NCAA Wrestling: Penn State, Pitt hoping eight is enough
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The wrestling teams from Pitt and Penn State are not far from home as the NCAA Division I championships begin today at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center.
Both teams have high hopes after each captured a conference title. Eight participants from each team will be competing.
Pitt claimed its second consecutive Eastern Wrestling League title, then captured its first team title at the EWL individual championships.
"It's pretty sweet being so close to home," Pitt coach Rande Stottlemyer said. "It's nice to not have to go halfway across the country. The place has been sold out for weeks. Trying to get tickets is unbelievable."
What: The NCAA Div. I wrestling championships for the top wrestlers in the country.
When: Today-Saturday. Of note: The semifinals are 7 p.m. Friday and finals 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Philadelphia.
Pitt (8): Anthony Zanetta (17-10 at 125), Tyler Nauman (23-3 at 141), Dane Johnson (19-16 at 149), Donnie Tasser (18-18 at 157), Ethan Headlee (26-10 at 165), Max Thomusseit (26-11 at 184), Zac Thomusseit (22-2 at 197), Ryan Tomei (28-4 at 285).
Penn State (8): Brad Pataky (11-5 at 125), Andrew Long (15-1 at 133), Andrew Alton (28-8 at 141), Frank Molinaro (28-2 at 149), David Taylor (34-0 at 157), Edward Ruth (32-1 at 174), Quentin Wright (16-6 at 184), Cameron Wade (28-6 at 285).
Edinboro (5): Eric Morrill (24-8 at 133), Torsten Gillespie (20-10 at 149), Johnny Greisheimer (23-13 at 157), Christopher Honeycutt (26-0 at 184), Shawn Fendone (25-10 at 197).
Clarion (2): James Fleming (30-2 at 157), Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (35-10 at 165).
Others with local ties: Binghamton (1) -- Ryan McGarity (30-17 at 174). Hofstra (1) -- Paul Snyder (25-14 at 285). Princeton (1) -- Garrett Frey (27-10 at 125). Virginia (1) -- Nick Nelson (10-1 at 141.
Pitt has a wrestler entered in eight of the 10 weight classes. Five earned berths by winning an EWL title.
"Eight qualifiers is a modern-day record," Stottlemyer said. "The most I had before was seven. I'm sure [legendary Pitt coach] Ed Peery had more than eight. In fact he probably had years in which everybody qualified. Our five conference champions is also a modern-day record."
Pitt has three entries seeded among the top 12 in their weight class. Tyler Nauman (23-3) is No. 7 at 141, Zac Thomusseit (22-2) is No. 7 at 197 and Ryan Tomei (28-4) is No. 6 at 285.
"Tyler placed fifth in the country last year," Stottlemyer said. "This is his third trip to nationals. He has a very tough first-round draw in Oklahoma State's Josh Kindig.
First Published March 17, 2011 12:00 am
