Hokies Wrestling 2020: #7 Virginia Tech (11-2) VS #11 Pittsburgh

Match Information
Location: Fitzgerald Field House - Pittsburgh, PA
Day & Time: 22 FEB 20 at 7:00pm
Viewing: ACCN Extra and in-person
Updates: Twitter @HokiesWrestling, and Trackwrestling

The Opponent: University of Pittsburgh Panthers

2018-2019 Season and Now

Pittsburgh University's dual record last year was 13-3 (3-2 ACC), wrecking their non-conference opponents while stumbling against the ACC teams. They finished 3rd in the regular season standings and 4th for the conference tournament. Last year's match against Virginia Tech was a success for the Hokies, as they won handily 23-6 for their first ACC victory. The highlight of the match was 133lber #14 Korbin Myers upsetting former #2 Micky Phillippi in a 5-3 decision.

This 2019-2020 Pitt team is about the same talent-wise and has a current record of 9-4 (2-2 ACC). Their schedule is above average in terms of quality opponents. At the time of the duals, the Panther had wrestled five ranked teams, with only two not ACC programs: #3 Ohio State, #7 Lehigh, and #9 Oklahoma state. now #8. #9, and #10. They only defeated Lehigh but have also defeated a now #14 ranked Campbell. The other two ranked teams are #2 NC State and #7 North Carolina, both losses. For the roster, the starters are a healthy mix between underclassmen and upperclassmen, with a few spots of talent. Pittsburgh has five of wrestlers ranked: 133bs Micky Phillippi (#6), 165lbs Jake Wentzel (#14), 174lbs Gregg Harvey (#18), 184lbs Nino Bonaccorsi (#7), and Demetrius Thomas.

Coach: Keith Gavin

Coach Gavin is in his 3rd season as the head coach, taking the helm in 2017, and the 11th coach in Pittsburgh's illustrious wrestling history. He has assistant coaching experience at Oklahoma and UVA prior to taking over the helm for the Panthers. In the short timeframe he has yet to produce an All-American, win any regular season, or tournament titles. Keith Gavin's head coaching record is 26-18. He has seemed to turn around the Pittsburg wrestling.

Gavin actually took over from former coach Jason Peters, who was relieved of his position in the same year. According to Pittsburgh Athletic Department, an incident occurred at the Midland Tournament that saw three Panther wrestlers being suspended and signing a non-disclosure agreement. Coach Peters then fired back in 2018, saying he was fired due to his race and sued Pittsburgh University. The civil case is still ongoing.

Keith Gavin's collegiate wrestling career spanned from 2004-2008 at Pittsburgh Univerysity. His impressive record of 120-28, is eight all time for Pitt in number of wins. He is a two time All-American for 2007 and 2008. The latter where he won the NCAA Championship for 174lbs and went 33-0 in the season.

The Line-Up

125lbs: Louis Newell (r-FR, Cranberry Township, PA)
Lewis took a short, redshirt year to adjust his body from the 133lbs weight class to 125lbs. But he only wrestled in seven matches so the experience is sparse. level. He is 0-3 against the top ten opponents he has wrestled this year. His record is 11-10 (1-3 ACC) this season and 14-14 in his career.

133lbs: #6 Micky Phillippi (r-SO, Derry, PA)
The Panther's best wrestler who burst on the scene in 2019. In 2017 he wrestled for UVA. In 2018, he transferred to Pitt, but suffered an injury while stuck behind former Panther Dom Forys. Last year he won the 133lbs ACC Championship and qualified to his first NCAA Tournament. In 2020, he is 20-1 (4-0 ACC) while 2-1 against the top 10. His overall career record is 88-16.

141lbs: Cole Matthews (r-FR, Greenville PA)
Matthews is close to being ranked this season. He is coming off an impressive redshirt year where he was 21-4. He is 1-3 against top-15 ranked opponents this season, but his record is 14-7 (1-2 ACC). He has only one loss that wasn't a decision. His career record is 35-11.

149lbs: Luke Kemerer (r-FR, Greensburg PA) OR Dallas Bulsak (r-SO, South Park PA)
This is Pittsburgh's weakest weight class and Kemerer got the start after his redshirt season. He has started in the most duals for this weight class with nine matches. This year he is 8-8 (0-2 ACC) and 18-15 for his career.

Bulsak is the other options for the Panthers. He has wrestled in the most recent dual and has wrestled in four matches total. His record this season is 4-7 (0-2 ACC) and 20-24 in his career.

157lbs: Taleb Rahmani (r-SR, Marysville OH)
Rahmani is the veteran in this line up but has had a disappointing season. He won the ACC Championship in 2017 as a redshirt freshman. Rahmani is a three time NCAA qualifier, but has never earned All-American honors. He has faced BC LaPrade four times and has won ever time. This season he is 14-8 (1-2 ACC) and 85-45 in the end of his career.

165lbs: #14 Jake Wentzel (r-JR, South Park PA)
Wentzel has been the starter for this weight class in the past three years. He did have a suffer an injury in 2018 that shorten his season though. In 2017, he faced David McFadden twice and lost both times, once by decision and the other by major decision. This year he is faced against a top-20 opponent, 11 times going 4-7. Those seven losses are the only ones in his 2020 campaign, going 15-7 (1-2 ACC) so far. For his career, he is 46-30.

174lbs: #18 Gregg Harvey (r-JR, Boyertown PA)
Harvey is a former 184lber who made the weight cut in 2019. He is a three time starter who is hoping to make his first NCAA tournament this year. This year he is 2-4 against the top-20 opponents in his weight class. For the 2019-2020 season, his record is 14-7 (3-0 ACC). His total record is 61-46.

184lbs: #7 Nino Bonaccorsi (r-SO, Bethel Park PA)
Nino is the returning starter for the Panthers in the 184lbs class . He qualified last year for the NCAA tournament. This season, he has gone up against five top-20 ranked opponents, but only 1-4 against this competition. These four losses are his only ones this season as Bonaccorsi's record is 19-4 (3-1 ACC). His career record is 63-17.

197lbs: Kellan Stout (r-SR, Pittsburgh, PA)
Stout has been the starter for Pittsburgh for the past three years. He is actually a transfer from Penn State that came over in 2018. He made his first appearance in the NCAA tournament last year. This year he has been 04 against the top-20 opponents in his weight class. This leads into his 2020 record being 10-8 (3-1 ACC) and his career record being 46-43.

HVY: #8 Demetrius Thomas (SR, Ferguson MO)
Thomas is a transfer from DII college Williams Baptist who has turned into a great success story for the Panthers. He qualified for the NCAA tournament last year. Also in 2019, he also faced John Borst where he defeated him by major decision, 10-2. Against top-20 grapplers, Thomas is 4-2 and has a total record 18-3 (4-0 ACC). His career record is 57-11.

Match Thoughts

The NC State match really tugged at my emotions, but unfortunately was very predictable when reviewing the matches. The same wrestlers that have been steadfast for the Hokies, excelled in their match. While those that have dropped some heartbreakers, did the same again. In the previous review, I mentioned how NC State teaches its wrestlers the importance of pace and reaction. This was noticeable in 125lbs, 165lbs, 184lbs, and heavy weight. They force their opponents feel the pressure as if they have to score, and hopes they will be the one to make a mistake. The Wolfpack is comfortable with one or two point decision wins. Again there were times that stalling could have been called, but the Hokies were not that aggressive either. They have to do more than push forward; they should have added more shot attempts to earn the stall call.

Virginia Tech goes into its match against Pittsburgh with four ranked wrestlers: #14 Mitch Moore (141lbs), #18 BC LaPrade (157lbs), #10 David McFadden (165lbs), and #2 Hunter Bolen (184lbs). This is more reflective of what the true talent level for Virginia Tech. Prata and Borst finally lost their rankings. Obviously the key match up to watch is once again 184lbs, as Hunter Bolen faces another top 10 talent.. Other matches to focus on is 165lbs for a top 15 match up and to see if McFadden can improve his ACC seeding.

Predictions

125: Prata dec. Newell (3-0 VT)
133: #6 Phillippi maj. dec. Gerardi (3-4 Pitt)
141: #18 M. Moore dec. Matthews (6-4 VT)
149: Andonian maj. dec. Kemerer (10-4 VT)
157: Rahmani dec. #18 LaPrade (10-7 VT)
165: #10 McFadden dec. #14 Wentzel (13-7 Pitt)
174: #18 Harvey dec. Hughes (13-10 VT)
184: #2 Bolen dec. #7 Bonaccorsi (16-10 VT)
197: Stout dec. Smeltzer (16-13 VT)
285: #6 Thomas maj. dec Borst (16-17 Pitt)

I'm going pessimistic in my prediction. Virginia Tech has the better lower weights while Pittsburgh has the better heavier weights. This is another dual where bonus points will be the difference maker. Virginia Tech's best chance for this is at 149lbs, with an aggressive wrestler with Andonian and it being the Panther's worse weight. The second best weight would be 125lbs, but Prata is not known for racking up the points. I do not know which McFadden will show up for this match. It's becoming more apparent the offense is not there this season, but I'm hoping he can out skill his opponent. If I had to pick one match that would decide this dual, its 197lbs. I still picked Stout over Smeltzer due to experience, but his record is truly not impressive.

Virginia Tech has no chance of winning the ACC regular season championship, but every win counts now for tournament seeding. The crowd will also be a factor when duals are a one match difference. Honestly, I would love to kick Pitts rear, butt i;m ready for the team to focus on the post season tournaments.