Pitt celebrates NCAA wrestling champion Nino Bonaccorsi with 'Nino's Natty Lunch'
The Bethel Park native chows down on Primanti sandwiches and Millie's ice cream after bringing home a national wrestling championship.
The Bethel Park native chows down on Primanti sandwiches and Millie's ice cream after bringing home a national wrestling championship.
The Bethel Park native chows down on Primanti sandwiches and Millie's ice cream after bringing home a national wrestling championship.
Nino Bonaccorsi is Pittsburgh's newest champion, finishing a perfect senior season with a national wrestling title.
On Thursday, Pitt celebrated Bonaccorsi's NCAA championship with "Nino's Natty Lunch" — Primanti Bros. sandwiches and Millie's ice cream, as chosen by the Bethel Park native himself.
"I love everything Pittsburgh, except for the word 'yinz.' I don't say that," Bonaccorsi said with a laugh. "But you know, Primanti's, just all these local businesses and all these Pittsburgh brands, because this is my backyard."
The champ was able to chow down after a season of making weight and making history, winning Pitt's first national wrestling crown since his head coach, Keith Gavin, did it 15 years ago.
"This is a special place for wrestling because this is somewhere where that can happen. We're in a very good wrestling area, and you could stay home and kind of be the hometown hero like Nino is," Gavin said.
After his victory in the 197-pound final in Oklahoma last weekend, Bonaccorsi has received a hero's welcome. The victory lights at Pitt's Cathedral of Learning were lit in his honor, and he took the trophy home to Bethel Park.
"What's kind of really sticking out to me is when I got to go home and see my family, because they drove from Tulsa and drove all the way back, so when I got home and gave them that trophy, we all kind of gave a big hug. It was real emotional," Bonaccorsi said.
He may not be done stocking his trophy case. Bonaccorsi is a finalist for the Dan Hodge Trophy, college wrestling's version of the Heisman.
"Obviously, I'm surrounded by such great names. It's really an honor. It would mean a lot to me if I get that trophy," Bonaccorsi said.