Pitt wrestlers upset No. 8 N.C. State, 18-16
The Pitt wrestling team continued building momentum for the postseason, upsetting N.C. State, the No. 8 team in the nation, 18-16, Sunday in Raleigh, N.C. It was Pitt’s first victory against N.C. State since the teams first met in 2014 and the Panthers’ first in Raleigh.
Pitt improves to 11-3 overall and picks up its first ACC win of the year (1-2). NC State moves to 14-2 overall and 2-1 in conference action. The Wolfpack also suffer their first loss at home this year, finishing 9-1.
Redshirt sophomore Gregg Harvey (174 pounds), redshirt freshman Nino Bonaccorsi (184) and redshirt junior Kellan Stout (197) recorded upset victories against three N.C. State ranked opponents. Harvey, who is unranked, defeated No. 10 Daniel Bullard, 6-4; Bonaccorsi, ranked No. 13, beat No. 3 Nick Reenan, 8-0; and Stout, also unranked defeated No. 20 Malik McDonald, 5-4.
Also, No. 5 Micky Phillippi recorded a major decision against John Devine, 17-5, at 133 pounds to boost his record to 15-2.
“It was a great team win today,” Pitt coach Keith Gavin said. “Our guys wrestled with a lot of fight and passion. When you do that, things tend to go your way more often than not.”
Pitt trailed, 16-4, but victories by Harvey, Bonaccorsi, Stout and No. 14 Demetrius Thomas at 285 swept Pitt to victory. Thomas’ victory was the decisive bout as he beat Deonte Wilson by a major decision, 17-5.
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jerry at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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