---Release Courtesy of Pitt-Johnstown Sports Information---
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. --- The second-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers recognized the program's 2022-23 seniors, then went out and rolled to a 34-7 victory over 18^th-ranked Mercyhurst to claim their seventh consecutive PSAC Dual Meet Championship.  The Mountain Cats also wrapped-up their first undefeated since 1997-98 and finished the regular season at 15-0 overall and 7-0 in the PSAC.
 
After recognizing this year's seven seniors…Charlie Beatty (174 lbs.), Brock Biddle (184 lbs.), Jacob Burgette (174 lbs.), Dajauhn Hertzog (133 lbs.), Brock Leinbach (197 lbs.), Caleb Morris (141 lbs.), and Nate Smith (157 lbs.), the Mountain Cats took the mat looking for another PSAC crown.
 
At 125 lbs., No. 15 Trevon Gray got Pitt-Johnstown started with an 11-4 decision win over Billy Smith, before Mercyhurst's No. 2-ranked Eric Bartos defeated Byron Daubert, 7-1, at 133 lbs. to tie it.
 
The Mountain Cats quickly regained the lead, 6-3, when 12^th-ranked Caleb Morris used a riding time point to hold of 20^th-ranked Jake Neffenegger, 2-1, at 141 lbs., and top-ranked Jacob Ealy followed with his ninth technical fall win of the season.  Ealy secured the tech fall over Mike Zacur, 15-0 at 3:18 of the 149-lb. bout.
 
With the Mountain Cats leading, seventh-ranked Nate Smith picked up a 7-3 decision win over Max Stedeford at 157 lbs., and No. 15 Dillon Keane scored a 16-1 technical fall at 7:00 over Jaden Reagle at 165 lbs. to extend the lead to 19-3.
 
Pitt-Johnstown, which won seven of the final eight matches, sealed the PSAC title in the next bout.  Alex Weber, ranked 14^th at 174 lbs., erased an early deficit and knocked off fifth-ranked Dillon Walker, 9-6, to put the Mountain Cats up 22-9 and the match out of reach with just three bouts remaining.
 
Twelfth-ranked Brock Biddle pinned Chase Stein at 3:45 at 184 lbs. to record his 97th career victory and push it out to 28-3, before the Lakers got an 8-0 major decision win from No. 4 Luke McMonigal over No. 10 Dakoda Rodgers at 197 lbs.
 
However, Pitt-Johnstown's fifth-ranked Isaiah Vance closed the night out by pinning Mercyhurst's Mike DeLuca a 1:59 in the bout at 285 lbs. and set the final at 34-7.
 
With the loss, Mercyhurst finished the regular season at 9-7 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC.

Pitt-Johnstown will travel to the 2023 Super Region I Tournament at East Stroudsburg University, before competing at the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships in Cedar Rapids, IA on March 10 and 11.
 
No. 2 Pitt-Johnstown vs. No. 18 Mercyhurst – 02/10/23
125 lbs.  #15 Trevon Gray (UPJ)  Decision  Billy Smith (MU)  11-4  3-0 UPJ
133 lbs.  #2 Eric Bartos (MU)  Decision  Byron Daubert (UPJ)  7-1  3-3 TIE
141 lbs.  #12 Caleb Morris (UPJ)  Decision  #20 Jake Neffenegger (MU)  2-1  6-3 UPJ
149 lbs.  #1 Jacob Ealy (UPJ)  Technical Fall  Mike Zacur (MU)  15-0 (3:18)  11-3 UPJ
157 lbs.  #7 Nate Smith (UPJ)  Decision  Max Stedeford (MU)  7-3  14-3 UPJ
165 lbs.  #15 Dillon Keane (UPJ)  Technical Fall  Jaden Reagle (MU)  16-1 (7:00)  19-3 UPJ
174 lbs.  #14 Alex Weber (UPJ)  Decision  #5 Dillon Walker (MU)  9-6  22-3 UPJ
184 lbs.  #12 Brock Biddle (UPJ)  Fall  Chase Stein (MU)  3:45  28-3 UPJ
197 lbs.  #4 Luke McMonigal (MU)  Major Decision  #10 Dakoda Rodgers (UPJ)  8-0  28-7 UPJ
285 lbs.  #5 Isaiah Vance (UPJ)  Fall  Mike DeLuca (MU)  1:56  34-7 UPJ


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, California (Pa.), Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Gannon, Indiana (Pa.), Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Mercyhurst, Millersville, Pitt-Johnstown, Seton Hill, Shepherd, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.