Bethel Park wrestler runner-up in NCAA
Nino Bonaccorsi of Bethel Park left the Enterprise Center in St. Louis elated yet eager for the 2022 NCAA wrestling championships.
Bonaccorsi had wrapped up his junior season at the University of Pittsburgh with a 13-2 record, his first All-America trophy and a national runner-up showing in his debut as a 197-pound wrestler.
“I am extremely happy but by no means am I satisfied,” said the 22-year-old son of Melody and Mark Bonaccorsi. “I’m hungry now to get back there and get that gold.”
Gold eluded Bonaccorsi after he dropped a 4-2 decision to AJ Ferrari, a true freshman from Oklahoma State, in the NCAA 197-pound final.
In a disjointed match that featured several blood breaks by Ferrari and numerous out-of-bounds stoppages without stalling called, Bonaccorsi gave up the first takedown and never recovered.
Regardless of the officiating and the blood time, Bonaccorsi said he needed to get a takedown but didn’t.
“You need to earn it yourself,” he said. “Props to (Ferrari). I’m sure I’ll see him again. I’ll see a lot of these young guys in my weight again and they are tough. But at the end of the day, I gave it all I had.”
Bonaccorsi opened the NCAA tournament by defeating Nick Stemmet of Stanford and Jay Aiello from Virginia with major decisions of 15-2 and 13-3, respectively. He then set his sights on his quarterfinal bout, where All-Americans are determined.
“Just getting that status is hard to do because you have to be top eight and win in the quarterfinals,” Bonaccorsi said. “My main goal was to win because I wanted to be an All-American. Winning matches at that stage is an accomplishment.”
In the quarterfinals, Bonaccorsi defeated Arizona State’s Cordell Norfleet, 4-1.
“It was a high-pressure match with such high stakes, but I had a good mind-set,” said Bonaccorsi. “Some guys get nervous and cower down, but I love that atmosphere.”
Bonaccorsi did not enjoy battling his friend in the semifinals but he persisted and posted a 4-1 victory against Jake Woodley. A North Allegheny graduate, Woodley wrestles for Oklahoma. Bonaccorsi and Woodley were wrestling partners during their scholastic days.
“It was a little awkward wrestling him because we are good friends, but I had to put that to the side and focus on the match,” Bonaccorsi said. “Sure, I was happy that we were both All-Americans but I wanted more. I wanted to be in the finals.”
Bonaccorsi said there were “no words” to describe reaching the championship match and that it was a ‘surreal’ moment.
“It’s what you dream of but you know it just gets tougher and tougher with each match,” he said. “Just to get to the finals, a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I finally did it. Got myself there. My goal was within my grasp.”
Bonaccorsi has two years of eligibility left to attain a national title or two. He received an extra year of eligibility after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 NCAA championships to be canceled.
“I want to get back there and win. Nothing is expected and it’s going to be tough to do,” he said. “I have tons of support around me though. and got myself into this position by doing the right stuff; trusting and listening to myself, coaches and family and making the proper adjustments.
“It will take a similar effort because it’s still a goal. This is not the end. I’m grateful, but I’m not satisfied.”
Bonaccorsi was one of two NCAA finalists for Pitt. Jake Wentzel from South Park also secured runner-up honors. He lost to Stanford’s Shane Griffith 7-2 in the 165-pound championship match.
The Panthers finished 11th as a team with 40.5 points. It was Pitt’s best finish since 1970 and the first time in eight years the university had two All-Americans in the same season. Matt Wilps, a Chartiers Valley graduate, and Zac Thomusseit achieved the recognition in 2013.
The NCAA wrestling tournament was broadcast on ESPN and Bonaccorsi gave props to the network as well as the league.
“The NCAA does a real great job of hosting our tournament and ESPN does a great job,” he said. “Wrestling is a small community so it’s great to see our sport on the big stage. It’s awesome.”