The ACC launched their Wrestling Championships Brackets Tuesday, revealing who will wrestle who this upcoming Sunday, March 5 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C.

The Panthers completed the common season with a duel document of 10-4 total and 4-1 within the ACC. Their ACC document received them a share of the common season title for the primary time beneath head coach Keith Dambrot and the primary because the Panthers received it outright in 2013-14.

Pitt wrestling protection on Pittsburgh Sports activities Now’s sponsored by the Pittsburgh Wrestling Membership.

Pitt sends 10 wrestlers to the ACC Championships in hopes of profitable their first ever ACC Event Title.

4 Panthers in redshirt seniors, Micky Phillippi at 133 kilos, Cole Matthews at 141 kilos, Holden Heller at 165 kilos and Nino Bonaccorsi at 197 kilos obtained No. 1 seeds. Matthews, Holden Heller and Bonaccorsi received all 5 matches in ACC play, whereas Phillippi solely misplaced as soon as.

Redshirt first-year Luca Augustine obtained a No. 3 bid for profitable three of his 5 matches this season at 174 kilos. Redshirt junior Colton Camacho at 125 kilos, redshirt sophomore Tyler Badgett at 149 kilos, and seniors in Dazjon Casto at 157 kilos and Jake Slinger within the heavyweight class all obtained No. 4 seeds. Redshirt junior Reece Heller obtained a No. 5 seed, the bottom for any Panther.

The NCAA final week additionally launched their allocations for automated qualifiers for every weight class for the ACC. 125 kilos has two qualifiers, 133, 149, 157, 165, 174 and 285 kilos have three qualifiers every, 141 and 197 kilos have 4 qualifiers every and 184 kilos has 5 automated qualifiers.

Because of this the seeding for various brackets has a distinct significance for every wrestler. Reece Heller is a No. 5 seed, all he has to do isn’t end in final place and he’ll transfer on to the NCAA Championships. Augustine, who’s a No. 3 seed, wants a minimum of a 3rd place end to make it to the NCAA Championships.

Bonaccorsi, Matthews, Phillippi are particular locks to contend for ACC titles and to make it to the NCAA Championships. Holden Heller also needs to be a part of them with a positive seed and his dominance in opposition to these in his weight class this season.

Camacho has the toughest draw of any Pitt wrestler with solely two automated qualifiers at 125 kilos, as he must defeat No. 1 NC State redshirt junior Jarrett Trombley, who might be in his dwelling area, within the semifinals.  Camacho misplaced to Trombley in an 11-8 choice on Feb. 10.

Slinger has a good shot to earn a spot on the NCAA Championships. He takes on No. 5 UNC senior Brandon Whitman within the first spherical and if he wins, faces off in opposition to No. 1 Duke senior Jonah Niesenbaum. Slinger wrestled Niesenbaum on Feb. 18, dropping in a 5-3 choice.

Badgett will probably have to win a 3rd place match to make it to the NCAA Championships. If Badgett wins his first spherical matchup, he takes on No. 1 Virginia Tech first-year Caleb Henson, who defeated him in a 14-2 main choice on Jan. 27. A rematch with No. 3 Virginia graduate Jarod Verkleeren, who he misplaced an in depth 5-3 choice to on Jan. 20, ought to determine if his season goes ahead or not.

Casto faces the best odds to make a closing spot, as he faces off in opposition to No. 1 North Carolina graduate Austin O’Connor within the semifinals if he makes it there. Casto did upset O’Connor on the 2022 NCAA Championships, however hasn’t proven this season the dominance he has in previous years. If there’s a time for Casto to indicate his strengths as a wrestler, his first and final ACC Championships is the place to do it.

The ACC Wrestling Championships start at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 5. Semifinals begin at 1 p.m. after which consolations are at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. The ACC Community will televise the finals at 7 p.m.

If there’s one factor it is best to learn about SirVocea Dennis, it’s that he needs that little, inexperienced dot on his helmet on the subsequent stage.

He doesn’t care if he’s taking part in Mike or Will linebacker within the NFL, however he needs to be the one who calls the performs, who communicates straight with the coaches.

That isn’t a shock in the event you’ve adopted Dennis for any size of time throughout his Pitt tenure. He’s in a position to slip seamlessly between Pitt’s three linebacker positions, however perhaps extra importantly, he’s a frontrunner. He might not just like the “coach-on-the-field” designation, however that’s what did throughout Pitt video games final season.

As Pitt broke in two new starters at Star and Cash linebacker final season, Dennis was the fixed within the center. He marshaled the troops, flying to the soccer to rack up tackles for loss and sacks. When you lookup chief within the dictionary, nicely… I’ll spare you the cliche. Dennis is the man.

And whereas Pitt will miss his reassuring presence within the coronary heart of the protection, he couldn’t move up the possibility to make the bounce to the NFL.

Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker SirVocea Dennis (7) November 19, 2022 David Hague/PSN

Dennis put collectively a stable week on the Senior Bowl in Cellular final month, however he wasn’t in a position to compete within the sport after injuring his foot. The foot is feeling higher now as he prepares for every week of drills and evaluations in Indianapolis this week on the NFL Mix, however his No. 1 precedence isn’t showcasing his on-field means.

“(I) simply actually to indicate my information of the sport,” Dennis mentioned Tuesday on the NFL Mix. “I take the information piece of the sport very severe. It helps me on the sector, so exhibiting that could be very large for me.”

So, any likelihood he will get, he’s going to attempt to present NFL groups that he’s not only a 6-foot-1, 225-pound linebacker that’s reduce his physique fats share to only 7% for the reason that finish of the 2022 season. Whether or not that’s interviews, conferences or simply in passing.

Dennis’ intelligence, his means to attach with teammates and coaches and actually perceive the sport of soccer flash continually. There possible wasn’t a better participant in Pitt’s locker room final season.

In fact, it’s arduous to overlook Dennis’ prowess on the sector, too. He’s a missile, generally perhaps even a bit too keen in his pursuit, however he hits arduous — and sometimes. He led Pitt in tackles in every of the final two seasons, racking up a mixed 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two compelled fumbles and two interceptions alongside the way in which.

And even perhaps extra impressively, based on Professional Soccer Focus, he missed lower than 5% of his tackles in 2022. He graded out as one of many top-ranked linebackers in faculty soccer final season, main Pitt in run protection and tackling rankings. Nevertheless it’s that added versatility that has landed him on NFL radars.

SirVocea Dennis (32) September 19, 2020 David Hague/PSN

“A variety of (groups) have been telling me studying a distinct place could make a spot for me anyplace,” Dennis mentioned. “The extra you study, the extra you are able to do, so we’ve undoubtedly been speaking about a number of positions.”

When you could be adaptable and coachable, it opens alternatives on maybe any group within the NFL — when you’ve got the expertise. Dennis’ emphasis on not simply his bodily conditioning however his information of the sport — dedication to studying a number of positions within the defensive schemes — helps to open the door.

NFL groups are desperate to see extra from Dennis this week, as he’s let himself get well following the Senior Bowl journey, and whereas it’s the on- and off-the-field versatility that has attracted the eye of NFL groups, it’s about seeing extra of who he’s as a participant and an individual.

And consider it or not, Dennis’ versatility doesn’t cease there both. He was an avid athlete rising up, notably moving into lacrosse as a 3rd or fourth grader. However he was in a position to flip down the urge to gentle somebody up with successful.

“I performed since I used to be in, I wish to say third or fourth grade, all the way in which as much as round highschool,” Dennis mentioned. “So, in lacrosse, you really should tone it down a bit, and I didn’t know that. So, I obtained a number of penalties, a number of getting kicked out of video games and stuff like that. I suppose it’s a must to flip it down quite a bit, however I by no means did.”

SirVocea Dennis (7) celebrates his landing – October 23, 2021 David Hague/PSN

Dennis might have come near a concentrating on name or two throughout his senior season, however he was by no means thrown out of the sport. It’s ruthless aggression, however it’s managed and calculated. It’s additionally enjoyable. It’s very, very enjoyable to play soccer.

Having enjoyable is the large image. It’s what he preaches, perhaps partially as a result of that’s what he’s at all times heard from linebackers coach Ryan Manlac, too.

“Me and coach Manny have an amazing relationship,” Dennis mentioned. “He simply tries to ensure I’m utilizing my head with sure issues and simply tells me to be myself. And simply have enjoyable actually, that’s what that is all about, simply being your self and having enjoyable and exhibiting the groups who you actually are.”

As of Tuesday morning, Dennis met informally with a variety of groups, with formal conferences coming later within the day, however out of respect for these groups, he didn’t wish to disclose which groups these have been. Regardless, the curiosity is there. And he’s ensuring he can do the whole lot in his energy to make sure it stays — together with extra work in protection.

For all that Dennis does nicely on the soccer discipline, protection is the one space of his sport the place he’s nonetheless missing. And he’s engaged on methods to enhance continually.

“Positively eye disciple, generally your eyes can get you in bother,” Dennis mentioned. “Particularly in protection. That’s what we love to do as athletes, discover not the simpler route however the shortcut or one thing, and generally you chew cheese, you get your neck snapped like a rat.

“You gotta actually perceive what the gamers wish to do, or schemes or coaches on the opposite aspect, and while you even have that psychological information of the sport, your eyes provide help to as nicely.”

Dennis was in a position to work throughout from Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett in follow for a variety of years, engaged on methods to cease the long run first spherical choice within the air even then, and whereas there’s an opportunity they could face off once more in the future as soon as once more, it was nothing however love as Dennis prepares for the draft.

“Kenny Pickett simply wished me luck,” Dennis mentioned. “He additionally informed me you already know what to do, simply be your self, be true to your self and have enjoyable whereas being humble.”

PITTSBURGH — On Wednesday evening, Jimmy Clark III, David Dixon, and the Duquesne Dukes took down Frank Martin’s Massachusetts squad to win their twentieth win of the season by a rating of 88-79.

Clark and the Dukes shut down any and all Massachusetts comeback efforts within the second half en path to the victory.

It was a recreation of runs within the first half, as Duquesne countered an early 7-0 Massachusetts stretch with a 14-2 run of its personal, constructing a 17-point lead with simply over 5 minutes to go.

9 totally different Dukes scored within the first 13 minutes of the sport, as Keith Dambrot’s squad was firing on all cylinders. Clark hit every of his first three makes an attempt from past the arch, and Tevin Brewer, Quincy McGriff, and Kareem Rozier every hit from exterior as nicely within the first half to construct a robust Duquesne’ lead.

The Dukes took a commanding 16-point lead into the break, with Clark’s 11 factors, McGriff’s eight factors, and David Dixon’s eight main the way in which.

UMass minimize into the Dukes’ result in begin the second body, trimming the result in simply seven throughout the first 5 minutes of the half. Large man Isaac Kante contributed with 9 factors early — together with two thunderous slams — whereas freshman standout Keon Thompson paced the Minutemen within the again court docket.

Within the closing ten minutes, — Duquesne weathered all of Massachusetts’ comeback makes an attempt to return out on prime with the victory. Down the stretch, Clark and the Dukes buried the Minutemen with good performs, robust foul taking pictures, and well timed protection.

Clark completed the evening as Duquesne’s main scorer, hitting 6 of his 10 makes an attempt within the win, together with 4 of his 5 three-point tries. Dae Dae Grant added 15 on 4-for-16 taking pictures, whereas Dixon adopted with 13 factors. On the glass, Dixon and forwards Tre Williams and Austin Rotroff held down the paint, grabbing eight, 5, and 5 rebounds, respectively.

With the win, Duquesne improves to 20-10 (10-7 Atlantic 10) on the season, reaching the 20-win mark for the primary time since 2019-20.