June 1, 2009

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- Three former members and one current member of the University of Pittsburgh wrestling team competed at the 2009 United States World Team Trials, held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa this past weekend, May 30-31.

Current heavyweight Ryan Tomei placed fourth in the men's freestyle at 120kg, going 2-2 for the weekend. After an opening-round 2-1, 3-1 loss to Michael Irving (Gator Wrestling Club), Tomei won two straight matches, defeating Jarod Trice (Central Michigan RTC) 0-1, 3-0, 1-0 and Les Sigman (Sunkist Kids) 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the true third match. Tomei fell to Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids) 1-0, 1-0 in the final match of the tournament.

Assistant coach and 2008 NCAA national champion Keith Gavin jumped a weight class from his usual 74kg, competing at 84kg over the weekend. After a first-round bye, Gavin advanced the semifinals with a 2-1, 0-1, 4-2 win over Zack Giesen (DSWC-Stanford), setting up a date with another former Pitt wrestler, Carl Fronhofer. Fronhofer, the fourth winningest wrestler in Pitt history and a 2003 All-American, defeated Gavin 3-0, 1-0 to advance to the championship match, ultimately falling to Bryan Hasseman (NYAC) by fall just over a minute into the first period. Gavin finished the weekend in fourth with a 2-2 mark while Fronhofer went 3-1, capturing second place.

Drew Headlee, a 2005 All-American at Pitt and brother of current Panther Ethan Headlee, was the fourth Panther wrestler to compete at the trials, going 0-2 in the men's freestyle 60kg class. Headlee lost 4-4, 0-3, 4-2 to Nick Gallick (Sunkist Kids) and 7-0, 1-3, 6-3 to Daniel Dennis (Hawkeye Wrestling Club).

The 2009 World Wrestling Championships will be held in Herning, Denmark, September 21-27.