Jan. 30, 2008

PITTSBURGH - The Pitt wrestling team, which is now ranked No. 20 and is undefeated in EWL action, will host non-conference foe No. 23 Kent State (10-4) at Fitzgerald Field House on Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.

In last weekend's tussle with Cleveland State, the Panthers (10-2, 3-0 EWL) took eight of the match's 10 bouts en route to a 32-5 victory over the Vikings. Included among those eight wins was a major decision by David Sullivan (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./Delaware Valley/East Stroudsburg) over the Vikings' DJ Cummings. Sullivan now boasts 21 wins this season, including three falls and three technical falls.

All-American and No. 17-ranked Drew Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) remained undefeated in dual competitions and upped his record to 10-0 after a win in the 141-pound bout last weekend. He is one of three regular starters for the Panthers with an undefeated dual match record.

Pitt's two other All-Americans, Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) and Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) both won their matchups with technical falls last weekend. Gavin, who is holding strong as the nation's top ranked 174-pounder, scored 16 points in a shut out of JT Miller, and Kocher, who is ranked No. 5, posted 22 points while only allowing seven to CSU's Shaun Mitchell.

Joe Ciampoli (Altoona, Pa./Altoona), David Crowell (Easton, Pa./Nazareth) and No. 13 Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) all locked up decisions last weekend and contributed to the Panthers' win, tallying a combined 26 points in their three bouts.

In Kent State's matchup last weekend against Northern Illinois, the upper weight trio of Eric Chine, Michael Blackwell and Jermail Porter notched 44 points in their three bouts to aid the Golden Flashes in their victory.