Pitt wrestler Micky Phillippi to compete at U23 World Championships
After a breakthrough college wrestling season, Pitt’s Micky Phillippi will get his shot at worlds.
The reigning ACC champion and NCAA Tournament qualifier at 133 pounds, Phillippi will be a fill-in at the U23 World Championships Oct. 28 through Nov. 3 in Budapest, Hungary.
Phillippi, a Derry graduate who won three PIAA titles, will compete in the freestyle competition at 61 kg, or 134 pounds. He is replacing Charles Tucker, a Cornell wrestler, who declined to compete. Tucker is the U23 World Team Trials champion. He beat Phillippi during the best-of-three finals at the trials in May in Akron, Ohio.
Phillippi, a transfer from Virginia, was seeded seventh but won five consecutive matches to reach the championship.
His freestyle resume is light, but he did compete in the University Nationals and UWW Junior Nationals the previous two years.
He finished third at the Last Chance Senior World Team Trials Qualifier.
.@Micky_Phill of @Pittsburgh_WC to compete in freestyle at U23 Worlds at 61 kg, after Tucker declines spot on team@Pitt_WRES
?: https://t.co/RkZwPjh6Nk pic.twitter.com/uSRq49vG1r
— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) July 5, 2019
Focused on the podium.#pinzburgh » #H2P pic.twitter.com/ZwGMssmNcM
— Pitt Wrestling (@Pitt_WRES) May 9, 2019
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
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