A year ago, Pitt wrestlers Micky Phillippi, Jake Wentzel, Nino Bonaccorsi and Demetrius Thomas were named All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
But in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, there was no NCAA Championships to validate the distinctions.
This year, five Pitt wrestlers, including four top-three finishers at the ACC Championships, are headed to the tournament March 18-20 in St. Louis. For the third consecutive season, at least half of coach Keith Gavin’s starting lineup qualified for the national championships. Phillippi, Wentzel and Bonaccorsi return. Thomas was a senior last year.
The top Pitt seed is No. 3 Wentzel (9-1), a two-time ACC champion at 165 pounds. Wentzel, a South Park graduate, will meet Drexel’s Evan Barczak (6-3) in an opening match.
Phillippi (8-1), a Derry graduate, is seeded fifth at 133 pounds and will make his third appearance at nationals. He will meet Utah Valley’s Ty Smith (8-5).
ACC champion Bonaccorsi (9-1) of Bethel Park received the No. 6 seed at 197 pounds. He will meet Stanford’s Nick Stemmet (7-2).
Matthews (6-5) is seeded 16th at 141 pounds and will meet Rider’s McKenzie Bell (7-3). Harvey (6-6) received an at-large bid at 184 pounds and will be seeded 30th. He will wrestle No. 3 Lou DePrez (7-0) of Binghamton.
Pitt hasn’t produced an All-American wrestler since 2015.
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