March 3, 2007

CLEVELAND - The Pitt wrestling team is in fourth after the first day of competition at the EWL Championships. Four Panthers earned automatic berths into the NCAA tournament in the semifinals earlier today while two wrestlers earned wins in this evening's consolations.

At 141 pounds, Joe Ciampoli (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) won a 10-5 decision over Clarion's Greg Lewis. And at 184 pounds, Kyle Deliere (Cecil, Pa./Canon-McMillan) pinned Clarion's Scott Joseph at the 0:57 mark. They'll advance in tomorrow's consolation rounds.

Eliminated from the tournament were freshman Mark Generalovich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) and Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley). Generalovich wrestled for the Panthers at 149 pounds, and Sheaffer competed at heavyweight.

Wrestling resumes at 10 a.m. tomorrow with more consolations. Championship finals are set to begin at 4 p.m.

Below are the team standings after day one:
1-West Virginia - 84.5
2-Edinboro - 78
3-Bloomsburg - 76.5
4-Pittsburgh - 74.5
5-Lock Haven - 67
6-Cleveland State - 45
7-Clarion - 33