PITTSBURGH – A second period pin by senior Josh Humphreys gave No. 13 Lehigh a 12-6 lead at the halfway point, but No. 17 Pitt won the final five bouts to claim a 22-12 victory over the Mountain Hawks Saturday night at Fitzgerald Field House. On a night in which Lehigh wrestlers defeated a pair of top 15-ranked opponents, Pitt had the upper hand in the upper weights to claim the victory.
 
The loss drops Lehigh to 3-2 on the season, while Pitt improves to 2-1.
 
The dual began at 125 with first-year Carter Bailey taking on Colton Camacho. Bailey trailed 3-0 after two periods and reversed in the third but could get no closer, as he dropped a 4-2 decision as the Panthers took an early lead.
 
Sophomore Connor McGonagle followed with a strong 5-3 decision over Pitt's eighth-ranked Micky Phillippi at 133. After a scoreless first period, McGonagle rode out the second. He escaped early in the third and added a takedown to go up 3-0. Phillippi responded with an escape and takedown of his own, but after cutting McGonagle loose, could get no closer. McGonagle added the riding time point to deal Phillippi a dual loss to a Lehigh wrestler for the second straight year.

The lone TD for McGonagle in his win over No. 8 Phillippi!

Watch: https://t.co/QmLqC2Y7oQ pic.twitter.com/pUjKP2EMk9

— Lehigh Wrestling (@LehighWrestling) November 20, 2022

 
True first-year Owen Reinsel stepped in for sophomore Malyke Hines at 141 and faced the tough task of taking on top-ranked Cole Matthews. Reinsel showed some skill on top, riding out the second period, but ultimately fell 8-2 as Pitt reclaimed a 6-3 advantage.
 
Sophomore Max Brignola returned to the lineup with a 7-6 decision over Tyler Badgett at 149. Brignola scored the first takedown and added reversals in the second and third periods plus a stalling point.
 
Humphreys recorded his first fall of the season, pinning 11th-ranked Dazjon Casto in 3:47. Casto scored the first takedown but Humphreys came back late in the first period with a takedown to take a 3-2 lead. In the second, Humphreys worked his way into a reversal and trapped Casto on his back, securing the fall to put Lehigh up 12-6 halfway.

Humphreys works his way into his first fall of the season!

Watch: https://t.co/QmLqC2H4mQ pic.twitter.com/JKhEThX816

— Lehigh Wrestling (@LehighWrestling) November 20, 2022

 
Pitt's comeback began at 165 as Holden Heller defeated junior Brian Meyer 6-0. Luca Augustine then tied the dual at 12-12 with an 11-6 decision over Jake Logan at 174.
 
The Panthers went in front for good following Reece Heller's 7-6 win over graduate student Tate Samuelson at 184. Heller emerged on top from an upper body position for a takedown and two point near fall to lead 4-1 after one. Samuelson tried to erase a 5-1 deficit in the third with an escape and two takedowns, but it was a late escape by Heller that provided the deciding point.
 
A top 10 showdown at 197 also went the Panthers' way as ninth-ranked Nino Bonaccorsi won a 10-4 decision over eighth-ranked sophomore Michael Beard. Bonaccorsi racked up four takedowns in the victory, including two in the second period, giving Pitt a six-point lead heading into the final bout.
 
At 285, first-year Nathan Taylor surrendered an early takedown and never recovered as Pitt's Dayton Pitzer posted a 10-1 major decision to account for the final margin.
 
The Mountain Hawks will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 4 when they host top-ranked and defending national champion Penn State at Stabler Arena with match time set for 2 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
 
The 2022-23 Lehigh wrestling season is presented by the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
 
No. 17 Pitt 22, No. 13 Lehigh 12
125 – Colton Camacho (Pitt) dec. Carter Bailey (Lehigh) 4-2
133 – Connor McGonagle (Lehigh) dec. Micky Phillippi (Pitt) 5-3
141 – Cole Matthews (Pitt) dec. Owen Reinsel (Lehigh) 8-2
149 – Max Brignola (Lehigh) dec. Tyler Badgett (Pitt) 7-6
157 – Josh Humphreys (Lehigh) Fall Dazjon Casto (Pitt) 3:47
165 – Holden Heller (Pitt) dec. Brian Meyer (Lehigh) 6-0
174 – Luca Augustine (Pitt) dec. Jake Logan (Lehigh) 11-6
184 – Reece Heller (Pitt) dec. Tate Samuelson (Lehigh) 7-6
197 – Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt) dec. Michael Beard (Lehigh) 10-4
285 – Dayton Pitzer (Pitt) major dec. Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) 10-1
 
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