March 7, 2008
Round One Brackets
PITTSBURGH--The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team will battle six other schools for a shot at the program's first Eastern Wrestling League title tomorrow at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers currently boast three nationally ranked wrestlers heading into the weekend and will look to send numerous grapplers to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., on March 20-22.
Below is a weight-by-weight breakdown of the Panthers lineup:
125
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Bosso (Pequea, Pa./Penn Manor) is the Panthers' entry at 125 pounds. He enters the weekend with a record of 20-19, including two major decisions, one fall and one technical fall. Bosso has also performed well in open tournaments, with a 6th place showing at the Eastern Michigan Open and a seventh-place plaudit at the prestigious Midlands Championships. Bosso will battle the No. 3 seed John Trumbetti from Lock Haven in the first round.
133
Jimmy Conroy (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) will take to the mat for Pitt at 133 pounds. Conroy is 14-11 in his second season as a Panther, including three falls and three major decisions. He will likely be seeded No. 3 this weekend, behind Edinboro's Ricky Deubel and Bloomsburg's Jason Guffey, both of whom have winning records in conference action this season. Conroy, the No. 3 seed will lock up with Cleveland State's John Palivoda in the first round.
141
Drew Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg), the EWL's reigning 133-pound champion, has jumped up a division this season and is eying his second conference crown. Headlee appears to be the favorite at 141 after going 19-5 this season with a flawless 6-0 mark in EWL dual meet action. The 2005 All-American is in search of his third appearance to the national tournament, after also qualifying in 2005 and 2007. Headlee is the No. 1 seed and will face Steve Waite of West Virginia in the first round.
149
Joe Ciampoli (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) owns an 8-8 overall record this season and will represent Pitt at 149. His eight victories include two technical falls and a major decision. Ciampoli also racked up a fifth-place finish at the Cornell Body Bar earlier in the year, helping the Panthers grab seventh at the event. Ciampoli will square off against the No. 3 seed, West Virginia's David Jauregui, in the first round.
157
Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College), the nation's No. 8-ranked 157-pounder, will look to improve upon his runner up finish at last year's conference championships and earn his fourth trip to the national tournament. If successful, Kocher would become just the 12th Pitt wrestler to qualify for the NCAAs on four separate occasions. A 2007 All-American, he brings a 17-4 record into the weekend, including a second-place finish at the Midlands. He also took fourth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Kocher is the No. 4 seed and will face the No. 5 seeded Travis Uncapher of Clarion.
165
Freshman Ethan Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) enters his first EWL Championship Tournament with a record of 14-16, including five falls and one technical fall. Headlee also owns a fourth-place showing at the Eastern Michigan Open and a sixth-place plaudit at Brute/Binghamton Open. He grabbed a No. 5 seed, pitting him against No. 4 Ricky Schmelyun of Bloomsburg.
174
Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail), the nation's top ranked wrestler at 174-pounds, headlines the seven wrestlers vying for this year's EWL title. Gavin owns a perfect 20-0 record this season with an unblemished 6-0 mark in conference action. An All-American last season, Gavin is the reigning EWL Champion at 174 pounds. Gavin, the No. 1 seed, earned a bye in the first round and will battle the winner of Lock Haven's Tom Kocher and Cleveland State's JT Miller.
184
Redshirt sophomore David Sullivan (Dingmans Ferry, Pa./East Stroudsburg) will be Pitt's contestant at 184 pounds. Sullivan owns a 19-13 record with two falls, three technical falls and a major decision. He grabbed sixth at the Cornell Body Bar and is looking for his first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Sullivan picked up a No. 5 seed and will match up against No. 4 Scott Joseph of Clarion.
197
Freshman David Crowell (Easton, Pa./Nazareth) will step to the mat at 197. Crowell is 7-17 in his first year as a Panther and has registered a technical fall and a major decision.
He also took fourth at the Mat Town Open. Crowell will take on Pat Bradshaw of Edinboro in the first round.
285
Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley), the 2005 EWL Champion, enters the weekend with a 6-0 record in conference action. He boasts a team high 26 wins, including 13 in dual competition. He has pinned two opponents this season and has major decisioned another. Sheaffer took third at the Cornell Body Bar, eighth at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and sixth at the Midlands Championships. He claimed the top spot in the division and will face Lock Haven's Dan Craig in the first round.
Action begins tomorrow at 10 a.m. from the Fitzgerald Field House.
