Pitt press release:
The 25th-ranked University of Pittsburgh wrestling team fell to No. 12 Arizona State, 32-6, Sunday afternoon at the ASU Gammage Theatre.
With the loss, the Panthers drop to 1-2 on the season, while the Sun Devils pick up their first win of the year for a 1-2 record.
Two Pitt wrestlers picked up wins on the day in redshirt senior Nick Zanetta and redshirt freshman Kellan Stout.
“It was a tough day,” said head coach Keith Gavin. “I think some of guys are continuing to improve, which is a positive. Some of them need to be a bit more fearless with their wrestling, meaning more attacks and not so worried about the outcome of the match. In a couple of matches, even the ones we lost, namely Taleb [Rahmani] and Gregg [Harvey], exhibited that type of mentality that we’re preaching in continuing to compete fearlessly. Even though they lost, we think they’re going to grow from that and continue to get better. I’m happy for the guys that got a win, but everyone needs to keep improving. We’re going to a better team next time out and we’re excited for the Cliff Keen Invite.”
At 141 pounds, Zanetta picked up his sixth win of the season after a sudden victory win over Arizona State’s Nikko Villarreal, 5-3. The Pittsburgh native fell behind in the first period, 2-1, but quickly tied it after an escape to open the second period. Zanetta and Villarreal started the third in neutral, but neither would be able to score. After a scoreless first overtime period, Zanetta started the first tiebreaker on top. Villarreal escaped to take a 3-2 lead. Zanetta then escaped in the second tiebreaker after starting on bottom to tie it again 3-3. In the second sudden victory round, Zanetta took down Villarreal for the win.
Pitt’s second win came at 197 pounds as Stout outlasted Cade Belshay in a 2-0 decision. After two scoreless periods, Stout started the third on bottom and escaped to take the lead, 1-0. Neither would be able to score as Stout added one more point on with riding time.
The Panthers have some time off before resuming action in December when the team travels to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen Invite, Dec. 1-2.
Pitt vs. Arizona State Results
125: #6 Ryan Millhof (ASU) pins Brendan Price (UP), 0:57 – ASU leads 6-0
133: Ali Naser (ASU) maj. dec. Jake Cherry (UP), 12-4 – ASU leads 10-0
141: Nick Zanetta (UP) def. Nikko Villarreal (ASU), SV-2, 5-3 – ASU leads 10-3
149: #13 Josh Maruca (ASU) dec. Robert Lee (UP), 7-2 – ASU leads 13-3
157: #5 Josh Shields (ASU) dec. #15 Taleb Rahmani (UP), 4-2 – ASU leads 16-3
165: #8 Anthony Valencia (ASU) maj. dec. Jake Wentzel (UP), 15-3 – ASU leads 20-3
174: #1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) pins Austin Bell (UP), 1:58 – ASU leads 26-3
184: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) dec. Gregg Harvey (UP), 6-3 – ASU leads 29-3
197: Kellan Stout (UP) dec. Cade Belshay (ASU), 2-0 – ASU leads 29-6
285: #3 Tanner Hall (ASU) dec. #8 Ryan Solomon (UP), 2-0 – ASU wins 32-6
The 25th-ranked University of Pittsburgh wrestling team fell to No. 12 Arizona State, 32-6, Sunday afternoon at the ASU Gammage Theatre.
With the loss, the Panthers drop to 1-2 on the season, while the Sun Devils pick up their first win of the year for a 1-2 record.
Two Pitt wrestlers picked up wins on the day in redshirt senior Nick Zanetta and redshirt freshman Kellan Stout.
“It was a tough day,” said head coach Keith Gavin. “I think some of guys are continuing to improve, which is a positive. Some of them need to be a bit more fearless with their wrestling, meaning more attacks and not so worried about the outcome of the match. In a couple of matches, even the ones we lost, namely Taleb [Rahmani] and Gregg [Harvey], exhibited that type of mentality that we’re preaching in continuing to compete fearlessly. Even though they lost, we think they’re going to grow from that and continue to get better. I’m happy for the guys that got a win, but everyone needs to keep improving. We’re going to a better team next time out and we’re excited for the Cliff Keen Invite.”
At 141 pounds, Zanetta picked up his sixth win of the season after a sudden victory win over Arizona State’s Nikko Villarreal, 5-3. The Pittsburgh native fell behind in the first period, 2-1, but quickly tied it after an escape to open the second period. Zanetta and Villarreal started the third in neutral, but neither would be able to score. After a scoreless first overtime period, Zanetta started the first tiebreaker on top. Villarreal escaped to take a 3-2 lead. Zanetta then escaped in the second tiebreaker after starting on bottom to tie it again 3-3. In the second sudden victory round, Zanetta took down Villarreal for the win.
Pitt’s second win came at 197 pounds as Stout outlasted Cade Belshay in a 2-0 decision. After two scoreless periods, Stout started the third on bottom and escaped to take the lead, 1-0. Neither would be able to score as Stout added one more point on with riding time.
The Panthers have some time off before resuming action in December when the team travels to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen Invite, Dec. 1-2.
Pitt vs. Arizona State Results
125: #6 Ryan Millhof (ASU) pins Brendan Price (UP), 0:57 – ASU leads 6-0
133: Ali Naser (ASU) maj. dec. Jake Cherry (UP), 12-4 – ASU leads 10-0
141: Nick Zanetta (UP) def. Nikko Villarreal (ASU), SV-2, 5-3 – ASU leads 10-3
149: #13 Josh Maruca (ASU) dec. Robert Lee (UP), 7-2 – ASU leads 13-3
157: #5 Josh Shields (ASU) dec. #15 Taleb Rahmani (UP), 4-2 – ASU leads 16-3
165: #8 Anthony Valencia (ASU) maj. dec. Jake Wentzel (UP), 15-3 – ASU leads 20-3
174: #1 Zahid Valencia (ASU) pins Austin Bell (UP), 1:58 – ASU leads 26-3
184: Kordell Norfleet (ASU) dec. Gregg Harvey (UP), 6-3 – ASU leads 29-3
197: Kellan Stout (UP) dec. Cade Belshay (ASU), 2-0 – ASU leads 29-6
285: #3 Tanner Hall (ASU) dec. #8 Ryan Solomon (UP), 2-0 – ASU wins 32-6
