Husker Wrestling Commits Compete at Who’s #1

A pair of Husker wrestling commits competed at FloWrestling’s Who’s #1 event Saturday night in Austin, Texas.

Both Pennsylvania boys, Lenny Pinto competed at 182 pounds against top-ranked Rylan Rogers while top-ranked 152-pounder Jagger Condomitti faced No. 2 Victor Voinovich at 152 pounds.

Pinto, who hails from Straudsburg High School in Pennsylvania, came in ranked No. 3 at 170 pounds with a career 118-18 record in high school. A state champion as a junior in 2020, Pinto faced off against top-ranked 182-pounder Rylan Rogers. Pinto bumped up in weight to face Rogers, as the two have history with Pinto winning the most recent matchup in the 2019 Cadet Fargo Freestyle National Championship final.

Wrestling high school rules, so no riding time point and three two-minute periods, Pinto and Rogers came out ready to go as an early shot by Rogers led to an extended scramble where Pinto showed off some impressive defense. The period ended scoreless, but the action was intense.

In the second period, Pinto chose bottom position and earned a quick escape to go up 1-0. Rogers then took a shot at a single-leg attack on Pinto, but Pinto injured his knee while defending the takedown. In what looked like a serious knee injury, Pinto immediately waved on the trainers. After being tended to, Pinto chose to continue with the match.

With thirty seconds left in the second period, Pinto fired off a shot of his own and eventually worked toward a takedown on the edge of the mat as time expired to take a 3-0 lead into the third and final period.

Rogers chose bottom positon to start the third period, but Pinto opted for a neutral start, giving Rogers the one point for the escape. About 40 seconds into the period, Pinto scored another takedown on the edge of the mat to go up 5-1.

Pinto then let Rogers go for an escape and immediately re-shot before earning another takedown with 40 seconds remaining to go up 7-2. In an amazing exchange (video below, wearing the black), Pinto lifted his leg over a shooting Rogers much like a hurdler or a matador. Pinto then circled back and gathered an easy takedown.

After again letting Rogers go, Pinto was obviously looking for a major decision, but Rogers ended up scoring a late takedown to make the final score a 7-5 decision for Pinto.

I think it’s safe to assume that Pinto will be moving up in the rankings after this performance.

Next up for future Huskers was Jagger Condomitti at 152 pounds. The top-ranked wrestler coming in at 152 pounds, Condomitti faced off against No. 2 Victor Voinovich.

The future Husker Condomitti started things off with some solid defense as he fended off multiple attacks from Voinovich, wrestling through positions and almost securing a takedown of his own as time expired on a scoreless first period.

In the second period, Condomitti chose bottom position and scored a reversal about 50 seconds in to go up 2-0. Condomitti rode out Voinovich for the rest of the second round.

Not wanting any more of Condomitti’s top game, Voinovich chose neutral to start the third period. Voinovich proved to be the more conditioned wrestler as he beat down Condomitti in the third period with a pair of takedowns and a rideout, winning by a final score of 4-3.

Both of Nebraska’s commits wrestled extremely tough against top of the line competition, and I think the Huskers have a very solid start to their 2021 class.