Pitt sends three seeded wrestlers to St. Louis
The last time Pitt had three wrestlers seeded among the top six in their weight class at the NCAA Division I wrestling tournament was 1998. That year also marked the last time the Panthers had three All-Americans.
The Panthers and coach Keith Gavin are hoping for a repeat of 1998 as the tournament begins Thursday at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
“It’s been a long time since this program has had this many top-six seeds,” said Gavin, a 2008 Pitt graduate in his fourth season as head coach. “All three are deserving of such a high seed, but being a high seed doesn’t mean anything if you can’t back it up with an All-American performance.”
Jake Wentzel, Micky Phillippi and Nino Bonaccorsi are Pitt’s seeded wrestlers. All three graduated from WPIAL high schools.
The trio were among seven Pitt wrestlers who qualified for the 2020 tournament but never got a chance to wrestle, as it was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“These kids have waited a long time for this opportunity,” Gavin said. “First was the cancelation. Then, we had a late start to this season. The long wait is almost over. That’s why this tournament is a little more special.”
Wentzel (9-1), a South Park graduate, is the Panthers highest seed at No. 3 in the 165pound weight class.
“Jake has waited even longer,” Gavin said. “He would have qualified in 2019 if it wasn’t for a torn ACL that ended his season a week before the ACC tournament.”
Wentzel has since won two ACC titles and knocked off defending NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis in the final dual meet of the regular season. Wentzel was leading 3-0 and had riding time locked in when Lewis defaulted with an injury.
“Nobody wants to win by default,” Wentzel said. “But the match showed me that I’m on the right path. It showed me that I can contend at this level.”
Wentzel is one of three area wrestlers seeded among the top seven at 165. The others are Bucknell’s Zach Hartman (10-0), a Belle Vernon graduate who is seeded No. 5; and Ohio State’s Ethan Smith (11-2), a Latrobe grad who is seeded No. 7.
Phillippi (8-1), a Derry graduate, is seeded No. 5 at 141 pounds. Phillippi made his NCAA debut as a No. 4 seed at 133 pounds in 2019 but fell short of placing.
“Micky was one win away from becoming an All-American when he lost in the blood round,” Gavin said. “The same thing happened to Nino. Both were so close. It was tough to see both come up one win short.”
Bonaccorsi (9-1), a Bethel Park graduate, is seeded No. 6 at 197 pounds.
The seeded trio will be
joined by Panther teammates Cole Matthews (6-5) and Gregg Harvey (6-6). Matthews is seeded No. 16 at 141 pounds. Harvey is No. 30 at 184 pounds. Both were qualifiers last year but didn’t get to wrestle.
Penn State has won nine of the past 10 NCAA team titles, but the Nittany Lions are not expected to defend their title, as Iowa is a prohibitive favorite. The Hawkeyes have an entry in all 10 weight classes, including eight seeded among the top five in their weight class and four top seeds.
Two of Iowa’s top seeds are Franklin Regional graduates, Spencer Lee and Michael Kemerer. Lee (7-0) is a twotime defending champ at 125 pounds and is a strong favorite to three-peat. Kemerer, who placed third and fourth in two previous appearances, is the favorite at 174.
“I want to be a four-time national champion,” said Lee, who still has another year of eligibility due to last year’s cancellation. “Right now, my main thing is about becoming
a three-time champ. That’s where my focus is.”
Penn State has nine entries, including six freshmen. The Nittany Lions have four entries seeded among the top three in their weight class, including Aaron Brooks (9-0), the top seed at 184. The others are Roman Bravo-Young (9-0), No. 2 at 133; Nick Lee (8-1), No. 2 at 141; and Carter Starocci (82), No. 3 at 174.
“Wrestling’s wrestling,” said Brooks, a two-time Big Ten Conference champion making his NCAA debut. “Whatever seeding, it’s just numbers. Just like rankings, whenever you’re not ranked number one, you have the same mindset. So, I think if you allow it to change your mindset, you’re kind of doing the wrong thing. Just focusing on wrestling, what got you there and whoever’s in front of you — you focus on that match by match.”
West Virginia has four entries, including Shaler graduate Ryan Sullivan (7-3), who is seeded No. 20 at 133.