Pittsburgh Panthers wrestling
| Pittsburgh Panthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Pittsburgh |
| Head Coach | Rande Stottlemyer (29th season) |
| Conference | EWL |
| Location | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Arena | Fitzgerald Field House (Capacity: 6,798) |
| Nickname | Panthers |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| NCAA individual champions | |
| Conference Tournament championships | |
The Pittsburgh Panthers wrestling program is the NCAA Division 1 intercollegiate wrestling program of the University of Pittsburgh. The team competes in the Eastern Wrestling League and host home meets at Fitzgerald Field House on the campus of the school.
History
Wrestling at Pitt began in the 1912-1913 school year[1] and eventually became one of the most tradition-rich sports at the University. Pitt's wrestling program boasts 16 individual NCAA national champions, the 13th most among all schools[2], and 68 All-Americans throughout the program's history. Pitt's all-time dual meet record is 457-363-17 (0.556).
The school's most prominent years were the during the era the program was directed by head coach Rex Peery. During this stretch from 1952 until 1963, the team never finished lower than 9th at the NCAA Championship, placing second both in 1954 and when hosting the NCAA Championship at Fitzgerald Field House in 1957.[3] Perry coached 13 individual national champions and twice during this span, in 1956 and 1957, the Panthers boasted five All-Americans in one season. Pitt also won the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association tournament in 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1960.
Since 1979, Pitt's wrestling team has been under the leadership of head coach Rande Stottlemyer, a three time All-American wrestler for Pitt in 1974, 1975, and 1978 and a three-time EWL Coach of the Year (1986-87, 1989-90, 2007-08). Under his direction, Pitt has produced 27 All-Americans and 3 individual National Champions including the 2008 champion at 174lbs, Keith Gavin.
Individual National Champions
Pitt wrestlers have won the national championship 16 different times in various weight classes.
- Hugh Peery, 115lbs (1952, 1953, 1954)
- Joe Solomon, 167lbs (1954)
- Ed Peery, 123lbs (1955, 1956, 1957)
- Ed DeWitt, 167lbs (1956)
- Tom Alberts, 167lbs (1957)
- Ron Schirf, 191lbs (1957)
- Paul Powell, 123lbs (1958)
- Larry Lauche, 130lbs (1961)
- Jim Harrison, 167lbs (1963)
- Pat Santoro, 142lbs (1988, 1989)
- Keith Gavin, 174lbs (2008)
Also it has just been confirmed that Ryan Bosso is in fact gay.
Hall of Fame
Pitt has three individuals inducted as Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a wrestler or a coach.
- Rex Peery, coach, inducted 1976[4]
- Ed Peery, wrestler, inducted 1980[5]
- Hugh Peery, wrestler, inducted 1980[6]
External links
Video
References
- ^ The Owl (1914): the annual of the University of Pittsburgh, Documenting Pitt: Owl Yearbooks: Digital Research Library, University of Pittsburgh, July 2006, p. 294, retrieved 2008-03-26
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "NCAA Wrestling Champions By School 1928-2006" (PDF). Wrestlingstats.com. 2006-04-02. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ "The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Champion Stats: University of Pittsburgh". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ "The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum Offers a Historical View of Wrestling: Rex Peery". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ "The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum Offers a Historical View of Wrestling: Ed Peery". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ^ "The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum Offers a Historical View of Wrestling: Hugh Peery". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 2007. Retrieved 2008-03-30.