Jan. 12, 2007

PITTSBURGH - After wrapping up their holiday tournament schedule, the Panthers will return to dual meet action this weekend when they take on No. 21 Michigan State in East Lansing. Pitt (4-2, 1-0 EWL) hosted the Spartans (0-4, 0-0 Big Ten) last year when they fell, 28-9. The dual meet against Michigan State will be the Panthers' second this season against a ranked opponent.

Key bouts to watch will be at the lighter weight classes where Michigan State has most of its ranked wrestlers and where Pitt has an NCAA All-American. At 125 pounds, No. 7 Franklin Gomez of the Spartans will take on Pitt's Brad Gentzle (Easton, Pa./Easton). Gentzle holds a 9-8 record this season, including a pin in the Lehigh dual. Gomez stands at 24-2.

At 133 pounds, Pitt's No. 11 Drew Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) will face Michigan State's No. 1 Nick Simmons. Headlee is 17-5 this season with only one dual loss and a pin against Missouri. Simmons is 21-0 and finished fourth at last year's NCAA Championships at 125 pounds.

Pitt has two other ranked competitors with No. 7 Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) at 157 pounds and No. 3 Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) returning to the mat. Kocher is 15-3 this season, and Gavin is 13-3. The Spartans also have two more ranked wrestlers with No. 4 Andy Simmons at 141 pounds and No. 8 Joe Williams at 184 pounds.

The dual meet will be streamed live on Michigan State's website at www.msuwrestling.com. The webcast will be free to any interested viewers.

The following is a look at Sunday's lineup:
125: Brad Gentzle (P) vs. Franklin Gomez (MS)
133: Drew Headlee (P) vs. Nick Simmons (MS)
141: Joe Ciampoli (P) vs. Andy Simmons (MS)
149: Joey Ecklof (P) vs. Jeff Wimberely (MS)
157: Matt Kocher (P) vs. Tony Greathouse (MS)
165: Sean Richmond (P) vs. Rocky Cozart (MS)
174: Keith Gavin (P) vs. John Murphy (MS)
184: Mike Heist (P) vs. Joe Williams (MS)
197: Eric Cassidy (P) vs. Nick Palmieri (MS)
HWT: Zach Sheaffer (P) vs. Alan O'Donnell (MS)