Feb. 14, 2013

PITTSBURGH - The 14th-ranked Pitt wrestling team will return to the mats at the Fitzgerald Field House for a 7 p.m. Senior Night dual on Friday, Feb. 15, against Lehigh.  The dual, which will also serve as Alumni Night, will air live on Pitt Panthers TV (Comcast 188 and 210).

The Panthers are coming off a 31-7 loss to No 3. Penn State, in which the Panthers only recorded two wins.  Travis Shaffer and No. 7 Zac Thomusseit recorded impressive 15-2 and 5-4 wins respectively. Pitt currently has five wrestlers ranked in the latest Amateur Wrestling News poll led by senior 197-pounder Matt Wilps who ranks third.

Lehigh returns to action after splitting duals with Brown and Harvard.  The Mountain Hawks recorded a 25-16 loss to Harvard and finished their home matches with a 27-16 victory over Brown. For the year, Lehigh has been led by 184 pounder Robert Hamlin who ranks third in the latest AWN poll and has an impressive 17-2 record on the year. The Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series between the two programs, 39-16-2. However, Pitt scored an 18-16 win last season in Bethlehem.

As previously mentioned, the dual will also serve as alumni night for the Pitt wrestling program. In addition to the over 50 alums expected to be in the stands, four Panther All-Americans will be coaching on the benches in Pitt head coach Rande Stottlemyer, Lehigh head coach Pat Santoro, Pitt assistant Matt Kocher and Lehigh assistant Drew Headlee. The four coaches combined for nine All-America honors during their time in the Pitt singlet, including two National Championships from Santoro in 1988 and 1989.

For the latest on Pitt Wrestling follow the Panthers on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to the Pitt Wrestling YouTube channel.

Probable Starters

No. 14 Pitt

125 - Derrick Nelson

133 - No. 17 Shelton Mack

141 - Corey Busy

149 - Ronnie Garbinsky

157 - Donnie Tasser

165 - No. 12 Tyler Wilps

174 - Nick Bonaccorsi or P.J. Tasser

184 - No. 14 Max Thomusseit

197 - No. 3 Matt Wilps

285 - No. 7 Zac Thomusseit

Lehigh

125 - Alex Abreu
133 - Randy Cruz
141 - Anthony Salupo
149 - No. 18 Shane Welsh
157 - Albert Woody
165 - Ben Haas
174 - No. 14 Nathaniel Brown
184 - No. 3 Robert Hamlin
197 - John Bolich
285 - Max Wessell

Results from Last Season's Matches

No. 18 Pitt 18, No. 6 Lehigh 16 (11/12/11)

125 - Anthony Zanetta (P) dec. Mason Beckman (L) 9-2

133 - Shelton Mack (P) dec. Chris Dinnien (L) 10-5

141 - Travis Shaffer (P) dec. Alex Abreu (L) 3-0

157 - Donnie Tasser (P) dec. Shane Welsh (L) 6-2

165 - Brandon Hatchett (L) dec. Tyler Wilps (P) 7-4

174 - Nate Brown (L) dec. P.J. Tasser (P) 4-3

197 - Matt Wilps (P) dec. Joe Kennedy (L) 4-3

285 - Zach Rey (Lehigh) pinned Joel Yahner (P) 1:01

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