Pittsburgh 28 Clarion 10

PITTSBURGH – The No. 9 Pitt wrestling team continued its recent domination of Eastern Wrestling League opponents, rolling to a 28-10 win over Clarion on Friday at the Fitzgerald Field House.

The Panthers have won their last 16 matches in the EWL and remained in first place in the conference with a perfect 4-0 record against league opponents this season. In their four conference meets this season, they have won 33 of the 40 individual bouts.

Redshirt junior Matt Wilps, ranked fourth in the nation in the year’s first NWCA Coaches Poll, cruised to a 11-3 major decision over No. 30 Alex Thomas at 197 pounds. Wilps improved to 24-2 overall and 12-0 in dual meets, posting the lone victory for the Panthers of the three matches between a pair of ranked opponents.

Pitt opened the dual with victories in the first four weight classes. No. 15 Anthony Zanetta moved his winning streak to 13-straight matches with a major decision at 125 pounds to help the Panthers jump out to a quick 4-0 lead.

Following a decision by No. 20 Shelton Mack at 133, Travis Shaffer added more bonus points for Pitt with a technical fall at 141. Shaffer tilted his way to the 15-0 finish to improve to 16-10 on the season. No. 14 Tyler Nauman followed with a 7-3 decision over Cameron Moran at 149 to put the Panthers up big, 15-0.

Both Mack and Nauman are unbeaten in EWL dual meets this season. Mack faces a pair of tough opponents in No. 24 Nate Pennesi (West Virginia) and No. 6 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) in the final two conference meets of the season.. Nauman’s biggest test will come in the final conference meet when he takes on No. 7 David Habat (Edinboro).

Clarion made a small run with its two best wrestlers – No. 5 James Fleming (157) and No. 5 Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (165) - winning back-to-back matches.

Donnie Tasser turned in another solid performance, this time in a losing effort in a match that was much closer than the final 9-2 score. Tasser led 2-0 after one period and was still tied 2-2 with over a minute of riding time in the third period. Fleming took control midway through the final period with a reversal and two sets of nearfall points.

With Clarion cutting the lead to 15-7, P.J. Tasser put Pitt back in control with a 7-1 decision over Nick Milano at 174. It was the third straight EWL win for the redshirt junior since moving into the starting lineup.

Vaughan and Wilps helped the Panthers clinch the match with wins at 184 and 197. Vaughan has won 11 straight matches and is ranked 27th in the first Coaches Poll. The redshirt senior recorded his third fall of the season, over Clarion’s Steven Cressley.

Pitt has won 11 consecutive matches over Clarion and now trails the overall series by just one match, 21-20-3.

The Panthers will have two weeks off from competition before returning to action on Feb. 4, when they will travel to West Virginia in search of their 17-straight win in the EWL.

Pitt 28, Clarion 10

125 – No. 14 Anthony Zanetta (P) maj. dec. Trey Hicks (C), 12-1

133 – No. 20 Shelton Mack (P) dec. Joe Waltko (C), 6-1

141 – Travis Shaffer (P) tech. fall Tyler Bedelyon (C), 15-0

149 – No. 14 Tyler Nauman (P) dec. Cameron Moran (C), 7-3

157 – No. 5 James Fleming (C) dec. Donnie Tasser (P), 9-2

165 – No. 5 Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (C) maj. dec. No. 32 Tyler Wilps (P), 13-3

174 – P.J. Tasser (P) dec. Nick Milano (C), 7-1

184 – No. 27 Andy Vaughan (P) FALL Steven Cressley (C), 4:36

197 – No. 4 Matt Wilps (P) maj. dec. No. 30 Alex Thomas (C), 11-2

285 – No. 24 Quintas McCorkle (C) dec. Joel Yahner (P), 8-2