Pitt

[Cali_Nittany]

I wasn’t planning on doing a lineup review of Pitt but El Jefe kept on begging me to post it, so here it goes:

125 – Bentley (Sr) <St. Edward, OH> or Fenton (Fr) <Elyria, OH>

LJ Bentley went 9-6 last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament. He did qualify in 2016, going 1-2. Incoming freshman Brendon Fenton is a two-time Ohio (D1) champion that had originally committed to Eastern Michigan before they dropped their program. Booo!!! (to EMU, not Fenton)

133 – Phillippi (Fr) <Derry Area, PA>
Edit: So to Fr

Micky Phillippi went 17-3 unattached last season and defeated several NCAA qualifiers. He’s taking over for 4-time qualifier, Dom Forys (1-2 in 2018, 2-2 in 2017, R12 in 2016, 0-2 in 2015).

141 – Bulsak (Fr) <South Park, PA> or Matthews (Fr) <Reynolds, PA>

Dallas Bulsak went 11-7 in his redshirt year. Incoming freshman Cole Matthews is a two-time PIAA (AA) champion (@138 in 2018). The new starter will be taking over for 4-year starter Nick Zanetta , who qualified for the tournament for the first time last season, going 2-2 (22-12 overall).

149 – Lee (Sr) <Kaukauna, WI> or Kemerer (Fr) <Hempfield Area, PA>

Three-year starter Robert Lee went 8-12 last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament. Incoming freshman Luke Kemerer finished 3rd @152 in the 2018 PIAA (AAA) tournament.

157 – Rahmani (Jr) <Marysville, OH>

Taleb Rahmani went 18-14 overall last season and 1-2 in the tournament. He had an unlucky placement in the brackets. After pinning #16 seed D’Angelo in the 1st round, he lost to #1 seed Hidlay and then #2 seed Lavallee in the wrestlebacks. Rhamani also qualified in 2017, going 2-2.

165 – Wentzel (So) <South Park, PA>

Jake Wentzel went 13-13 overall last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament. He had a couple of wins against NCAA qualifiers.

174 – O’Brien (So) <Wilson, PA>

Tommy O’Brien went 5-15 as a true freshman and ended the season as the starter. Austin Bell also got some starts @174 last year (6-14 overall) and has since transferred to Lock Haven.

184 – Bonaccorsi (Fr) <Bethel Park, PA>

Nino Bonaccorsi went 21-5 during his redshirt season (he had some quality wins). Greg Harvey went 14-14 as the starter last season and didn’t qualify for the tournament.

197 – Stout (Jr) <Mt. Lebanon, PA> or Harvey (So) <Boyertown, PA>

Kellen Stout went 6-16 as the starter last season. Greg Harvey, last season’s starter @184, is now listed at 197 on the Pitt roster.

Heavy – Thomas (Jr) <McLuer, MO>

Demetrius Thomas transferred from Williams Baptist where he was the NAIA champion in 2017 and runner-up in 2018. He will be taking over for 4-time qualifier Ryan Solomon (1-2 in 2018, R12 in 2017, 0-2 in 2016, 2-2 in 2015).


Pitt returns only one of its four qualifiers from last season (although, they may get some new qualifiers this year like Phillippi). Pitt finished 31st with 10.5 points last season.

Pitt hotel room @Midlands:

 

[The Japanese Whizzer]

Bulsak. Great name

 

[jpsolo]

Phillippi already granted a 6th year, so he’s a Fr.
Bentley will be 141 from what I hear.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Phillippi already granted a 6th year, so he’s a Fr.
Bentley will be 141 from what I hear.

Thanks for the info. That's quite a jump for Bentley.

 

[El-Jefe]

Pitt hotel room @Midlands:

That room might be nicer than their wrestling room.

Seriously, as much fun as I poke at them, their chronic underperformance is just sad. Massive talent pools within 2.5 hrs of campus, yet they're 31st with 10.5 pts.

To put that into perspective: 54 guys outscored Pitt's entire team at 2018 nationals. Pitt got outscored by Scott Delvecchio.

And that's continuing a trend of marginal improvemnt -- 9.5 pts (34th) in 2017, 7.5 pts (39th) in 2016.

Gavin is doing some work -- some good young talent, a couple nice recruits on the way, and targeting better (and more stable) recruits -- but it's gonna take time. They're probably last in the ACC again this year.

 

[dunkej01]

Great job as usual.

But...you could have done them last.

 

[WildTurk]

Kemerer at 149 any relation to Mike? Also what kind of noise can Micky Phillippi make? 133 is loaded

 

[Cali_Nittany]

Kemerer at 149 any relation to Mike? Also what kind of noise can Micky Phillippi make? 133 is loaded

Cousin. I think Phillippi will qualify but not AA but I'm quite often wrong, so my wife tells me...

 

[El-Jefe]

Kemerer at 149 any relation to Mike? Also what kind of noise can Micky Phillippi make? 133 is loaded

I don't think he places but wouldn't be surprised if he knocks off somebody who should.

 

[Sportfan2017]

Pitt hotel room @Midlands:

[/QUOTE]

HEY......That is MY Bedroom/ Kitchen/ Living Room. I am Terribly upset by this invasion of my privacy! That said......who photoshopped that young lass onto my bed? Except for the fact she is still wearing shoes......it looks completely real. OK.....for helping my lady cred.....I agree not to sue!

 

[Cali_Nittany]

 

[nerfstate]

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I miss Marcus’s locker room antics, but he’s upping his game.

 

[BruceK-PSU83]

nm