#3 Pitt-Johnstown Claims PSAC Dual Meet Championship
Courtesy of Pitt-Johnstown Sports Information
After recognizing its Alumni and honoring this year's senior class, the third-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers battled back to defeat seventh-ranked Mercyhurst, 24-12, to earn their first PSAC Dual Meet Championship, Saturday night in the Sports Center. Pitt-Johnstown closed out the regular season at 15-1 overall and 7-0 in the PSAC.
The Mountain Cats fell behind, 12-7 midway through the match, but won the final five bouts, including victories by
Tyler Reinhart (165 lbs.) and
John Blankenship (174 lbs.) over the second and third-ranked wrestlers in the country, to erase the five point deficit.
In the opening bout at 125 lbs. Pitt-Johnstown's third-ranked
Evan Link opened up a 4-0 lead over fourth-ranked Willie Bohince, but Bohince battled back to tie it at five and force overtime with a pair of stalling points. In the extra
The Mountain Cats bounced right back. Sixth-ranked
Nick Roberts build an 8-0 lead and went on to an 11-3 major decision over Kevin Kinyua at 133 lbs., and eighth-ranked
Sam Hanau won a 6-0 decision over Joey Miller at 141 lbs. to make it 7-3 Pitt-Johnstown.
The Lakers got a fall from Joel Bowers over
Travis Shaffer at 1:35 in the 149-lb. bout to regain the lead by two.
Then, at 157 lbs. Keller Watkins erased a 2-0 deficit with a takedown and four back points in the final 10 seconds of the third period to defeat
Devin Austin 6-2 and increase the Mercyhurst lead to 12-7.
The Mountain Cats returned the favor at 165 lbs. when Reinhart got a reversal and back points to pick up five points in the last 10 second to upset second-ranked Francis Mizia at 165 lbs.
The win sparked the Mountain Cats. Blankenship followed it with a 7-2 win over third-ranked August Mizia at 174 to give the lead back to Pitt-Johnstown at 13-12, and second-ranked
Travis McKillop pushed it out to 18-13 with a 17-0 technical fall 32 seconds into the second period over Angelo Bortoluzzi.
The Mountain Cats sealed the PSAC Championship in exciting fashion.
Jacob Hart used a takedown 23 seconds into overtime to down over Jamar Henry, 7-5 to make it 21-12 and put the match out of reach.
Pitt-Johnstown closed out the 24-12 victory with second-ranked
D.J. Sims' 6-3 decision over Andy Welton at 285 lbs.
With the loss, Mercyhurst slipped to 11-4 overall and 6-1 in the PSAC.
vs. #7 Mercyhurst University
125 lbs. #4 Willie Bohince (MU) Decision
#3 Evan Link (UPJ) 6-5 OT
3-0 MU
133 lbs.
#6 Nick Roberts (UPJ) Major Decision Kevin Kinyua (MU) 11-3
4-3 UPJ
141 lbs.
#8 Sam Hanau (UPJ) Decision Joey Miller (MU) 6-0
7-3 UPJ
149 lbs. Joel Bowers (MU) Fall
Travis Shaffer (UPJ) 1:36
9-7 MU
157 lbs. Keller Watkins (MU) Decision
Devin Austin (UPJ) 6-2
12-7 MU
165 lbs.
Tyler Reinhart (UPJ) Decision #2 Francis Mizia (MU) 5-3
12-10 MU
174 lbs.
John Blankenship (UPJ) Decision #3 August Mizia (MU) 7-2
13-12 UPJ
184 lbs
. #2 Travis McKillop (UPJ) Technical Fall Angelo Bortoluzzi (MU) 17-0 (3:32)
18-12 UPJ
197 lbs.
Jacob Hart (UPJ) Decision Jamar Henry (MU) 7-5 OT
21-12 UPJ
285 lbs.
#2 D.J. Sims (UPJ) Decision Andy Welton (MU) 6-3
24-12 UPJ