With eight starters returning to the line-up, including a 2016 National Champion, an All-American, and four other National Qualifiers, 42^nd-year Head Coach Pat Pecora and his 2017-18 Mountain Cat wrestlers have set some big goals for themselves.
            Pitt-Johnstown, ranked sixth in the National Wrestling Coaches' Association (NWCA) Preseason Poll, returns both All-Americans from a year ago in seniors Cody Law (Windber, Pa./Forest Hills HS) and Tyler Reinhart (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem HS).  Reinhart also won a national title at 165 lbs. in 2016.
            Two-time National Qualifier D.J. Sims (Aliquippa, Pa/Aliquippa HS) returns at 285 lbs., while 2017 National Qualifiers Chris Eddins (141 lbs.) (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem HS) and Levi Niebauer (184 lbs.) (Carrolltown, Pa./Cambria Heights HS) are also back.
          With the gap left by three-time National Qualifier John Blankenship at 174 lbs., Reinhart is expected to moved up a weight class and 2016 National Qualifier Devin Austin (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford HS) will take over at 165 lbs. after red-shirting a year ago.
    Senior Sam Holandez (Carson, CA/Carson HS), who transferred to Pitt-Johnstown from Bloomsburg University prior to the 2016-17 season, is slated to be the starter at 125 lbs.  Holandez recorded three falls and wrestled at the Super Region I Tournament for the Mountain Cats.  Behind Holandez are two freshmen in 2017 PIAA State Qualifiers Dylan Williams (Schellsburg, Pa./Chestnut Ridge HS), and three-time Sectional Place-Winner Matt Siszka (Leechburg, Pa./Kiski HS.).
  Pitt-Johnstown has talent, but lacks experience 133 lbs.  Sophomore Noah Burkhart (Erie, Pa./Erie McDowell HS), a 2015 PIAA AAA State Qualifier, looks to be the front-runner, but could be pushed by red-shirt freshman and 2016 PIAA District 9 Champion Josiah McClarren (West Decatur, Pa./Clearfield HS).  Freshmen in this weight class include: two-time State Qualifier and 2017 PIAA State Place-Winner (7^th) Noah Myers (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County HS) and 2017 PIAA State Qualifier Dillan Jeffrey (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell HS).
  Sophomore Chris Eddins looks to take the next step in his college career after bursting onto the scene and winning a regional title and advancing to the National Tournament in 2016-17 as a true freshman.  Eddins, who also finished fourth in his first PSAC Championships, wrapped-up his first season at 27-10 overall and 12-3 in dual meets.    Freshmen in this weight class are 2017 PIAA State Qualifiers Zach Clark (Everett, Pa./Northern Bedford HS) and Dominic Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic HS).
  At 149 lbs., Corey Falleroni (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell HS) returns after taking over the starting job midway through the 2016-17 season.  Falleroni wrestled the final seven dual meets and represented the Mountain Cats at both the PSAC Championships and the Super Region I Tournament.  Junior Tanner Cahill (Berlin, Pa./Conemaugh Township HS) will move up to this weight class after recording five falls in spot starts at 133 lbs. last season.  Cahill and Justin Smith (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford HS), who transferred to Pitt-Johnstown from Seton Hill University a year ago, will push Falleroni for time in this weight class, while freshmen in this weight class include Sean Agnello (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne HS) and Anthony Colello (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area HS).
  Penn State University transfer Cody Law (Windber, Pa./Forest Hills HS) returns at 157 lbs. after a dominating junior season at Pitt-Johnstown.  Law, the top-ranked wrestler in this weight class for much of the 2016-17 season, went 30-1 overall and a perfect 11-0 in dual meets on his way to winning a Super Region I Championship and placing fourth at the National Tournament.  He led the Mountain Cats with nine wins by technical fall.  Law also won titles at the PSAC Championships and the Midwest Classic.  Jacob Smith (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford HS), Justin's twin brother, will be a newcomer for the Mountain Cats, and red-shirt freshman Gage Thomas (Glenville, Pa./Southwestern HS) will also look to get time compete for time.    Freshmen in this weight class include: three-time PIAA State Qualifier and 2017 State Place-winner (4^th) Brock Biddle (Martinsburg, Pa./Central Martinsburg HS), 2017 PIAA State place-winner (6^th) Morgan Deremer (Alum Bank, Pa./Chestnut Ridge HS), PIAA State Qualifier Logan Witwicki (Carnegie, Pa./Carlnyton HS), and Sam Rocazella (Chardon, OH/Chardon HS).
  After qualifying for the National Tournament at 157 lbs. as a true freshman two years ago, then red-shirting in 2016-17, Devin Austin (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford HS) is expected to take over the starting spot at 165 lbs.  Austin was 17-11 overall and 10-4 in dual meets and placed third at the 2016 Super Region I Tournament.  Sophomore Bryce Fochtman (Berlin, Pa./Berlin Brothersvalley HS) returns to the Mountain Cats and moved up to this weight class from 157 lbs. and Kiernan Kelly (York Haven, Pa./Red Land HS) and Tony Welsh (Fredericktown, Pa./Beth Center HS) will make their Pitt-Johnstown debuts after red-shirting as freshman last season.  A freshman in this weight class is Bryce Biddle (Martinsburg, Pa./Central Martinsburg HS).
  Two-time All-American and 2016 National Champion Tyler Reinhart will move up a weight class from 165 lbs. to fill the gap left by the graduation of John Blankenship.  Reinhart posted a 23-6 overall record and 9-1 mark in dual meets as a junior in 2016-17.  He finished third at the Super Region I Tournament and seventh at the NCAA National Championships.  Reinhart was also the runner-up at both the PSAC Championships and the Midwest Classic.  Red-Shirt freshmen Jake Driskel (Loretto, Pa./Penn Cambria HS) and Brodie Englert (York Haven, Pa./Red Land HS), will also look for mat-time.  Freshmen in this weight class are 2017 PIAA AA State Qualifiers Tanner Vogel (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area HS) and Emorson Wentz (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff HS).
  At 184 lbs., sophomore Levi Niebauer is back after taking over the starting job as a true freshman and advancing to the National Tournament.  Niebauer finished with a 19-15 overall record and a 10-5 dual meet record and placed fourth at the Super Region I Tournament.  Niebauer will be pushed by junior Steve Edwards (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell HS) for the starting job after sharing time at 165 lbs. a year ago. Sophomore Mike Geyer (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland HS) and red-shirt freshman Nate Claar (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis HS) will look to compete for time with Niebauer and Edwards.  Englert can also wrestle at 184 lbs. if needed.  Freshmen in this weight class include: two-time PIAA AA State Place-winner (6^th, 8^th) Christian Hutzell (Meyersdale, Pa./Meyersdale Area HS) and Wentz if he does not wrestle at 174 lbs.
  The Mountain Cats will get a new look at 197 lbs. with West Virginia University transfer Conner Buttry (Osterburg, Pa./Chestnut Ridge HS) expected to win the starting spot.  Buttry, a former two-time PIAA AA State Place-winner with 3^rd and 6^th-place finishes, wrestled one season for the Mountaineers before joining Pitt-Johnstown this year.  If Buttry does not take over the starting job at 197 lbs., Niebauer is expected to move up one weight class, opening the 184-lbs. spot for Edwards.  A freshman in this weight class is Brinton Simington (Altoona, Pa.).  Hutzell and Wentz could also move up from 184 lbs. to wrestle at 197 lbs.
  Pitt-Johnstown has a pair of talented wrestlers at 285 lbs. in two-time national Qualifier D.J. Sims and Allan Beattie (New Kensington, Pa./Burrell HS).  Sims, who qualified for the National Tournament in both 2015 and 2016, was 16-7 overall and 6-4 in dual meets with five falls last year.  Beattie, who split time with Sims was 7-5 overall and 5-1 with four falls in dual meets.