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No. 11 Pitt-Johnstown Wins Third Straight PSAC Title With 32-10 Win Over Mercyhurst

Friday, February 9, 2018 8:57 PM

Credit UPJ Sports Info

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. --- The No. 11 Mountain Cats wrestlers fell behind after two bouts, but rallied with five straight wins, including a pair of falls and Corery Falleroni's decision over No. 12Logan Grass at 149 lbs,. to claim their third straight PSAC Dual Meet Championships with a 32-10 victory over Mercyhurst University, Friday night in the Sports Center, in Johnstown, Pa.

Brendan Howard's 7-3 decision over region No. 4 Eric Bartos to open the match at 125 lbs., gave the Mountain Cats an quick lead, but Mercyhurst answered right back when Alexis Soriano pinned Sam Holandez at 1:19.
 
Pitt-Johnstown then began to take control.  At 141 lbs., No. 4Chris Eddins dealt Region No. 6 Kevin Kinyua a 9-0 major decision loss, and Falleroni upset national qualifier and No. 12 Logan Grass, 4-2, at 149 lbs.
 
The Mountain Cats then got a fall at 1:22 from No. 2 Cody Law at 157 lbs. to push the lead into double figures midway through the match, before Devin Austin 14-4 major decision over Gavin Wilkinson at 165 lbs. made it 20-6.
 
Another Pitt-Johnstown fall, this one by Steve Edwards over Trevor Johnson at 2:41 put the Mountain Cats in front 26-6 and seal the program's third consecutive PSAC Dual Meet title.
 
Mercyhurst snapped Pitt-Johnstown's win streak at five when Dakota DesLauriers secured a 12-4 major decision over Alex Delp at 184 lbs.
 
However, Pitt-Johnstown closed it out with an 8-2 win by No. 7 Levi Niebauer over No. 19 Wes Phipps at 197 lbs., and D.J. Sims' took advantage of four back points late in the first overtime to defeat Jacob Robb, 5-1, and set the final at 32-10.
 
With the loss, the Lakers fell to 11-1 overall and 5-1 in the PSAC.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will host the 2018 Super Region I Tournament on February 23-24 in the Sports Center, before traveling to Cedar Rapids, IA for the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championships on March 9-10.