Pitt wins 2013 EWL team title, with four individual mat champs

University of Pittsburgh snared its third straight team title at the 2013 Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) Championships at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pa. Saturday evening.

The Panthers put 125.5 team points on the board, thanks in large part to grabbing nearly half of the ten individual titles. Pitt could claim four individual champions, all in the upper weight classes: Nick Bonaccorsi at 174 pounds, Max Thomusseit at 184, Matt Wilps at 197, and Zac Thomusseit at heavyweight. Wilps also earned the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award.

Host Edinboro placed second in the team title race, with 117 points. The Fighting Scots had three wrestlers earn championships: A.J. Schopp at 133 pounds, Mitchell Port at 141, and David Habat at 149.

In third place was Bloomsburg, with Frank Hickman and Josh Veltre bringing home titles at 157 and 165 pounds, respectively.

Also winning a title at the 2013 EWLs was Cleveland State 125-pounder Ben Willeford.

Thanks to automatic qualifying slots announced last week, the EWL will send a minimum of 23 wrestlers to the 2013 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, to be held March 21-23 in Des Moines.

Match Results – Championship Finals

• 125: No. 3 seed Ben Willeford (Cleveland State) pinned No. 4 Kory Mines (Edinboro), 4:32
• 133: No. 1 A.J. Schopp (Edinboro) dec. No. 3 Shelton Mack (Pitt), 2-0
• 141: No. 1 Mitchell Port (Edinboro) dec. No. 2 Daniel Neff (Lock Haven), 6-1
• 149: No. 1 David Habat (Edinboro) dec. No. 3 Ronnie Garbinsky (Pitt), 7-0
• 157: No. 2 Frank Hickman (Bloomsburg) won by medical forfeit over No. 1 James Fleming (Clarion)
• 165: No. 1 Josh Veltre (Bloomsburg) dec. No. 2 Tyler Wilps (Pitt), 3-1
• 174: No. 1 Nick Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. No. 3 Christopher Smith (Bloomsburg), 4-0
• 184: No. 1 Max Thomusseit (Pitt) maj. dec. No. 2 Fred Garcia (Lock Haven), 9-1
• 197: No. 1 Matt Wilps (Pitt) dec. Richard Perry (Bloomsburg), 5-4
• Hwt: No. 1 Zac Thomusseit (Pitt) dec. No. 2 Justin Grant (Bloomsburg), 6-3

Final Team Standings

1. Pittsburgh, 125.5 team points
2. Edinboro, 117
3. Bloomsburg, 114
4. Clarion, 93.5
5. Lock Haven, 88.5
6. Cleveland State, 67.5

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