Surging Panthers upset No. 14 Northern Iowa

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The University of Pittsburgh wrestling team upset the then No. 14 ranked Northern Iowa 21-19 on Saturday, Nov. 17.

For their efforts, Pitt is now nationally ranked No. 25 while Northern Iowa has dropped to No. 19.

The Panthers fell to a 6-0 deficit early in the match but No. 13 ranked Micky Phillippi (133 lbs) helped tie it up.

After four matches,  Pitt and UNI were all tied up at nine. At 157 pounds, 8th ranked Taleb Rahmani got the pin to bring Pitt up 15-9.

By the time 184 pounds came around, the Panthers found themselves down 16-15. Bethel Park’s own Nino Bonaccorsi, who is ranked 13th in the country, wrestled 10th ranked Drew Foster. Bonaccorsi fell 10-6 in a hard-fought match.

The match came down to the 285 lb bout featuring Demetrius Thomas of the Panthers vs Carter Isley. Thomas got the win 9-3 to clinch the victory for Pitt.

The Panthers move to 2-0 on the year.

They next wrestle in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1.

Their next dual match is Saturday, Dec. 15 against the neighborhood foe, West Virginia.