Former Latrobe wrestler Luke Pletcher joins Pitt coaching staff

Latrobe’s Luke Pletcher is coming home to chase a goal while helping a former rival reach its own.

Pitt wrestling coach Keith Gavin hired Pletcher, a two-time All-American at Ohio State and three-time PIAA champion, as a volunteer assistant.

Pletcher will join the staff after his graduation from Ohio State this spring.

While serving as an assistant to Gavin, Pletcher will join the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club Training Center while preparing for the Olympics and other global events.

“I’m really excited to join the team and start working with the guys,” Pletcher said in a statement.

“Getting a chance to come back home to chase my Olympic dreams and help the guys on the team attain their goals was something that I couldn’t pass up.”

Said Gavin: “We couldn’t be more excited about Luke joining our staff. He is obviously a very skilled and accomplished wrestler, but on top of that, I have always respected him for his approach to the sport, the way he competes and his character.

“Luke is from Western Pennsylvania and is a great overall fit for us. He will have an immediate impact here.”

Pletcher spent four seasons at Ohio State, reaching All-American status in 2018 and ’19.

As a four-time NCAA qualifier, he was hoping for his third All-America honor this year, but the tournament was canceled in the covid-19 outbreak. He would have been the No. 1 seed at 141 pounds.

He earned his first Big Ten title this season while compiling a 26-1 record (108-21 for his career).

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