2023 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

March 18, 2023

Nino Bonaccorsi

BOK Center

Finals Media Conference

197 pounds

Q. Nino, national champion. Nino, how does that feel? What are your emotions?

NINO BONACCORSI: I dreamed of this moment. You have no idea, every single day. And I can't believe it. I put so much effort. I have no words. I'm just so blessed and grateful. And I can't believe I'm sitting here right now.

Q. Not just for you but for the university, you've been such a big part of the program, your family, what does it mean to you to bring a national championship back home?

NINO BONACCORSI: This means everything to me. I was born in Pittsburgh. I'm 20 minutes from Pitt. That's my hometown. I grew up there going to Steeler games, wrestling matches when I was 8, 9, 10 years old.

I always dreamed of wrestling at Pitt and winning a national title. And what better place to do it than my -- basically my backyard school. I can't believe it.

Q. You started out, how were you able to stay composed (indiscernible)?

NINO BONACCORSI: It's all about just continuing to wrestle my match. There's been problems in my career where I put so much emphasis into wins and losses that when stuff isn't going my way, I kind of will panic a little bit and worry about it because I want to win so bad.

But this past year I just worried about not worrying about what the score is and not even worrying about winning or losing, just continuing to wrestle my way. And that's hard every minute no matter where the score is, down 8-0, up 8-0 and I'm always trying to win the next point and it worked out.

Q. Tell us about your dad.

NINO BONACCORSI: My dad has been there for -- he's my number one guy. He's my support. He's been my coach since I started wrestling. I remember going to youth practice. I remember him teaching me how to do a single leg. And there I hit a single leg to win the national title.

So it's full circle. He's my best friend and this is all -- couldn't have done it without him.

Q. You talked about your relationship with (indiscernible) did he help with your development?

NINO BONACCORSI: Yeah, he's also one of those guys, I went to -- Sunny Abe, went to Pit Bull growing up, and he would always come in and show his arm drags. And now that I was able to wrestle for him when he first got to Pitt, that was my first year too. So we learned this whole process together.

And he was the last national champ and we always talked about getting the next one and you could win at Pitt and I told him I would do it.

And me and him work so hard together. We worked every single day. He's my best partner. This is, it's great to do that for him.

Q. You mentioned he was the last champ. You guys have a lot in common. Neither of you won a (indiscernible) state championship, but you both won national championships. What's that like?

NINO BONACCORSI: It's great. We always talked about that it's about getting better every day. It's not what you were. It's about the daily process of just trying to get better every day. And that's what me and him had a similar bond. And we love this sport just because of that aspect of you can go in and hone your craft and see visible results every day.

So we do have a lot in common. While he was the last national champ, I'm his first national champ at Pitt. It was awesome.

Q. You talked about winning ugly and you're doing whatever you need to ride. That riding time, how you big was that for you this time? You didn't have to worry about it in the third period.

NINO BONACCORSI: I know he was tough on top. And like I was saying yesterday, I worked on being stingy on top. While I might not be the most technically best style rider, I certainly try to be stingy and try to wear on you a bit. But as the match went on I could feel it go a little bit in my favor.

When I got that riding time it was essentially tied I'm going to take it to where I do best and I think that's neutral. I trusted myself to get that takedown got it done.

Q. Your brother Nick wrestled at Pitt. Is he going to start showing you some respect (inaudible)?

NINO BONACCORSI: I don't know about that. We'll certainly still have our wrestling battles in the living room and move some furniture around. He's my best friend. If there's anyone who knew how I felt going through all this, it's him. Maybe now I could start getting that bigger halves of things, not big brother anymore. Get a little equal treatment.

Q. With this national title, how do you hope to help to get some kids from your area stay at Pitt, the dream of winning a national title?

NINO BONACCORSI: No brainer that Pennsylvania is the best wrestling state, let alone the Pittsburgh area. It's the hotbed of wrestling. And I think just over these past few years, with Keith coming in and just our culture as a team and we're having individuals place high, we're doing well in team aspects, you don't need to travel far to be an elite level school and win national titles.

And for guys outside the state of Pittsburgh, you can come here and win. It doesn't have to be any big top 10 programs, these big conferences. You can come to the ACC, could many to Pitt, and your dreams will come true.