Matt Hawley
PITTSBURGH, PA (PTTP) – The nationally ranked Pitt Wrestling program traveled to Durham, NC,
earlier this week to compete at the 2025 ACC Wrestling Championships. By the end of the
tournament, the Panthers had three new ACC Champions, all in consecutive weight classes.
The champions came in the upper weights for Pitt, with No. 11 Reece Heller defeating No. 13
Dylan Fishback (NCSU) 4-1 in sudden victory in the 184-pound weight class. Next, No. 6 Mac
Stout won by major decision in the 197-pound bracket, beating Nikolas Stemmet (STAN) 10-2
to earn his 20th consecutive victory and first ACC title. Finally, heavyweight wrestler Dayton
Pitzer (No. 13) defeated No. 14 Jimmy Mullen (VT) 4-1 in sudden victory and also captured the
ACC Most Outstanding Wrestler award.
Heller, a graduate student, said that all of his work in the wrestling room has led to this moment.
“It means so much [to win]. Everything you do is for the postseason, and getting my name on the
wall in that gym I’ve worked so hard in means a lot and sets me up well for Philly.”
As for Stout, his goal is to have fun in the postseason.
“I’m always trying to have fun, but coming into this tournament, I felt pretty optimistic because I
had already wrestled these guys. I know I have all the tools I need, so I just go out there, have
fun, and do what I love to do.”
Pitzer, who battled back from an injury sustained last season, feels like he’s getting back in his
groove.
“It definitely felt good to win. I feel like in a couple of matches this past year I beat myself, but
I’ve been working on correcting those mistakes. It’s fun to wrestle well this time of year, and I’m
looking forward to the next thing.”
In addition to three ACC Champions, the Panthers finished with one silver medalist (Luca
Augustine – 174-pounds), two fourth place finishers (Nick Babin – 125-pounds, Briar Priest –
141-pounds), and one fifth place finisher (Jared Keslar – 165-pounds). In the 157-pound bracket,
redshirt freshman Dylan Evans was awarded an at-large bid to Nationals, pulling the Panthers’
total National Qualifiers up to eight.
The Pitt Wrestling team will conclude their season at the NCAA Wrestling National
Championships in Philadelphia, Pa, on March 20-22.