2023 NCAA DI The Season: Pittsburgh

 *NOTE* - I want to make it clear what this is and what this is not.  What this is NOT is an overview of the entire team. What this is, is a who’s who preview of THIS season 2022-2023. Meaning that I am going to talk about the starters who I feel will have an impact THIS year. Those who will win big matches in duals. Those who will earn placings in major tournaments like CKLV, RENO, MIDLANDS, MATMEN INVITE, SOUTHERN SCUFFLE, CONFERENCES & NCAA’s.  In some cases a weight class will have multiple talented wrestlers. I will note that & I will also be making posts later on about the best wrestle-offs to look forward to this season.  Then after that is determined I will make post later into the season of who our best backups are in the nation.

This post will NOT include redshirts. Those who are redshirting this season will be included in a separate post entitled “22’-23’ Best Redshirts.”  

Looks to be a good season for Pittsburgh as the Panthers return quite a bit of talent & where they lost talent they make up for it with some tough transfers.  Gone is four time NCAA qualifier Gage Curry who despite missing out on a 5th qualification last season, still took a 7th place finish in a competitive Mat Men Open last year.  Also gone is Elijah Cleary who made the most of his senior season earning both a Mat Men Open title & his first NCAA qualification. Greg Harvey a three time NCAA qualifier & 7th place finisher at the Mat Men Open, as well as Jake Wentzel a three time ACC champion, 2021 NCAA runner-up & 3rd at the Mat Men Open. 

125 lbs
Colton Camacho

Sophomore Colton Camacho wasn't the varsity starter by the ACC's last season, but none the less he still proved that he'll be a name within the conference this season. An 11-5 record, notable wins include a 4-2 sudden victory over Pat McCormick of Virginia & a 5-3 tiebreaker over Air Force's Sid Flores. 

133 lbs
Micky Phillippi 

Dude!!!!! It is time to be an All American!! I would argue that of all the seniors going into their final season of eligibility that Micky Phillippi is the best yet to earn All American status.  He's been R12 three times thus far in his career.  A four time ACC finalist, 2nd in the CKLV, 2nd in the Mat Men, 3rd in the Southern Scuffle.  Need I go on? He owns a 3-1 victory over three time NCAA runner-up Daton Fix of Oklahoma State & he took two time NCAA champ Roman Bravo Young to a 4-3 decision. He owns three victories over Korbin Myers of Virginia Tech, a two time All American. It's time to be top 8 in the NCAA, that's all there is to it. 

141 lbs
Cole Matthews

I wrote about Matthews in my "NCWA All Star Classic" writeup & I'll say it again. The improvements that he has made have been astronomical. He went from a top 25 wrestler to one of the top wrestlers in the nation last year & it wouldn't surprise me at all if he is THE top wrestler at 141 lbs this season. Easier said than done but 21-4 on the season, 3rd at the Mat Men Open, champ in the ACC & 5th in the NCAA, it's fair to make that assessment. 

149 lbs
Brock McMillen

I think we can expect some nice things out of redshirt freshman Bock McMillen this season. He scored an impressive 6-5 win over three time NCAA qualifier Kanen Storr of Michigan last year. 

157 lbs
Dazjon Casto 

Ever since he was a freshman, I've been talking this guy up & saying what he was capable of. I knew the potential that he possessed & what a treat it was to see him finally release it. A SOCON champion & one match shy of All American, whatever doubts & fears he may have had are now gone when he defeated 2021 NCAA champ Austin O'Connor of North Carolina. I've felt his entire career he was capable of being an All American & I think this year he finally does it. 

165 lbs
Holden Heller

I was pretty excited to see both Holden & Reece on the Pittsburgh lineup but am curious as to the whereabouts of Sage. Perhaps his collegiate career is over, but I believe between COVID-19 & the injuries he's endured, he has at least one season of eligibility left.  It'd be really cool to see all three Heller brothers in the lineup.  Nevertheless, Holden is going to be a great addition to the Panther squad. An EIWA champ in 2021, he was 7th at the Mat Men Open last year. 

184 lbs
Reece Heller 

12-4 on the season last year, Reece Heller has impressive victories over Army's Ben Pasiuk as well as Purdue's Garrett Nijenhuis. 

197 lbs
Nino Bonaccorsi 

A four time NCAA qualifier, NCAA runner-up in 2021, one match shy of All American this past season, you can bet Nino Bonaccorsi will be a man on a mission. The two time ACC champ who was second at the Mat Men Open will look to earn his second All American honor & my guess is that he's going for the one coated in gold. 

HWT
Jacob Slinger 

I was a little surprised when Jacob Slinger didn't make the NCAA championships last season. I am pretty positive he will make a trip this year.  6th in the Mat Men Open last season.