Dunn Jr., Walker, and Pecora Highlight All-PSAC Wrestling Teams
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- Kutztown’s Andrew Dunn Jr., Mercyhurst’s Dillon Walker and Pitt-Johnstown’s Pat Pecora all garnered major awards for the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Teams, the league office announced Wednesday. Along with the major award winners, First, Second, and Third-Team All-Conference selections were announced.
All-conference teams and major award winners are decided by a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Dunn Jr. captures his second consecutive Athlete of the Year honor after earning it in 2019-20. Dunn Jr. dominated the 285-weight class once again this season in the PSAC, while also becoming the DII runner-up at the 2022 NCAA DII Championships in St. Louis. Dunn Jr. is in elite company in Kutztown history as one of three three-time All-Americans following this season. In three seasons for the Golden Bears, he’s recorded a 69-3 overall record (.958), a 61-match winning streak, three Super Region 1 Titles and the 2019 National Title.
Mercyhurst’s Dillon Walker earned Rookie of the Year honors following a great first season for the Lakers. Walker, a Freshman from Cincinnati, Ohio, placed fifth at NCAA DII Nationals at 174lbs. He earned All-American honors after the fifth-place finish and finishing the year with a 31-8 overall mark. Walker is the first Mercyhurst Laker to win PSAC Rookie of the Year since Eric Bartos did back in 2017-18.
Pat Pecora led the Mountain Cats to yet another outstanding season. He captures back-to-back Coach of the Year honors in the PSAC. Pecora earns the conference Coach of the Year after being announced as the NCAA DII National Wrestling Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career. Pecora led the Mountain Cats to a 3-1 dual meet record this season and the program’s 24th NCAA Regional Title. UPJ earned its sixth consecutive conference championship and he coached six Mountain Cats to qualify for the National Championships.
UPJ had the most first-team honorees on the all-conference teams with four, while they tallied five overall all-conference members. Gannon had the most overall all-conference members with seven spread across all three teams. For the full list of All-PSAC teams, see the squads below:
PSAC Wrestling Major Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Andrew Dunn Jr., Kutztown
Rookie of the Year: Dillon Walker, Mercyhurst
Coach of the Year: Pat Pecora, Pitt-Johnstown
PSAC WRESTLING FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| Wt. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| 125 |
Tyshawn White |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
Harrisburg, Pa. / Clarion |
| 133 |
Collin Wickramaratna |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Marlton, N.J. / Cherokee |
| 141 |
Caleb Morris |
Pitt-Johnstown |
So. |
Waynesburg, W.Va. / Waynesburg |
| 149 |
Jacob Ealy |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-So. |
Aliquippa, Pa. / Hopewell |
| 157 |
Nate Smith |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-So. |
Murrysville, Pa. / Franklin Regional |
| 165 |
Dillon Keane |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Fr. |
McKean, Pa. / Bradford |
| 174 |
Dillon Walker |
Mercyhurst |
Fr. |
Cincinnati, Ohio / Lasalle High School |
| 184 |
Matt Weinberg |
Kutztown |
Fr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan |
| 197 |
Joel Leise |
Gannon |
R-Jr. |
Transfer, Pa. / Reynolds |
| 285 |
Andrew Dunn Jr. |
Kutztown |
Gr. |
Bethlehem, Pa. / Bethlehem Catholic |
PSAC WRESTLING SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| Wt. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| 125 |
Jacob Dunlop |
Gannon |
Sr. |
Rostraver Township, Pa. / Belle Vernon |
| 133 |
Devin Flannery |
Millersville |
R-So. |
Wantage, N.J. / High Point Regional |
| 141 |
Alexis Soriano |
Mercyhurst |
Gr. |
Perth Amboy, N.J. / Perth Emboy |
| 149 |
Dom Means |
Gannon |
R-Jr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic |
| 157 |
Nick Young |
Gannon |
Jr. |
Batavia, N.Y. / Alexander |
| 165 |
Evan Fisler |
Gannon |
R-Jr. |
Sewell, N.J. / Washington Township |
| 174 |
Joey Petrella |
Gannon |
Fr. |
Reynoldsville, Ohio / Bishop Hartley |
| 184 |
Anthony Giampietro |
Millersville |
R-So. |
Columbus, N.J. / North Burlington |
| 197 |
Brian Kennerly |
Kutztown |
Gr. |
Drexel Hill, Pa. / Upper Darby |
| 285 |
Jacob Robb |
Mercyhurst |
Gr. |
Kittanning, Pa. / Armstrong |
PSAC WRESTLING THIRD TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| Wt. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| 125 |
Matt Wilde |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Boyertown, Pa. / Boyertown |
| 133 |
Eric Bartos |
Mercyhurst |
R-Jr. |
Valley City, Ohio / Buckeye |
| 141 |
Joel Cawoski |
Seton Hill |
R-Sr. |
Latrobe, Pa. / Greater Latrobe |
| 149 |
Mike Zacur |
Mercyhurst |
Fr. |
Jefferson Hills, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson |
| 157 |
Max Stedeford |
Mercyhurst |
Fr. |
Sewickley, Pa. / North Allegheny |
| 165 |
Brandon Connor |
Millersville |
R-So. |
Sinking Spring, Pa. / Wilson |
| 174 |
Brock Biddle |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Jr. |
Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg |
| 184 |
Brandon Matthews |
Seton Hill |
Jr. |
Venetia, Pa. / Peters Township |
| 197 |
Dakoda Rodgers |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Fr. |
Connellsville, Pa. / Connellsville |
| 285 |
Freddie Nixon |
Gannon |
Sr. |
Buffalo, N.Y. / St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute |
ABOUT THE PSAC
Headquartered in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division II Conference comprised of 18 institutions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The member institutions are Bloomsburg University, California University of Pennsylvania, Clarion University, East Stroudsburg University, Edinboro University, Gannon University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown University, Lock Haven University, Mansfield University, Mercyhurst University, Millersville University, The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Seton Hill University, Shepherd University, Shippensburg University, Slippery Rock University and West Chester University.