April 18, 2006

LAS VEGAS - Four members of the Pitt wrestling team traveled to Las Vegas last weekend for the 2006 Junior and Senior National Tournament. Zach Sheaffer competed in the junior tournament while Keith Gavin, Drew Headlee and Matt Kocher wrestled in the senior tournament.

Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) finished with a 3-3 record in the 60kg weight class. He lost his first bout to Jesse Brock of the Bronco Wrestling Club. He went on to win his second match with a pin over Ben Hanish of the Sunkist Wrestling Club. He then defeated Travis Drake of the TD Wrestling Club. Headlee lost his fourth bout to Hawkeye's Cliff Moore, but went on to pin Ben Zwaschka of Sunkis at the 1:24 mark. Headlee lost his final match in his second competition against Cliff Moore.

Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) finished 4-2 at 74kg. He won his first match against Luke Salazar of Bears Wrestling. In his second match, he lost to Zack Shanaman of Sunkist. He then went on to win three in a row, defeating Moza Fay of the Panther Wrestling Club, Matt Zmaschka of the Warhawk Wrestling Club and Jacob Volkman of the Minnesota Storm. Kocher lost his final bout to teammate Keith Gavin.

Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) also finished 4-2 at 74kg. He won his first two matches, defeating Evan Bulger of Army Freestyle ad Vince Bertucci of Mat Rat. In his third match, he lost to Cornell's Joey Hooker. Gavin went on to win two more. He defeated Ryan Hurley of Cleveland Wrestling with a pin at the 1:25 mark before defeating teammate Matt Kocher. Gavin lost his final match to Travis Koppenhafer of Sunkist.

Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) competed at 120kg in the junior division, finishing with a 1-2 record. He lost his first bout to A.J. Brooks but went on to pin Navy's Ed Prendergast at the 0:57 mark. Sheaffer lost his final match to West Point's Mike Sprigg.

The Panthers will continue to compete independently throughout the summer before their season resumes in the fall.