Virginia Tech vs. Pitt Wrestling Preview! Friday 7PM ESPN3

This is duplicated from TSL. Its a little more off the cuff, but some may find it helpful for Friday nights Dual.

Gonna bang this out now since im slammed the next 2 days. Pitt looks to be another easy win on paper, though we get to find out more about key guys especially Gustafson McFadden Haught and Walz. The biggest thing looking at rosters is that Pitt has had even more high end attrition, and their roster is decimated. Edgar Bright and Noah Wilps are no longer with the team and its apparent theyre scrambling for some bodies. With that in mind, lets break it down:
NOTE: Rankings will be recorded for Flowrestling/Intermat

125: #3/3 Dance vs. Bentley -
Gone is Dom Forys, moved to 133 where he actally makes weight. Instead we have LJ Bentley. Bentley is a solid wrestler, but he has yet to show the ability to knock off top guys. Dance should have this match on autopilot, and i would expect a MD here at least.
• Tech 4-0

133: Gustafson vs. #19/19 Forys -
Dom Forys is red hot for Pitt, with only two losses on the year. Unfortunately, those two losses were to the only stiff competition he's faced. Gus looked rough against DiCamillo, giving up TDs at will to that wrapped right leg. Fortunately, last year when dance wrestler Forys 3 times, almost all attacks went to Dance's left leg. So we'll see how that tendency plays out a year later. This ones gonna be fingernail biting close and will likely determine which wrestler earns a bid for the conference and gets the 2 seed in the conference tourney. Forys will get to Dennis's legs, but dennis will be able to create his own offense. I have a very bad gut feeling about this and think Forys sneaks out with a stupid decision.

• Tech 4-3

141: #8/10 Chishko vs. #10/5 Racciato -
So 141 has been a mess for Pitt for 2 years running. Now it seems Racciato can make the cut to 141, when he couldnt a year ago to swap with Bright. I have no idea whats going on internally in Pitts program but from a neutral observer, things are not good. Racciato is another stiff test for solomon, but sully is red hot right now and betting against him is foolish. This is a homecoming for solomon, but he's such a cool customer im not sure that effects the match in the slightest. I see Chishko by decision in this one.

• Tech 7-3

149: Mastriani vs. Zanetta -
Sal will be licking his lips if he gets Zanetta here. 149 has been weight class by committee for Pitt, but it seems zanetta has earned the spot. His frame is really that of a 141 lber and sal's gonna run him over as a result. Expect mastriani to just physically bully Zanetta around the mat. Predicting a Decision would be the safe bet, but i think Sal gets the major, due in large part to another fantastic third period.

• Tech 11-3

157: #7/4 Brascetta vs. Garbinsky -
Nothing much to say about garbinsky. Gantt from NCSU TFed him last week, and nick missed a MD last year by a point in his first weekend back. This one has the feel of a MD for brascetta, kind of cut and dry.

• Tech 14-3

165: #13/11 McFadden vs. Wiercioch -
So this one is an interesting style matchup. If i remember correctly Wiercioch was part of that 165lb class last year which loved to choose top position (including Dorsey at Duke and Strube here). McFadden has avoided the bottom position often choosing neutral, and i think Wiercioch is going to force him to escape. This is a dangerous matchup, and i think theres a distinct possibility McFadden gets buried for a period. All wiercioch's matches are low scoring affairs, even with Bo Jordan. Dave must score a TD in the first period to force wiercioch to wrestle on his feet later on. I'll say Wiercioch by a stupid 2-1 decision here, and we'll chalk the loss up to freshman growing pains.

• Tech 14-6

174: #5/3 Epperly vs. Campbell -
So when we last saw Pitt, many expected Noah wilps to take up his brothers mantle at 174. Apparently Wilps has left wrestling to pursue his future as a Rock Band singer. Anyways, his replacement Campbell is a true freshman growing into the Roll. Should be Epp by decision here.

• Tech 17-6

184: #14/14 Zavatsky vs. Bruce -
Bruce, a Pitt sophomore is a stopgap solution for Pitt at 184. He's bottom of the barrel in terms of talent. Zavatsky will have no problem taking the match here, just a matter of bonus points. As previously mentioned, this will be the first homecoming for Zack like solomon. Where that plays into the score we will see. I'm gonna guess Zavatsky by major here.

• Tech 21-6

197: #12/7 Haught vs. Bonaccorsi -
Again we get to wonder if we see a healthy jared haught, or we get either Cook or Gabel trotted out. Haught is still recovering from that hamstring tweak during his ridiculous big man split at Virginia Duals. Most knowledge floating around seems to point toward precautionary measures but at some point Haught needs to rejoin the lineup to keep his conditioning Top notch. At the same time, Bonaccorsi is a tough guy to come back against (so were smith and Nye). Haught went 2-1 last year against Bonaccorsi, but lost the one that mattered at the ACCs and had to hold his breath for an at large bid last year. Haughts about a TD better on an avergae day, but this one it tough to call. to be safe, im taking Bonaccorsi by decision here.

• Tech 21-9

285: #3/3 Walz vs. #13/UR Solomon -
So i expect a highly motivated Ty walz here. Last year walz had an abysmal performance against Solomon at the ACC Championships, on a day when tech whole team stumbled out of the starting block. Walz is better than Solomon, who has improved greatly and is now probably earning an NCAA bid on his own. I expect Walz to look very sharp here, and earn a Decision.

• Tech 24-9

When techs on the road im always a little more conservative. However if our boys are on, its not unthinkable to see us take 8-9 matches. Tech looks like a winner in this one.

The action can be watched live on ESPN3 Friday Night at 7 PM