Sunday, January 8
Pittsburgh, Pa.
2:00 p.m.
West Virginia University
at
Pitt
Photo by: Logan Adams
WVU Collides with No. 21 Pitt on Sunday
January 07, 2023 12:08 PM | Wrestling
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following a 28-9 win over Ohio, the West Virginia University wrestling team hits the road to battle No. 21 Pitt inside Fitzgerald Field House on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 2 p.m. ET.
Sunday's dual marks the 67th edition of the Backyard Brawl and fans can catch all the action on ACC Network Extra. Direct links to the video stream and live stats can be found on the wrestling schedule page on WVUsports.com.
Pitt (5-1) holds a 37-27-2 advantage over WVU (5-1) in the all-time series. West Virginia began the rivalry with a 28-10 win in 1934 and extended the streak to six until 1951, when Pitt responded with a 15-dual winning streak from 1951-76.
Most recently, the Mountaineers knocked off the then-No. 25 Panthers at home 24-10 in 2018, before the Panthers claimed back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020.
The Panthers are led by sixth-year coach Keith Gavin, who has registered a 38-28 record since being named the 11th head coach of the program in 2017. Gavin guided his team to a runner-up finish at the 2022 Midlands Championships with 115 points on Dec. 30.
In the polls, seven Mountaineers are ranked in the 12th edition of this season's FloWrestling rankings – No. 7 Killian Cardinale (125), No. 24 Sam Hillegas (149), No. 8 Peyton Hall (165), honorable mentions Brody Conley (174), Anthony Carman (184) and Austin Cooley (197) and No. 19 Michael Wolfgram (HWT), while senior Alex Hornfeck checks in InterMat's rankings at No. 27.
It's the first time the program has had eight wrestlers ranked nationally at the same time since 2003, when No. 17 Seth Lisa (125), No. 14 Brandon Lauer (133), No. 13 Shane Cunanan (141), No. 7 Billy Smith (149), No. 7 Tom McMath (165), No. 1 Greg Jones (174), No. 12 Ryan Wilman (184) and No. 13 Brent Miller (HWT) made the list entering a dual against rival Virginia Tech on Feb. 9.
The 2002-03 squad eventually sent a program-record nine of ten starters to compete at the national tournament.
Seven members of Pitt's starting lineup are ranked by FloWrestling as well - No. 7 Micky Phillippi (133), No. 2 Cole Matthews (141), honorable mentions Tyler Badgett (149) and Holden Heller (165), No. 17 Reece Heller (184), No. 4 Nino Bonaccorsi (197) and No. 5 Dayton Pitzer (HWT).
Of note, WVU head coach Tim Flynn enters Sunday's dual just one win away from claiming his 250th career win.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Rankings: NWCA
Individual Rankings: FloWrestling
Sunday's dual marks the 67th edition of the Backyard Brawl and fans can catch all the action on ACC Network Extra. Direct links to the video stream and live stats can be found on the wrestling schedule page on WVUsports.com.
Pitt (5-1) holds a 37-27-2 advantage over WVU (5-1) in the all-time series. West Virginia began the rivalry with a 28-10 win in 1934 and extended the streak to six until 1951, when Pitt responded with a 15-dual winning streak from 1951-76.
Most recently, the Mountaineers knocked off the then-No. 25 Panthers at home 24-10 in 2018, before the Panthers claimed back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020.
The Panthers are led by sixth-year coach Keith Gavin, who has registered a 38-28 record since being named the 11th head coach of the program in 2017. Gavin guided his team to a runner-up finish at the 2022 Midlands Championships with 115 points on Dec. 30.
In the polls, seven Mountaineers are ranked in the 12th edition of this season's FloWrestling rankings – No. 7 Killian Cardinale (125), No. 24 Sam Hillegas (149), No. 8 Peyton Hall (165), honorable mentions Brody Conley (174), Anthony Carman (184) and Austin Cooley (197) and No. 19 Michael Wolfgram (HWT), while senior Alex Hornfeck checks in InterMat's rankings at No. 27.
It's the first time the program has had eight wrestlers ranked nationally at the same time since 2003, when No. 17 Seth Lisa (125), No. 14 Brandon Lauer (133), No. 13 Shane Cunanan (141), No. 7 Billy Smith (149), No. 7 Tom McMath (165), No. 1 Greg Jones (174), No. 12 Ryan Wilman (184) and No. 13 Brent Miller (HWT) made the list entering a dual against rival Virginia Tech on Feb. 9.
The 2002-03 squad eventually sent a program-record nine of ten starters to compete at the national tournament.
Seven members of Pitt's starting lineup are ranked by FloWrestling as well - No. 7 Micky Phillippi (133), No. 2 Cole Matthews (141), honorable mentions Tyler Badgett (149) and Holden Heller (165), No. 17 Reece Heller (184), No. 4 Nino Bonaccorsi (197) and No. 5 Dayton Pitzer (HWT).
Of note, WVU head coach Tim Flynn enters Sunday's dual just one win away from claiming his 250th career win.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUWrestling on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Rankings: NWCA
Individual Rankings: FloWrestling
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