Pitt Crowns Three at ACC Wrestling Championships

Stout continued his domination of the conference through the ACC Championships, with a 17-4 major decision after riding time over No. 4 North Carolina redshirt junior Cade Lautt in the semifinals and then a 10-2 major decision against No. 2 Stanford fifth year Nick Stemmet in the final.

Pitzer had a more difficult route to the final, but would defeat No. 5 Stanford fifth year Peter Ming 8-2 in the first round and then upset No. 1 NC State redshirt junior Isaac Trumble in the semifinals, 4-1.

He faced No. 2 Virginia Tech redshirt freshman Jimmy Mullen in the final and fought off numerous shots, but got a questionable second stall call on him at the end, making it 1-1 and forcing it into extra time.

Pitzer would come out victorious, making the crucial takedown on Mullen, 4-1 in sudden victory for the title.

Pitzer would also earn the ACC Most Outstanding Wrestler Award as well for his performance during the championships.

No. 3 Pitt redshirt junior Luca Augustine also made the final. He defeated No. 6 Virginia senior Rocco Contino 5-4 after riding time in the first round and upset No. 2 Stanford redshirt freshman Lorenzo Norman in the semifinals, 4-1 in sudden victory.

Augustine battled No. 4 NC State redshirt sophomore Matty Singleton in that final. Singleton got four back points early in the second period in the top position and would hold on for the 5-2 decision for the ACC title.

Pitt had three different wrestlers finish in fourth place, with No.4 graduate student Nick Babin at 125 pounds, No. 6 redshirt sophomore Briar Priest at 141 pounds and No. 3 redshirt freshman Dylan Evans.

The Panthers also had a fifth place finish from No. 4 redshirt sophomore Jared Keslar at 165 poundsand a sixth place finish from No. 6 Finn Solomon at 149 pounds.

No. 6 Pitt redshirt freshman Tyler Chappell lost both of his matches and didn't place.

Pitt had seven auto bids claimed for the NCAA Championships, taking place from March 20-22 from Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

This includes ACC Champions in Heller, Stout and Pitzer, plus Augustine, Babin, Priest and Keslar. Evans will need an at-large bid, with just three auto bids for the ACC at 157 pounds and so too will Solomon, who has a far less likely chance of getting one.

Pitt Wrestling Results at ACC Championships

125 Pounds: Nick Babin (1-2)

First Round: No. 4 Nick Babin (Pitt) 10-2 major decision (riding time) over No. 5 Keyveon Roller (Virginia)
Semifinals: No. 1 Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) 19-5 major decision (riding time) over No. 4 Nick Babin (Pitt)
Third Place Match: No. 5 Keyveon Roller (Virginia) 7-4 decision (riding time) vs. No. 4 Nick Babin (Pitt)

133 Pounds: Tyler Chappell (0-2)

First Round: No. 3 Tyler Knox (Stanford) 14-3 major decision (riding time) over No. 6 Tyler Chappell (Pitt)
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 7 Raymond Adams (Duke) 4-2 decision over No. 6 Tyler Chappell (Pitt)

141 Pounds: Briar Priest (2-2)

First Round: No. 6 Briar Priest (Pitt) 5-2 SV-1 over No. 3 Jason Miranda (Stanford)
Semifinals: No. 2 Dylan Cedeno (Virginia) 4-3 decision (riding time) over No. 6 Briar Priest (Pitt)
Consolation Semifinals: No. 6 Briar Priest (Pitt) 9-6 SV-1 over No. 4 Troy Hohman (NC State)
Third Place Match: No. 3 Jason Miranda (Stanford) 6-3 decision over No. 6 Briar Priest (Pitt)

149 Pounds: Finn Solomon (1-3)

First Round: No. 3 Jaden Abas (Stanford) pins (2:37) No. 6 Finn Solomon (Pitt)
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 6 Finn Solomon (Pitt) 19-3 technical fall (5:44) over No. 7 SP O'Donnell (Duke)
Consolation Semifinals: No. 5 Jack Gioffre (Virginia) 8-5 decision overNo. 6 Finn Solomon (Pitt)
Fifth Place: No. 3 Jaden Abas (Stanford) 8-6 decision (riding time) No. 6 Finn Solomon (Pitt)

157 Pounds: Dylan Evans (2-2)

First Round: No. 6 Michael Gioffre (Virginia) 4-1 SV-1 over No. 3 Dylan Evans (Pitt)
Consolation Quarterfinals: No. 3 Dylan Evans (Pitt) 20-5 technical fall over No. 7 Nick Tattini (Duke)
Consolation Semifinals: No. 3 Dylan Evans (Pitt) 8-1 SV-1 over No. 5 Grigor Cholakyan (Stanford)
Third Place: No. 4 Sonny Santiago (North Carolina) 4-1 SV- 1 over No. 3 Dylan Evans (Pitt)

165 Pounds: Jared Keslar (1-2)

First Round: No. 5 Mac Church (Virginia Tech) 4-1 SV-1 overNo. 4 Jared Keslar (Pitt)
Consolation Semifinals: No. 3 Derek Fields (NC State) 5-2 decision (riding time) over No. 4 Jared Keslar (Pitt)
Fifth Place Match: No. 4 Jared Keslar (Pitt) 13-5 major decision over No. 7 Charlie Darracott (North Carolina)

174 Pounds: Luca Augustine (2-1)

First Round: No. 3 Luca Augustine (Pitt) 5-4 decision (riding time) over No. 6 Rocco Contino (Virginia)
Semifinals: No. 3 Luca Augustine (Pitt) 4-1 SV-1 over No. 2 Lorenzo Norman (Stanford)
Final: No. 4 Matty Singleton (NC State) 5-2 decision over No. 3 Luca Augustine (Pitt)

184 Pounds: Reece Heller (2-0)

Semifinals: No. 1 Reece Heller (Pitt) 4-2 decision over No. 4 Thomas Stewart Jr. (Virginia Tech)
Final: No. 1 Reece Heller (Pitt) 4-1 SV-1 over No. 2 Dylan Fishback (NC State)

197 Pounds: Mac Stout (2-0)

Semifinals: No. 1 Mac Stout (Pitt) 17-4 major decision (riding time) over No. 4 Cade Lautt (North Carolina)
Final: No. 1 Mac Stout (Pitt) 10-2 major decision over No. 2 Nick Stemmet (Stanford)

285 Pounds: Dayton Pitzer (3-0)

First Round: No. 4 Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) 8-2 decision (riding time) over No. 5 Peter Ming (Stanford)
Semifinals: No. 4 Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) 4-1 decision over No. 1 Isaac Trumble (NC State)
Final: No. 4 Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) 4-1 SV-1 over No. 2 Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech)