No. 18 Pitt faces an important problem on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Fitzgerald Area Home as they battle with No. 3 Iowa State in a duel match.

The Panthers (9-2 total) are on a 4 match profitable streak and wrestling the most effective they’ve performed all season. They defeated the Tar Heels Friday night time on the Petersen Occasions Middle to place them alone in first place within the ACC at 3-0.

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Iowa State (13-2 total) defeated West Virginia Friday night time in Morgantown, W.Va. They fell behind 10-0 early on, however wrestled sturdy the remainder of the way in which, dropping solely one of many last seven bouts to win the match 20-13.

Pitt will do their finest to maintain that profitable streak alive, however Iowa State usher in extremely proficient wrestlers that can problem anybody within the nation. Iowa State’s two losses this season are additionally in opposition to No. 1 Penn State and rival No. 2 Iowa, the one two squads forward of them within the rankings.

The possible matchups appear to be this:

Weight Class-Pitt wrestler vs. Iowa State wrestler.

125-No. 33 redshirt junior Colton Camacho vs. junior Caleb Fuessley or redshirt first-year Conor Knopick 

133-No. 6 redshirt senior Micky Phillippi vs. junior Zack Redding 

141-No. 3 redshirt senior Cole Matthews vs. No. 24 first-year Casey Swiderski 

149-No. 29 redshirt sophomore Tyler Badgett vs. No. 10 first-year Paniro Johnson

157-First-12 months Jared Keslar  vs. No. 27 senior Jason Kraisser or redshirt sophomore Cam Robinson

165-No. 23 redshirt senior Holden Heller vs. No. 2 senior David Carr

174-Redshirt first-year Luca Augustine vs. No. 25 junior Julien Broderson 

184-No. 18 redshirt junior Reece Heller vs. No. 4 senior Marcus Coleman or redshirt senior Joel Devine

197-No. 2 redshirt senior Nino Bonaccorsi vs. No. 5 junior Yonger Bastida 

Heavyweight-No. 5 first-year Dayton Pitzer vs. No 10 senior Sam Schulyer

The largest match of the night time options Bonaccorsi (11-0) vs. Batisda (13-1) at 197 kilos. Bonaccorsi is undefeated this season and comes up in opposition to Bastida for the primary time in his profession. Bastida completed fifth on the 2022 NCAA Championships and would be the greatest take a look at for Bonaccorsi this season.

First-year Dayton Pitzer (7-1) is continuous to develop in reputation as he dominates veteran expertise within the heavyweight class. He’ll face an important take a look at in Schuyler (11-2) and a win for Pitzer might persuade head coach Keith Gavin to burn his probably redshirt for this season.

Reece Heller (15-4) simply suffered a loss to an important opponent in UNC No. 13 Gavin Kane Friday night time at 184 kilos. He probably faces robust competitors once more in Coleman (14-1) Saturday night time, that ought to present for an attractive bout. He might additionally face off in opposition to Devine, however Coleman wrestled Friday night time in opposition to West Virginia.

Holden Heller (10-4), brother of Reece Heller, takes on his biggest competitors this season within the undefeated Carr (15-0) at 165 kilos. Holden Heller has gained his final 4 bouts, however Carr will decide how prepared he’s for the most effective within the nation.

One intriguing matchup places Augustine (11-7) in opposition to Broderson (13-8) at 174 kilos. Augustine earned an enormous upset over North Carolina No. 8 graduate Clay Lautt Friday night time, profitable a 2-1 determination in tie breakers. Broderson is coming off a loss and Augustine has an important alternative to complete this weekend undefeated.

Badgett (15-8) lastly earned his first ACC duel win in opposition to Tar Heels first-year Jayden Scott Friday night time at 149 kilos. He gained’t get a straightforward matchup in opposition to the Cyclones in Johnson (11-3) and he might want to compete nicely to earn a win in opposition to Johnson.

Matthews (14-1) seems to remain close to the highest of the rankings with a win over Swiderski (8-5) at 141 kilos. Phillippi may also search for an enormous win over Redding (11-7) at 133 kilos to try to tip the match in Pitt’s favor.

Camacho misplaced a tough battle with UNC No. 19 graduate Jack Wagner at 125 kilos. Developing in opposition to Fuessley (7-10) or probably Knopick (7-3), he has likelihood to finish the weekend with a match win and probably a Pitt workforce victory as nicely.

Keslar stepped in place for Panthers senior Dazjon Casto (5-6) this weekend. He stood no likelihood in opposition to Tar Heels graduate Austin O’Connor, who gained on technical fall, 24-8. Keslar ought to face Kraisser (16-8) at 157 kilos, making it a neater alternative for a victory. He might additionally face Robinson (17-3), however Kraisser did wrestle in opposition to the Mountaineers Friday night time.