No. 5 Pitt-Johnstown, No. 8 Kutztown and Gannon Claim Share of PSAC DII Wrestling Dual Championship
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- No. 5 Pitt-Johnstown, No. 8 Kutztown and Gannon claimed a share of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Division II Dual Wrestling Championship following the conclusion of league play Thursday evening.
This marks the seventh year that the PSAC has recognized a dual champion and the first time without an outright champion. All three teams finished with a 6-1 record against league competition.
Pitt-Johnstown now has four PSAC titles, having won outright crowns in the past three seasons, while Kutztown and Gannon are claiming the top spot for the first time. Mercyhurst earned champion status in the first three years of the dual format.
Pitt-Johnstown suffered its lone PSAC loss to Gannon, a 22-15 decision that ended its 24-match winning streak in league dual matches. The Mountain Cats have finished first or second in five of their six seasons since joining the PSAC. They registered a 16-3 overall record and have four wrestlers ranked in the top 12 of their respective weight classes entering the postseason.
Kutztown finished the regular season with a 14-1 mark and held opponents to single digits in nine matches. The Golden Bears lone loss came to Pitt-Johnstown, 23-15, in their first dual match of the season. Three Kutztown wrestlers rank in the top 12 of their weight classes, including 184-pounder Jeff Reimel, who is ranked No. 1.
Gannon closed out its season with a tightly-contested 19-18 triumph over crosstown rival Mercyhurst to claim a share of the PSAC crown. The Golden Knights concluded the regular season with a 7-3 mark, led by 157-pound George McGuire, who ranks No. 5 in his weight class.
All three will join the rest of the PSAC’s Division II teams when they participate in NCAA II Super Region 1 action February 23 at Mercyhurst University. The top three finishers of each weight class will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Division II Championships.