boasts a team-leading total of 25 for the season. Three of those victories have come against opponents ranked in the top 15 nationally in the heavyweight division.

The team will also welcome All-Americans Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) and Drew Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) back to the lineup against the Sooners and Spartans.

Gavin, the nation's No. 1 grappler at 174, is undefeated this season with a sparkling 17-0 record, including two prestigious tournament victories at the Las Vegas Invitational and Midlands Championships. Headlee enters this weekend with a 6-0 mark in dual matches and leads the team in major decision victories with five.

No. 19 Oklahoma enters the weekend with an impressive 8-1 record on the season, coming off of three victories last weekend against Navy, Cal-State Fullerton and North Carolina at the Lonestar Duals.

Michigan State evened out its record to 3-3 this weekend with a shutout victory over Ohio University. No 3.-ranked 125-pounder Franklin Gomez earned a major decision victory for the Spartans.

The Panthers return to Fitzgerald Field House on Thursday, Jan. 17, for a EWL match up against Lock Haven.