Pitt Wrestling Eyes Statement Win Against No. 9 NC State in Friday Night Showdown
After putting together one of their most complete performances of the season in a road win over a ranked opponent, Pitt wrestling is gearing up for an even bigger test. The No.
12 Panthers (10-2, 2-1 ACC) are set to host No. 9 NC State (12-4, 3-1) Friday night at Fitzgerald Field House in a nationally televised dual on the ACC Network.
And make no mistake - this one has all the makings of a heavyweight clash in the ACC.
Head coach Keith Gavin has seen his squad catch fire in recent weeks, rattling off three straight wins since dropping their conference opener to Virginia Tech. The latest was a 22-9 statement victory over then-No. 11 North Carolina, where the Panthers won seven of 10 bouts and looked sharp from top to bottom.
One of the highlights? Redshirt sophomore Evan Tallmadge, ranked No. 30 at 133 pounds, pulling off a convincing 8-2 upset over No.
19 Ethan Oakley. It wasn’t just the win - it was how he did it.
“He’s been close to breaking through against ranked guys, so you felt like that was coming,” Gavin said. “But he really controlled the match. That was nice to see.”
Tallmadge wasn’t alone. No.
17 Dylan Evans also came through with a gritty 4-1 win over No. 28 Laird Root at 157 pounds, helping Pitt build and maintain momentum throughout the dual.
Now comes NC State - a perennial powerhouse under Pat Popolizio. While this year’s Wolfpack squad may not be as deep as some of its predecessors, especially with All-American contender Jackson Arrington sidelined for the season, they still bring serious firepower.
Seven ranked wrestlers. Five in the top 10.
And a history of giving Pitt trouble.
The Panthers are just 2-10 all-time against NC State, with their last win coming back in 2019. But this group has shown it can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country, especially when the lights are bright.
One of the marquee matchups to watch is at heavyweight, where No. 15 Dayton Pitzer will get another crack at No.
2 Isaac Trumble. These two have history.
Trumble dominated their dual last year, winning 10-1. Pitzer answered at the ACC Championships with a 4-1 win, only for Trumble to take the rubber match 5-2 at NCAAs.
Now, with Pitzer riding a seven-match win streak and wrestling his best of the season, Gavin sees a big opportunity.
“Dayton’s wrestling really well - much better than he was going into the dual last year,” Gavin said. “He’s really excited. It’s a heck of an opportunity for him on Friday night.”
There’s intrigue across the board. At 125 pounds, NC State has a decision to make between defending NCAA champ Vincent Robinson, ranked No. 5, and Brad Yokum. Robinson recently took a loss to Virginia Tech’s Eddie Ventresca, but he remains one of the most dangerous lightweights in the country.
Pitt’s projected starter at 125 is Tyler Chappell, who’ll be looking to keep things close and give his team a shot at an early upset.
At 174, No. 18 Luca Augustine has a familiar foe in No.
6 Matty Singleton. These two battled twice last season - once in the dual, once in the ACC final - and both matches were razor-thin.
One went to double overtime. The other came down to a single position.
“That’s one I’m confident is going to be a very close match,” Gavin said. “Luca’s got to get out on the offense.
You get a takedown, that’s probably it. It’s a big one for Luca, for sure.”
Another potential swing bout comes at 149, where redshirt freshman Kade Brown, ranked No. 21, will face No. 8 Koy Buesgens. Gavin didn’t shy away from the stakes.
“Looking at the matchups, we probably need a couple upsets on paper,” he said. “That’s one you need to be able to get.
Kade’s shown the ability to beat some guys that are pretty good, in the top 10. He needs to step up and do it again.”
At 197, No. 8 Mac Stout is riding high with six straight wins, including three over ranked opponents.
He’ll likely square off with No. 24 Patrick Brophy in another key late-match duel.
And at 165, No. 33 Jared Keslar gets a shot at No. 10 Will Denny - a chance for Keslar to elevate his profile against one of the ACC’s best.
Pitt will also roll with Briar Priest at 141 pounds, opting for him over No. 29 Anthony Santaniello.
Priest will have his hands full with No. 13 Ryan Jack, but Gavin’s shown confidence in his depth and flexibility throughout the season.
With nine ranked wrestlers of their own and a knack for pulling out close duals - four wins this season have come by six points or fewer - the Panthers are built for battles like this.
“It’s a very competitive season,” Gavin said. “The ACC is fun because every week is like that.”
Projected Lineups:
- 125: Tyler Chappell vs. No.
5 Vincent Robinson or Brad Yokum (NCST)
- 133: No.
23 Evan Tallmadge vs. Zach Redding or Troy Hohman (NCST)
- 141: Briar Priest or No. 29 Anthony Santaniello vs.
No. 13 Ryan Jack (NCST)
- 149: No. 21 Kade Brown vs.
No. 8 Koy Buesgens (NCST)
- 157: No. 17 Dylan Evans vs.
Luca Felix or Brogan Tucker (NCST)
- 165: No.
33 Jared Keslar vs. No.
10 Will Denny or Latrell Schafer (NCST)
- 174: No.
18 Luca Augustine vs. No.
6 Matty Singleton (NCST)
- 184: No.
28 Chase Kranitz vs. Don Cates (NCST)
- 197: No. 8 Mac Stout vs.
No. 24 Patrick Brophy (NCST)
- 285: No. 15 Dayton Pitzer vs.
No. 2 Isaac Trumble (NCST)
Friday night in Pittsburgh is shaping up to be one of the most compelling duals of the ACC season - and maybe one of the biggest moments yet for a Pitt team that’s starting to look like it belongs in the national conversation.