March 9, 2008
PITTSBURGH--The Pitt wrestling team hosted six other squads today at Fitzgerald Field House for the 33rd Annual Eastern Wrestling League Tournament. The Panthers claimed a program-best four individual crowns and grabbed second-place in the team standings with 111.50 points. Today's meet marked only the third time in Pitt's EWL history that it has claimed second overall in the conference tournament, the other two occasions occurred in 1989 and 1997. Pitt will send six contestants to the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Mo., on March 20-22.
Jimmy Conroy (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) was the first Pitt grappler to qualify for the national tournament after lighting up the scoreboard for 28 points in his first two matches and locking down a spot in the finals at 133 pounds. He went on to face his former high school teammate, Billy Ashnault of Lock Haven, in the championship bout and earned a 3-1 decision. The victory marked Conroy first conference crown in just his second season.
All-American Drew Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg), last year's EWL Champion at 133 pounds, followed Conroy's performance with a victory over Edinboro's Torsten Gillespie in the finals at 141 to wrap up a second conference crown and earn his third trip to the NCAA meet. His first round pin of West Virginia's Steve Waite give him 21 for his career and place him in a tie for 10th with Perry Miller and Mike Moore on Pitt's career pins list.
The nations No. 1 ranked 174-pounder, Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail), received a first round bye and needed just two matches to sew up his second consecutive EWL crown. The fifth-year senior used a major decision in the second round to advance to the finals where he met Chance Litton of West Virginia. In his bout with Litton, Gavin survived an early takedown and secured a 7-3 decision, stretching his unbeaten streak to 28 matches since last year's NCAA finals. He now owns an incredible 56-4 record over the past two seasons, which equates to a winning percentage of .935.
Heavyweight Zach Sheaffer (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) capped the night in stellar fashion as he disposed of Bloomsburg's Mike Spaid, an All-American last season, by a count of 4-2 in the final at 285 pounds. The win gave Sheaffer his second conference title, adding to the one he captured in 2005 as a true freshman. His three victories today gave him 34 for the season and place him fourth on Pitt's list for most wins by a junior all-time.
In addition to Pitt's four champions, two other Panthers will be on the prowl in St. Louis. Matt Kocher (State College, Pa./State College) picked up a unanimous wild card selection after taking third at 157-pounds. The nation's 8th-ranked wrestler heading into the conference tournament, Kocher is one of only 12 Pitt grapplers to have reached the national meet four separate times.
Ethan Headlee (Waynesburg, Pa./Waynesburg) will be Pitt's sixth and final representative at the NCAA's. A wild card selection, Headlee claimed third in the 165-pound bracket tonight after a 10-0 major decision over Rick Schmelyun of Bloomsburg in the finals of the consolation round.
2008 will mark the 26th time in Pitt's history that it will be sending five or more grapplers to the national championships. The Panthers will enjoy a week off from competition before traveling to St. Louis in hopes of returning with plenty of All-America honors. For more information on the 2008 NCAA Wrestling Championships, please visit the following link: http://www.stlsports.org/wrestling.
Team Score
1. Edinboro 133.00
2. Pittsburgh 111.50
3. West Virginia 103.50
4. Bloomsburg 86.00
5. Lock Haven 70.50
6. Clarion 55.00
7. Cleveland State 53.00
