Undefeated Pitt shuts out Jackrabbits
Eighteenth-ranked Pittsburgh remained undefeated in duals this season, shutting out South Dakota State by a 34-0 count Sunday afternoon at Frost Arena.
In improving to 8-0 overall, the Panthers won four matches by major decision and the other six by decision. Five of Pitt’s dual wins this season have come against Big 12 Conference opponents. SDSU dropped to 1-5 overall.
Pitt opened the dual with back-to-back major decisions as Brandon Fenton defeated Gregory Coapstick, 14-0, at 125 pounds and fourth-ranked Mickey Phillippi scored a 14-4 major decision over Rylee Molitor in the 133-pound division.
The Panthers, who featured five ranked wrestlers in their lineup, closed the first half of the dual with three consecutive decisions, including a 6-2 upset victory by Robert Lee over 20th-ranked Henry Pohlmeyer of SDSU.
Earning bonus-point wins for Pitt in the second half of the dual were 174-pounder Gregg Harvey and 11th-ranked heavyweight Demetrius Thomas.
No. 18 Pittsburgh 34, South Dakota State 0
125: Brendon Fenton (Pitt) major dec. Gregory Coapstick (SDSU), 14-0
133: #4 Mickey Phillipp (Pitt) major dec. Rylee Molitor (SDSU), 14-4
141: L.J. Bentley (Pitt) dec. Aric Williams (SDSU), 9-5
149: Robert Lee (Pitt) dec. #20 Henry Pohlmeyer (SDSU), 6-2
157: #10 Taleb Rahmani (Pitt) dec. Colten Carlson (SDSU), 10-5
165: #20 Jake Wentzel (Pitt) dec. Logan Peterson (SDSU), 3-1
174: Gregg Harvey (Pitt) major dec. Brett Bye (SDSU), 13-5
184: #14 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. Zach Carlson (SDSU), 7-6
197: Kellan Stout (Pitt) dec. Martin Mueller (SDSU), 5-2
285: #11 Demetrius Thomas (Pitt) major dec. Blake Wolters (SDSU), 12-2
In other weekend action, five Jackrabbit wrestlers won outright championships or shared titles during competition Saturday at the Ridgewater Open in Willmar, Minnesota.
At 141 pounds, Willmar native Clay Carlson and teammate Zach Price shared the title. Carlson went 3-0 on the day, while Price received a first-round bye before winning two decisions to advance to the championship round. The two wrestlers did not square off in the title bout.
Two Jackrabbits also shared the title at 165 pounds as Kelby Hawkins and Kenny O’Neil reached the title tilt. Both wrestlers won their opening-round matches by fall. Hawkins won his semifinal match, 6-0, over Jacob Backlund of Ridgewater, while O’Neil posted an 18-2 technical fall over Neil Clement of Minnesota State, Mankato.
Freshman 197-pounder Tanner Sloan continued his impressive first season in a Jackrabbit singlet by winning his fourth open tournament of the year. Sloan improved to 21-2 after recording falls in his first two matches before scoring a 17-0 technical fall over Jacob Dykes of Southwest Minnesota State in the championship bout.
Also placing for the Jackrabbits were Russell Rucklos, third at 184 pounds, and Devon Sievers, who placed sixth at 174 pounds. SDSU’s seven wrestlers combined for a 17-3 record in the tournament.
2019 Ridgewater Open Results
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits continue dual action next Sunday (Jan. 20) at Big 12 opponent Fresno State. Action is set to begin at 2 p.m. Pacific Time (4 p.m. Central) at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
Check out Jackrabbit Wrestling at gojacks.com and on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.
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