Jan. 16, 2007

PITTSBURGH - The Pitt wrestling team will welcome four student-athletes for the 2007-08 season. Future Panther wrestlers include Andrew Brentzel, David Crowell, Dan Mahoney and Tyler Nauman.

"We are extremely pleased to have these four young men coming into our program this fall," said Head Coach Rande Stottlemyer. "We always want to keep the local kids when possible. Although he's currently wrestling in New York, Dan Mahoney is from western Pennsylvania. A.J. Brentzel is clearly one of the better upper weights and has a tremendous work ethic. Tyler has had a remarkable high school career, placing at states three times, and he'll be in the hunt for top honors this season. Another big guy who will certainly help us is Dave Crowell who was second at states last year and will compete for top honors this season. We will continue our recruiting efforts throughout the spring and add to an already solid class."

Brentzle joins the team from nearby Irwin, Pa. A wrestler for Penn Trafford High School, he trains under coach Vince Testa and is a former teammate of Pitt wrestler Ryan Tomei. Brentzle finished third at 171 pounds at last year's state tournament, and he recently won the Powerade tournament over the holidays at the same weight class. Brentzle placed first at the 2003 PA Junior Wrestling tournament at 155 pounds, and he is currently ranked first in the WPIAL and PIAA in his weight class.

Crowell, a wrestler from Easton, Pa., placed second at the 2006 state championships at 171 pounds. He moved up to 189 pounds this season and wrestles for Nazareth High School and his father, coach David Crowell. In 2006, he won the district tournament and led his team to a first-place finish at states. He currently ranks third in his district and has led his team to a 6-0 start this season.

Mahoney is a Pittsburgh native, having wrestled at 160 pounds Baldwin high school last season. This year, however, he is competing at 171 and 189 pounds for MacArthur high school in New York under coach Howie Greenblatt. Mahoney finished fifth at the Cadet nationals in 2005.

Nauman is from Middletown, Pa. where he is the top-ranked 130-pound wrestler in his district. A wrestler for Middletown high school and his father, coach Mike Nauman, he finished second at states last season, third as a sophomore and seventh as a freshman. Nauman is a three-time district champion, and most recently he won the Beast of the East tournament at 130 pounds.