TULSA, Okla. — No. 1 Pitt redshirt senior Nino Bonaccorsi made it to the Nationwide Title match at 197 Kilos on the NCAA Wrestling Championships Friday night time on the BOK Heart.

Bonaccorsi (20-0) confronted off in opposition to No. 4 Rider’s Ethan Laird (28-2) within the Semifinals. Laird made a takedown early to doubtlessly sign an upset, however Bonaccorsi stayed cool, calm and composed the remainder of the match. He made two escapes, three takedowns, earned on level on a stall name on Laird and gained a 10-4 determination after driving time.

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

That is the second time Bonaccorsi has made it to the Nationwide Title match. He made it to the ultimate in 2021 because the No. 6 seed, however misplaced to No. 4 A.J. Ferrari of Oklahoma State.

Bonaccorsi then misplaced in 2022 previous to inserting, which shifted his mindset over this previous season. As a substitute of solely specializing in getting the win, Bonaccorsi assumed the danger of dropping and selected to work on features of himself mentally and bodily to enhance his wrestling.

The results of this shift in mindset is Bonaccorsi not having a single loss on the season and in place to win a Nationwide Title.

“I’ve matured by simply not letting my achievements and these expectations of myself [get in the way], Bonaccorsi mentioned. “I’ve excessive targets of myself and it’s simple for it to get in the best way of my wrestling and my progress. I really feel like final yr, I used to be wrestling to win and return to what I used to be. I feel that hindered me and it tightened me up. As all these massive moments occurred all through the season, all these massive matches, I simply took it as, win-or-lose, I’m simply going to present it all the pieces I’ve.”

Bonaccorsi faces off in opposition to No. 7 South Dakota State’s Tanner Sloan in that Championship bout Saturday night time. He mentioned that he’ll work along with his coaches, concentrate on his personal sport and preserve it easy, as he has completed all season lengthy.

“Clearly a very robust child,” Bonaccorsi mentioned about Sloan. “Stable in all positions. Lot of respect from him. I’m trying ahead to going out and making it an unpleasant barn burner match. I hope it’s excessive scoring and I’m actually excited.”

Head Coach Keith Gavin is the final Nationwide Champion for the Panthers, as he gained the Title at 174 kilos in 2008. He believes that Bonaccorsi is able to go for Saturday night time and simply wants to stay with what works.

“He’s ready,” Gavin mentioned. “All of the work is finished now. He’s in an excellent state of mind and his expertise look actually superior on the market. I’m not getting in his means proper now.”

The success that Bonaccorsi noticed didn’t come for the opposite two Pitt wrestlers that competed Friday night time.

No. 3 redshirt senior Cole Matthews (21-3) misplaced on tiebreakers, 2-1, to No. 17 Ohio State’s Dylan D’Emilio (20-13) at 141 kilos. D’Emilio made an escape early within the first interval of tiebreakers and Matthews didn’t rating, leading to his loss.

That is the second time on Friday that Matthews misplaced in tiebreakers, along with his 3-1 loss to No. 6 Penn State junior Beau Bartlett within the quarterfinals.

Gavin mentioned that regardless of the loss, Matthews had an excellent season, however that he should repair his sport to work in several methods offensively in order that the doesn’t fall behind late. He additionally mentioned that he’ll get by this and are available again more durable subsequent yr by committing to his offense.

“The larger situation with Cole, and I feel that is apparent, is that he’s received to begin pulling the set off,” Gavin mentioned. “We’re screaming within the nook, particularly on that final one, “You gotta shoot!” However I get it. He’s been rewarded for wrestling like that. He received fifth at this Match and was a first-time All-American final yr. It was the identical factor. No offense, counter offense and prime. We talked about this afterwards, that it’s taking part in with hearth.”

No. 9 redshirt senior Micky Phillippi (16-5) misplaced a 5-1 determination to No. 6 Virginia Tech’s Sam Latona (26-8) within the Spherical of 12. Latona made two takedowns and rode Phillippi for driving time, not permitting him many possibilities to attain.

The loss for Phillippi ends his illustrious profession with the Panthers in his sixth season with this system. Phillippi finishes as a five-time NCAA qualifier, three-time ACC Finalist and two-time ACC Champion

“He had an excellent profession right here,” Gavin mentioned on Phillippi. “Not solely that, Micky modified our program. He was the primary man to leap on board. He’s an unimaginable particular person. I’m simply grateful to have the chance to teach him. What he did for this program, it will possibly’t be overstated.”

Earlier Pitt Wrestling Protection from the NCAA Championships

Nino Bonaccorsi Makes it to Semifinals at NCAA Wrestling Championships

Matthews and Bonaccorsi Attain Quarterfinals for Pitt at NCAA Wrestling Championships

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

GREENSBORO, N.C — Iowa State was one of many prime 25 defensive groups within the nation coming into its recreation towards Pitt.

Nevertheless, on Friday, Pitt’s protection was the one which shined.

“What an unbelievable defensive efficiency,” Jeff Capel stated after his crew’s 59-41 win over the 6-seed Iowa State. “I stated on the market and I stated to those guys within the locker room, we have been a very good defensive crew for almost all of the yr apart from the final month of the season, and we’ve actually dialed again in these previous two video games and performed at an elite degree. Actually, actually happy with them.”

The Panthers bought off to a 22-2 lead in Greensboro, suffocating Iowa State to the tune of an 0-8 begin from the sphere by the Cyclones. Within the second half, Pitt’s defensive depth continued to frustrate Iowa State, which completed the sport capturing simply 23% from the sphere and simply 9.5% from three-point vary (2 for 23).

Iowa State’s prime two three-point shooters, Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur, mixed to go simply 1-14 from three-point land. The Panthers — in a slow-paced battle — had prevailed with ease attributable to their defensive energy.

Offensively, Pitt used its large early run and well timed scoring within the second half to dominate TJ Otzelberger’s Cyclones and transfer on to the Spherical of 32.

NELLY’S MONTH

Nelly Cummings as soon as once more got here up large in March. 

In a sluggish recreation for either side, Cummings hit a number of the Panthers’ largest buckets of their win over Iowa State. After scoring simply two factors within the first half, Cummings added 11 within the second. He went on a private 6-2 run, keeping off Iowa State’s early run within the half. His buckets included an and-one floater, a deep three early within the half, and a dagger of a 3 with only one minute remaining.

Cummings’ profession stats within the NCAA Event (4 video games):

2020-21: Arkansas: 4-8 3FG, 14 factors, 3 REB, 4 AST

2021-22: Wisconsin: 2-6 3FG, 20 factors, 6 REB, 6 AST

2022-23 Mississippi State: 2-4 3FG, 15 factors, 3 REB, 4 AST

2022-23 Iowa State: 2-5 3FG, 13 factors, 1 REB, 3 AST

Cummings is averaging 15.5 factors and 4.3 assists in his NCAA Event profession and is capturing 10-23 (43%) from three-point vary within the Event.

On Friday, Cummings additionally reached the 1,500-point mark for his school hoops profession.

ACC TAKES DOWN BIG 12

All through the faculty basketball season, the Huge 12 was broadly considered the most effective convention in America. Nevertheless, with No. 11 Pitt’s dominant win over No. 6 Iowa State, the Panthers imagine that their convention reigns superior.

“Coach, he informed us that we’ve been ready by the kind of opponents we performed in our convention,” Jamarius Burton stated after the sport. “If as we speak didn’t present that, then I don’t know what else does.”

Seven Huge 12 groups made the event, and 5 ACC groups made the dance.

As of Pitt’s win over Iowa State, the ACC stands at 2-2, whereas the Huge 12 stands at 3-2.  Duke received, Pitt received, Virginia misplaced, and NC State misplaced for the ACC up to now, whereas the Huge 12’s Texas received, Kansas received, and Baylor received, and West Virginia and Iowa State misplaced.

PANTHERS KEEP DANCING

With the win, Pitt improves to 24-11 on the yr.

The Panthers haven’t received 24 video games in a season for the reason that 2013-14 season, after they made it to the Third Spherical of the NCAA Event and completed with 26 wins.

“Like Coach stated, we did have a gamers’ assembly the place we got here in and regrouped with everyone and let everyone know clearly, we didn’t get the common season journey completed how we needed to, however we had a possibility in March to exit right here and do this,” Cummings stated. “So, we knew that it was going to require us to be actually, actually locked in and centered and being attentive to particulars. That’s sort of what we’re doing. We’ve got an older group who has been right here earlier than, and we perceive what it takes to win in March.”

SEAN MILLER AWAITS

Pitt now strikes on to the Spherical of 32 to tackle acquainted face Sean Miller and his Xavier Musketeers in Greensboro on Sunday.

The Musketeers’ head coach, from Western PA, first performed at Blackhawk highschool after which performed at Pitt from 1987-92, averaging 9+ factors per recreation in every of his 4 collegiate seasons in Pittsburgh. Miller scored greater than 1,200 factors and dished out greater than 740 assists in his Panther profession.

Miller was rumored to have interviewed for the Pitt head teaching job again in 2018, however later denied that he had any curiosity within the job.

His Musketeers are a 3-seed on this yr’s dance. They barely escaped 14-seed Kennesaw State on Friday afternoon, successful behind a late 15-0 run led by Jerome Hunter, Colby Jones, Souley Boum, and others.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — On Friday afternoon, No. 11 Pitt led wire-to-wire and dominated No. 6 Iowa State in a Spherical of 64 victory, profitable 59-41 over the Cyclones.

The Panthers held Iowa State to simply 41 factors, as TJ Otzelberger’s squad shot simply 23% from the sphere and 10% from three (2 for 21).

Hear from Pitt’s Federiko Federiko, Blake Hinson, Jamarius Burton, and Nike Sibande after the Panthers’ win.