LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – A trio from the Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team earned the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s 2023-24 Wrestling Major Awards, as announced on Thursday afternoon. Jacob Ealy was named Athlete of the Year, Cooper Warshel was selected as Freshman of the Year, and head coach Pat Pecora earned Coach of the Year honors for the fourth consecutive season. Along with the Major Award winners, First, Second, and Third-Team All-Conference selections were also announced.
All-Conference teams and Major Award winners are decided by a vote of the conference’s head coaches.
Pitt-Johnstown senior Jacob Ealy captures the Athlete of the Year honor after an incredible season and a Division II national championship at 149 pounds. He totaled an overall record of 31-2 and added a Super Region 1 championship, a perfect 7-0 record in PSAC dual meets, and earned his fourth All-America honor. He has won 113 matches in his UPJ career and was also named the PSAC Freshman of the Year back in 2019-20.
Another Mountain Cat, Cooper Warshel, earns Freshman of the Year honors following a breakout first season and a Super Region 1 championship at 157 pounds. He finished 1-2 at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, compiled a record of 21-7, and was 6-1 in PSAC dual meets.
Pat Pecora earns his fourth consecutive conference Coach of the Year honor and fifth of his career after guiding the Mountain Cats to an eighth consecutive PSAC dual meet championship. Pecora was again a finalist from Super Region 1 for the NCWA Division II Men's Wrestling Coach of the Year award and led Pitt-Johnstown to a 7-0 conference dual meet record (15-2 overall), a second-place team finish at the NCAA Super Region 1 Championships, and had six wrestlers earn qualification for the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Gannon University led the way with a total of eight All-Conference selections across the three teams. Pitt-Johnstown followed with seven selections but boasts the most First Team selections of any institution with four.
Find a complete list of the 2023-24 PSAC Wrestling All-Conference teams below.
2023-24 PSAC Wrestling Major Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Jacob Ealy, Pitt-Johnstown
Freshman of the Year: Cooper Warshel, Pitt-Johnstown
Coach of the Year: Pat Pecora, Pitt-Johnstown
PSAC WRESTLING FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| Wt. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| 125 |
Trevon Gray * |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-So. |
Chesapeake, VA / Oscar F. Smith |
| 133 |
Devin Flannery ^^ |
Millersville |
R-Sr. |
Wantage, N.J. / High Point Regional |
| 141 |
Jake Niffenegger * |
Mercyhurst |
So. |
Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle High |
| 149 |
Jacob Ealy *** |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Sr. |
Aliquippa, Pa. / Hopewell |
| 157 |
Bailey Gimbor |
Kutztown |
R-So. |
Bernville, Pa. / Hamburg |
| 165 |
Nick Coreno |
Gannon |
Sr. |
Willoughby, Ohio / Lake Catholic |
| 174 |
Cole Hivnor # |
Gannon |
R-So. |
Painesville, Ohio / Lake Catholic |
| 184 |
Matt Weinberg ** |
Kutztown |
R-Jr. |
Philadelphia, Pa. / Archbishop Ryan |
| 197 |
Dakoda Rodgers ## |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Jr. |
Acme, Pa. / Connellsville Area |
| 285 |
Isaiah Vance ^ |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-So. |
New Stanton, PA / Hempfield |
PSAC WRESTLING SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| Wt. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| 125 |
Jose Diaz^ |
Gannon |
Gr. |
Valparaiso, Ind. / Wheeler |
| 133 |
Jeremiah Echevarria |
Gannon |
R-So. |
Long Beach, N.Y. / Long Beach |
| 141 |
Mason Myers |
Pitt-Johnstown |
Jr. |
York Pa. / Central York |
| 149 |
Craig Cook # |
Millersville |
R-Sr. |
Burlington, N.J. / Burlington Township |
| 157 |
Cooper Warshel |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Fr. |
Johnstown, Pa. / Richland |
| 165 |
Dalton Gimbor # |
Kutztown |
R-So. |
Bernville, Pa. / Hamburg |
| 174 |
Kane Kettering |
Seton Hill |
So. |
Transfer, Pa. / Reynolds |
| 184 |
Cole Casilio ^ |
Gannon |
R-So. |
Wilcox, Pa. / Johnsonburg Area |
| 197 |
Trever Begin |
Mercyhurst |
Gr. |
Grafton, Ohio / Midview |
| 285 |
Matt Long |
Gannon |
R-Jr. |
Corry, Pa. / Union City |
PSAC WRESTLING THIRD TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
| Wt. |
Name |
School |
Cl. |
Hometown / Previous School |
| 125 |
William Burgess |
Seton Hill |
Gr. |
Union City, Pa. / Union City |
| 133 |
Byron Daubert |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Jr. |
Summerhill, Pa. / Forest Hills |
| 141 |
Caleb Chaves |
Gannon |
R-So. |
Odenton, Md. / Arundel |
| 149 |
Jimmy Ryan # |
Gannon |
R-Jr. |
Staten Island, N.Y. / Monsignor Farrell |
| 157 |
Ethan Richner |
Gannon |
R-So. |
Bellefonte, Pa. / Bellefonte Area |
| 165 |
Brandon Connor ^ # |
Millersville |
R-Sr. |
Sinking Spring, Pa. / Wilson |
| 174 |
Jonathan Parrilla |
Millersville |
R-Sr. |
Santa Ana, Puerto Rico / Gabriela Mistral |
| 184 |
Anthony Giampietro |
Millersville |
R-Sr. |
Columbus, N.J. / North Burlington |
| 197 |
Riley O’Boyle |
Millersville |
Fr. |
Manahawkin, N.J. / Southern Regional |
| 285 |
Layton Schmick |
East Stroudsburg |
Fr. |
Carlisle, Pa. / Carlisle |
* Indicates previous First Team All-PSAC selection
^ Indicates previous Second Team All-PSAC selection
# Indicates previous Third Team All-PSAC selection