Bradford, PA -- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford wrestling team kicked off its 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, hosting the inaugural Pitt-Bradford Quadmatch in KOA Arena. The Panthers hosted Jamestown Community College, Utica, and Elmira as the teams each logged 3 matches to begin the year. The Panthers were able to win all three of their matches, defeating Jamestown, 47-2, Utica, 31-21, and Elmira, 39-12.

Match One - Pitt-Bradford 47 - Jamestown C.C. 3

The Panthers dominantly started their year, beating the Jamestown Jayhawks 47-3. Cade Stern started the match with a pin at 4:27, and then Michael Worsen doubled the lead with another fall, this time at 1:27. After Nikolas Fegert pushed the lead to 17 with a 20-4 tech fall victory at 149, the Panthers extended their advantage to 3-5 with two more pins and a forfeit. Ray Worsen won his match in 2:32 at 157, while Peyton Mitchell needed just 18 seconds to win his collegiate debut at 165. After Jamestown picked up a win at 184, the Panthers closed the match with two more pins. D.J. Slovick won at 197 in 1:41, and Gavin Thompson closed the match with a pin at 2:13.

Match Two - Pitt-Bradford 31 - Utica 21

Pitt-Bradford had its toughest match of the day against Utica in match two. In the match, they built a 22-9 lead and were able to hold off a late charge by the Pioneers with wins in the final two classes.

After dropping the 125 match by decision, Michael Worsen put the Panthers in front with his second pin of the day, this one coming at 2:16. After a forfeit gave the lead back to Utica, the Panthers rolled off three straight wins to take the 22-9 lead. Fegert won by pin in 1:10 and 149, and Ray Worsen won in 1:31 at 157. Mitchell picked up his second win of the day with a 9-1 major decision at 165. After two pins by Utica, the Panthers saw their lead trimmed to 1 point. Their senior leader, Slovick, stepped up and delivered an important 8-3 win by decision to stop the run. Needing to avoid a pin or a tech fall to secure the match victory, Gavin Thompson closed strongly, battling at 285 and pinning his opponent at 2:48 to close out the match with the score 31-21.

Match Three - Pitt-Bradford 39 - Elmira 12

In their final match of the day, the Panthers started strong, jumping out to an early 30-0 lead, and then closed with two straight wins to finish the match 39-12.

Following an opening forfeit, Michael Worsen picked up his third victory by pin of the day, finishing his match at 2:30. The Panthers pushed their lead to 24 with two more pins at 149 and 157. Fegert won in 2:53 at 149, while Raymond Worsen also picked up his 3rd pin, needing 55 seconds to win the match. After a forfeit at 165, the Soaring Eagles cut into the lead with two pins at 174 and 184. Slovick received his third win of the day by forfeit at 197 before Thompson closed the match with a 5-0 decision at 285.

The Panthers start the year with a 3-0 record. They will be back in action next weekend with their first invitational, as they head to Washington and Jefferson next Saturday. The action is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Washington and Jefferson's Ross Recreation Center.