PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Navy wrestling team (0-1) lost its season opener at No. 25 Pittsburgh (1-0) to open the 2024-25 season on Saturday at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh, Pa., 35-3.

It was the Panthers' first victory over the Midshipmen in Pittsburgh since 1989.

Saturday's dual started with Pittsburgh taking the first-two bouts at 125 and 133 pounds for an early 11-0 lead. Nick Treaster (125) was holding his own against Panthers' 28th-ranked Nick Babin in his collegiate debut going into the third period down, 5-2. Babin would rattle off eight points and pinned Treaster for the first-six points. Freshman Hunter Heflin lost to 31st-ranked Vinnie Santaniello by tech fall, 16-2.

Senior captain and ninth-ranked 141-pounder Josh Koderhandt picked up Navy's lone victory of the day as he went head-to-head against Anthony Santaniello. Santaniello held a 4-2 lead heading into the third period, but a late takedown by Koderhandt led him to a gritty 5-4 victory.

The Panthers went on to claim victory in the remaining seven bouts with five decisions, a major decision and a tech fall.

In the lone ranked matchup of the day, No. 22 sophomore Danny Wask squared off against No. 19 Luca Augustine. The two wrestlers battled in last year's dual in Annapolis where Augustine escaped with a 9-7 decision victory. This year's matchup was no different, as both wrestlers were in a tight battle. Augustine's first-period takedown, however, proved to be the difference maker as he walked away with a 4-3 victory.

Up Next

Navy will send 18 Mids to Clarion, Pa., to compete in the Clarion Open on Sunday. Action is set to begin at 9 a.m.