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Whether or not there’s a wrestling season this year is still unknown. But, hey, we’ve got rankings, and the Panthers appear as a top 20 team.
FloWrestling released their preseason dual rankings and Pitt checks in at No. 18.
That the Panthers are ranked is hardly a surprise. In fact, one might say that the No. 18 ranking seems a bit low. Pitt was ranked at No. 8 in the nation when the season was halted before NCAAs after they finished second in the ACC Tournament.
Pitt returns the core of their team from last year, though they did graduate heavyweight ACC Champion Demetrius Thomas, as well as starters Taleb Rahmani and Kellan Stout. Unlike spring athletes, which gained another year of eligibility, winter sport athletes did not, despite the lack of an NCAA championship tournament.
With five returning NCAA qualifiers (all of which made FloWrestling’s Top 20 in their individual classes), the team figures to be another strong one.
The ACC again figures to be quite strong with four of the conference’s six teams ranked in the Top 20. Pitt is fourth behind NC State (No. 6), North Carolina (No. 10), and Virginia Tech (No. 12).
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