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**Norwin 2024 3-star athlete Jackson Pons made an unofficial go to on Thursday to Toledo. At present, Pons (6’2″, 185-pounds) holds provides from Toledo, Bowling Inexperienced, Central Michigan, Jap Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio U., Mississippi State and Penn.

Thanks for having me again on campus for spring follow yesterday! @ToledoFB#ONErocket 🚀🟨⬜️@RickyCiccone@CoachRossWatson@CoachCandle@CoachMBrown1 pic.twitter.com/yENa8dmitv

— Jackson Pons (@jackson_pons) March 17, 2023

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**Kaydon Degraffenreid is a 2024 linebacker from Lake Orion, Michigan. He’s nonetheless ready for his first D-1 provide.

I will likely be on the college of Pittsburgh on March 18th🟡🔵 pic.twitter.com/xhrvzQQj2q

— Kaydon “KD” Degraffenreid (@KaydonDegraffe1) February 19, 2023

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**In accordance with The Portal Report, Duquesne has reached out to Buffalo switch Yazid Powell. The 6’4″ guard averaged 13.0 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 assists this season. Per the Portal Report, Powell has additionally been contacted by St. Bonaventure, Indiana State, TCU, Loyola Chicago, San Diego, LaSalle, SMU, Vermont, UNLV, Rhode Island, Ball State, Fresno State, Weber State, Oregon State and Arkansas.

Duquesne Contacts St. Francis Switch Guard Landon Moore and Pitt Switch John Hugley

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Panthers are again in Greensboro. Pitt returns to North Carolina one week after the ACC Event contained in the Greensboro Coliseum and superior to the Quarterfinals earlier than dropping to Duke. This time Iowa State and the NCAA Event await, recent off of a one-point, First 4 victory towards Mississippi State (60-59) to clinch a spot within the Spherical of 64.

“Excited to be again in Greensboro,” head coach Jeff Capel stated. “Excited to be a part of the Massive Dance. It’s been a heck of per week for us already after a extremely emotional and hard-fought sport in Dayton towards a very good Mississippi State crew, and we’re excited to play towards an excellent Iowa State crew.”

Capel addressed Federiko Federiko’s standing as day-to-day with a knee harm after lacking the Mississippi State win. Federiko didn’t gown for apply Thursday however took gentle pictures.

Jeff Capel described Federiko as day-to-day. He’s in sweats at apply immediately however taking some gentle pictures. pic.twitter.com/K5WsndsBJO

— Austin Bechtold (@AustinRBechtold) March 16, 2023

The Cyclones haven’t performed since March 10, falling to Kansas by 13 factors within the Massive 12 Event. Pitt, alternatively, seems to construct momentum after securing one of many program’s largest wins in latest historical past. The expertise might additionally create a way of calmness for the Panthers in comparison with different groups not experiencing the setting and ambiance of March Insanity. 

Hopefully it would,” Capel stated. “We have now a sport below our belt already, so hopefully the nerves might be out. Clearly, for a few of our guys, it was their first time. Even for the fellows which have been right here, except for Nelly, this was their first-time form of perhaps in a lead function within the NCAA event. Even when you’ve got been right here, even when you’ve got performed in it, whenever you get on the market for the primary time in one other season, it’s anxious. You’re anxious.

Courtesy Pitt Basketball

“We have now that below our belt. Hopefully, we will nonetheless have the identical pleasure. I do know we’ll have that, however we will settle in a bit of bit faster.”

In preparation for Iowa State, Capel pointed to their efforts on the defensive finish. The Cyclones enable solely 62.8 factors per sport whereas the Panthers common over 75 factors every time on the ground. 

“They’re excellent defensively,” Capel stated. “They’re very bodily. They’re very disciplined. They play with nice vitality. They’re unbelievably linked on that aspect of the basketball. You possibly can inform that’s their identification and that’s what they dangle their hat on.”

The assembly marks the second time Pitt and Iowa State face off – Pitt gained 81-65 in 1981 – whereas Capel is 6-1 all-time in his teaching profession towards the Cyclones. 

“They rotate effectively. They defend the basketball effectively,” Capel stated. “Their ball display protection, their bigs are athletic. They’re energetic, simply the physicality during which they play with. That’s what makes them one of many higher defensive groups within the nation.”

Capel stated the Panthers are lucky to have an additional day of relaxation and never be enjoying on Thursday, the other of Texas A&M Corpus Christi who performed earlier than Pitt on Tuesday.

Courtesy Pitt Basketball

Blake Hinson will take the ground for the primary time towards Iowa State since leaving this system previous to the 2021-22 season and never enjoying the 12 months earlier than because of a medical subject. Capel has not addressed any specifics with Hinson concerning his former program.

“I actually haven’t. , it’s fascinating. I don’t suppose younger individuals are as emotional about these things as we perhaps adults are. They’re capable of transfer on very, in a short time and switch the web page,” Capel stated. “So for us it’s Pitt towards Iowa State. It’s not Blake towards Iowa State or Iowa State towards Blake.”

Courtesy Pitt Basketball

Enjoying within the Spherical of 64 for the primary time in seven years, the Panthers stay centered on the duty at hand fairly than reflecting on what they achieved. Capel is aware of the time will come when the truth of Pitt’s achievements will stay in focus, sitting again to understand the expansion and improvement to place the Panthers again on the map of the nationwide event stage. 

“If you end up within the midst of it and you’re nonetheless going, you concentrate on the following factor that’s in entrance of you,” Capel stated. “One of many issues I’ve talked about is correct now we’ve to take away all of the rearview mirrors. We’re simply trying straight out the entrance and what’s forward of us. After we’re completed, and hopefully it’s some time earlier than we’re completed, then we’ll have time to look behind us and discuss what we’ve achieved.”

TULSA, Okla.— Pitt noticed two of its greatest wrestlers in redshirt seniors Cole Matthews and Nino Bonaccorsi attain the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on the BOK Middle Thursday night time.

Matthews (21-1) gained a detailed 1-0 resolution in opposition to No. 14 Northern Iowa’s Cael Happel (17-7) on an escape within the third interval within the Spherical of 16 . He confronted many assaults from Happel, however fended them off and held on for the slim victory at 141 kilos.

Pitt wrestling protection on Pittsburgh Sports activities Now could be sponsored by the Pittsburgh Wrestling Membership.

CM141 👏 @ColeMatthews9

2023 NCAA Quarterfinalist 🏆#H2P » @NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/LF7m2GbKoB

— Pitt Wrestling (@Pitt_WRES) March 17, 2023

“I believe his plan was to get me drained and take me down,” Matthews mentioned on his match with Happel. “I believed he was going to try to get me drained, beat me up within the hand struggle, however I stayed fairly assured, fairly unfastened within the handfight. I believe I did simply sufficient to get the victory.

Matthews additionally discovered it perplexing that Happel didn’t begin within the down place to try to get an escape within the second interval. He mentioned that Happel doing that made it simpler for him, as a result of he simply wanted to get an escape within the third interval, which he did, and simply to play protection for a lot of the match to earn the victory.

No. 1 Bonaccorsi (18-0) stayed with what he knew greatest, as he made 4 takedowns in an 8-2 resolution over No. 16 North Dakota State’s Owen Pentz (18-8) within the Spherical of 16.

2023 NCAA Quarterfinalist 🏆

Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi 👏 @NeenBon#H2P » @NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/18F4cpkck0

— Pitt Wrestling (@Pitt_WRES) March 17, 2023

Bonaccorsi spoke submit match on how he’s protecting it easy, sticking to what he is aware of greatest and never making any match larger than it’s. With this his fifth time at NCAA Championships, Bonaccorsi mentioned his expertise has ready him to take care of opponents and the stress in a great way.

“In these tournaments, it’s simple for guys to get caught up within the exterior, the followers, the environment, the stress,” Bonaccorsi mentioned. “I believe that’s what you see so much in these early rounds. “I believe why I’ve been in a position to wrestle in addition to I’ve been wrestling is simply forgetting all the surface. It’s simply one other match. We do that each single day in matches, duels, apply. So it’s nothing new on the market. Simply wrestling prefer it’s some other match.”

No. 9 redshirt senior Micky Phillippi (14-4) suffered a troublesome loss within the Spherical of 16 at 133 kilos. No. 8 Minnesota’s Aaron Nagao (20-4) caught him off guard on an assault and pinned him at 2:50 within the first interval.

Aaron Nagao is that 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐔𝐃𝐄!😤😤

He decks Micky Phillippi within the first interval and he is received a date with RBY in tomorrow’s quarterfinals!#GopherTough // #SkiUMah pic.twitter.com/hcOi0GQMOe

— Minnesota Wrestling (@GopherWrestling) March 16, 2023

That loss prevents Phillippi from ever successful a Nationwide Title in his lengthy collegiate profession. He’ll transfer on to the Consolations to try to earn a excessive placement in his closing two days wrestling for Pitt.

No. 20 redshirt senior Holden Heller (15-7) additionally misplaced his match within the Spherical of 16 at 165 kilos. Holden Heller began out with a takedown, however No. 29 Michigan State’s Caleb Fish (28-9) made a takedown and received again factors en path to successful a 7-2 resolution.

All smiles 😃 Let’s preserve it rollin’

Caleb Fish advances once more with a win over #20 Heller of Pitt! #GoGreen | #SpartanStrong pic.twitter.com/Rph04cCq5s

— Spartan Wrestling (@MSU_Wrestling) March 17, 2023

No. 16 redshirt junior Reece Heller (19-9) bounced again from a powerful loss on a pin within the Spherical of 32 to Lehigh’s Tate Samuelson (22-8) with a win within the Comfort Rounds. He received revenge on No. 33 WVU redshirt junior Anthony Carman (18-15) at 184 kilos, with an 11-4 resolution.

Carman defeated Heller in a 7-2 resolution at Fitzgerald Area Home on Jan. 8. Heller additionally pinned Carman in Semifinals of the Midlands Championships, en path to his title at 184 kilos in late December

No. 28 redshirt first-year Luca Augustine (15-11) misplaced one other shut match within the Comfort Rounds at 174 kilos. No. 21 Colorado’s Lennox Wolak (20-1) gained a 3-1 resolution, with an important takedown to seal the victory.

The loss for Augustine makes him the primary Pitt wrestler to fall out of the NCAA Championships. Head coach Keith Gavin spoke on Augustine, praising him for staying in all of his matches, but in addition emphasizing his must develop a extra scientific assault within the offseason.

“He wants that go-to assault,” Panthers head coach Keith Gavin mentioned on Augustine submit match. “It’s not going to be off of a scramble. He’s received a very good underhook. He’s received a very good entrance headlock. He was getting the final man’s leg a pair instances, however he must work on that end a little bit bit. His space of the place he must focus in the summertime is fairly clear.”

Pitt will wrestle once more Friday morning at 12 p.m. EST within the Quarterfinals and Consolations. Keep tuned for protection from Pittsburgh Sports activities Now of Pitt wrestling for the NCAA Championships the following two days.

Right here is the Pitt schedule for Friday morning.

Pitt Sends 4 Wrestlers into the Spherical of 16 on the NCAA Wrestling Championships