Virginia Hosts No. 12 Pittsburgh In Friday Dual
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team (1-2, 0-2 ACC) continues ACC competition on Friday (Jan. 29), hosting No. 12 Pittsburgh (3-1, 1-1 ACC) in a 5 p.m. dual match at Memorial Gym.
Admission to home Virginia wrestling matches is not open to the public.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
The dual will be broadcast on ACCNX and is available through the ESPN app and WatchESPN to people who subscribe to a television service that carries the ACC Network. Links to the live stream and live stats are available at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAWrestling).
CAVALIERS IN THE RANKINGS
Virginia enters the weekend with five wrestlers ranked in the latest edition of the InterMat rankings. Jay Aiello (Chantilly, Va.) leads the way as the No. 3 wrestler at 197 pounds. Also ranked are Louie Hayes (Orland Park, Ill.), who is No. 12 at 133 pounds, Justin McCoy (New Paris, Pa.), who is No. 15 at 157 pounds, Jake Keating (Naperville, Ill.), who is No. 13 at 165 pounds, and Quinn Miller (Lilburn, Ga.), who is No. 20 at heavyweight.
InterMat Rankings
133: No. 12 Louie Hayes
157: No. 15 Justin McCoy
165: No. 13 Jake Keating
197: No. 3 Jay Aiello
HWT: No. 20 Quinn Miller
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
Pittsburgh enters the Friday night matchup with an overall record of 3-1 and a 1-1 mark in ACC action after taking a win over Duke before falling on the road at No. 4 NC State. Pitt sends five nationally-ranked wrestlers to the mat, including three wrestlers ranked in the top 10 at their weight class: Micky Phillippi (No. 4 at 133), Jake Wentzel (No. 7 at 165) and Nino Bonaccorsi (No. 5 at 197).
VIRGINIA PROBABLE LINEUPS
125: Patrick McCormick (4-3) OR Sam Book (4-3)
133: No. 12 Louie Hayes (6-1)
141: Brian Courtney (5-1)
149: Denton Spencer (1-2)
157: No. 15 Justin McCoy (5-1)
165: No. 13 Jake Keating (6-1)
174: Vic Marcelli (4-2) OR Robby Patrick (4-1)
184: Michael Battista (4-2)
197: No. 3 Jay Aiello (6-0)
HWT: No. 20 Quinn Miller (5-1)
PITTSBURGH PROBABLE LINEUPS
125: Colton Camacho (3-3)
133: No. 4 Micky Phillippi (5-0)
141: No. 14 Cole Matthews (2-2)
149: Luke Kemerer (2-3)
157: Tyler Badgett (4-1)
165: No. 7 Jake Wentzel (4-1)
174: Jared McGill (4-1)
184: No. 16 Gregg Harvey (4-1)
197: No. 5 Nino Bonaccorsi (4-1)
HWT: Jake Slinger (5-1)
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST PITTSBURGH
The Cavaliers and Panthers tangled in Pittsburgh last season with Pitt claiming a 23-10 victory over Virginia in the meeting. Virginia won three weight classes on the night with Jack Mueller picking up a win by tech fall at 125 pounds, while Denton Spencer took a decision at 149 pounds and Jay Aiello won by decision at 197 pounds. The only matchup of ranked wrestlers on the night came at heavyweight in a showdown between then No. 18 Quinn Miller and No. 8 Demetrius Thomas. In all the teams put a combined eight nationally-ranked wrestlers on the floor for the dual.
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE CAVALIERS AND PANTHERS
Virginia and Pitt have several connections with Pittsburgh head coach Keith Gavin and assistant coach Jordan Leen having both served as assistant coaches at Virginia under Cavalier head coach Steve Garland. The matchup at 133 pounds is one that has often been wrestled between Hayes and Phillippi and extends back to the redshirt freshman season for both when Phillippi competed with the Cavaliers before transferring home to Pittsburgh.
NEXT UP FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will close out the home portion of the schedule next weekend against Duke. The match is set to be broadcast on the ACC Network as part of the league’s Friday Night Duals and will begin at 6 p.m.