For 'Nino', Pitt just too Close to Home

By Stephen Patrick

Santino 'Nino' Bonaccorsi ended his official high school career by losing in the state finals for the second year in a row. This season, he was defeated by Nazareth senior Travis Stefanik. His previous such loss came at the hands of Bethlehem Catholic standout Michael Labriola. All three of these wrestlers have something in common, besides occupying the top two spots on the Hershey podium for the past two seasons: Each of these well accomplished Pennsylvania seniors had the honor to represent Team Pennsylvania in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic this past weekend, Classic XLIII.

While Stefanik will take his talents east to Princeton, and Labriola west to Nebraska, Bonaccorsi will be staying right here. And why wouldn't he? The roots run just too deep.

credit: Barry Reeger Photo

As you may recall, it hasn't been long since a Bonaccorsi stepped on the mat at the Fitzgerald Field House. Just last year, Nino's older brother Nick was finishing his career for the Panthers. Next year, the younger of the siblings will be continuing his legacy. Or, perhaps, he will be starting his own.

"It was definitely cool seeing Nick wrestle here" Nino started when asked if he was looking to follow Nick's footsteps or forge his own path. He seemed to pause for a second though, his voice growing with excitement. "I was itching to get on that mat".

That mat.

How do you explain it?

Nino finished his illustrious career with no state titles. No, not how do you explain that. How do you explain how someone with no state titles could major someone with four. Is Pennsylvania that good? West Virginia, where his opponent Jacob Hart hails, borders PA on the southern and western fronts. Does the imaginary line drawn by politicians of generations past magically prevent talent from diffusing across state lines? Of course not. How do you explain one time PA champ Austin DeSanto majoring 4x California champ Justin Mejia? And California only has one division! How do you explain Darian Cruz, Zain Retherford, Jason Nolf and Vincenzo Joseph taking 40% of the NCAA titles this year? I guess Pennsylvania really is that good.

Next level

Academically and socially college is a step up from high school. In fact, in just about every aspect of life college is a step up from high school. With athletics though, it's even more than that. "It's another level".

I didn't wrestle in college. My brother did. All of my coaches did. A lot of my friends did. Seeing the product on the mat is one thing, the physicality, the intensity, but hearing the first hand accounts of practice and summer workouts and match preparation adds a deeper appreciation for the sport. Being behind the scenes in St. Louis I was privy to the warmup area and had the opportunity to watch some national champions before their matches. Their focus could cut diamonds. No, not before the finals; the first round, the second round, the quarters. There's no easy match in college. A first round match at NCAAs could feature two two-time state champs. An All-Star match in high school could be a 197 pound match in an Edinboro-Bloomsburg dual where the meet is already decided. Nino seems to appreciate the incoming challenge.

"It's another level...get a little tougher, little meaner on the mat".

He certainly has the right idea. While one would be hard pressed to qualify Nino's performance at the classic as "soft" or "nice", I've never heard stories of Bethel Park wrestlers breaking their ulna off the back of their drill partners head for not working hard enough like a certain national finalist once did. "Another level".

Connections

In addition to the aforementioned older brother recently graduating from Pitt, Nino has plenty more reasons to stay close to home. Nick will be staying close to Pitt's campus as he completes the police academy program. His parents still reside in Bethel Park. His cousin, Marc Allemang is the head coach at Mt. Lebanon.

Throughout his early years Nino could be seen training at Iron Horse wrestling club headed by Bryan Stout, the Pittsburgh Wrestling Club, and any other place he could get a workout. His father, Mark, was there every step of the way. And he will continue to be there for the next four years. Oh, yeah, there's another reason Nino chose the school he did.

"I love Pitt".

Opinions (Everyone has them)

• Read these next two questions with the one rhetorically answering the other, like those old Geico commercials
• Did Austin DeSanto have a chip on his shoulder after people questioned the legitimacy of his win over an ACL-deficient Spencer Lee? 
• Did Spencer Lee think this was a takedown? 

• I don't know what was going through DeSanto's mind. But he was sure wrestling like he had something to prove 
• Where will Jarod Verkleeren end up now that he's been released by Iowa State
• I doubt anywhere near Pitt
• I bet we know who the Pitt coach is by the end of the day tomorrow
• If it is someone from a different school, would any of his wrestlers transfer to Pitt to stay with their coach? Quite possibly
• Would any high school seniors from the WPIAL, or anywhere for that matter, de-commit and switch to Pitt for the right coach? Quite possibly
• Would any established college wrestlers having trouble breaking into the lineup at their respective school transfer to Pitt? Quite possibly
• I was talking to my former coach, Coach Allemang, Nino's cousin, at the classic and his state final match came up. I said he has bigger things to accomplish now. He responded
• "Yeah, like National titles"