Head Coach Pat Pecora and the Pitt-Johnstown wrestling program have added 18 new wrestlers, including five former Pennsylvania State place-winners and eight other state qualifiers, for the 2017-18 season.  Among them is Chestnut Ridge High School graduate and West Virginia University transfer Conner Buttry (Osterburg, Pa.) a three-time PIAA AA State Qualifier and a third-place state finisher in 2015.
 
"Every year you try to accomplish two objectives…one is to have wrestlers coming in who will have immediate impacts, and the second is to secure the future with potential impact wrestlers." Coach Pecora said.  "I believe this year's class accomplishes both."
  
Buttry, who was 136-27 in his career at Chestnut Ridge High School, began his collegiate wrestling career at West Virginia University after being a three-time PIAA AA State Qualifier and a third-place finisher in 2015. 
 
Along with Buttry, Pitt-Johnstown also added place-winners Brock Biddle (Martinsburg, Pa./Central Martinsburg HS), Morgan Deremer (Alum Bank, Pa./Chestnut Ridge HS), Christian Hutzell (Meyersdale, Pa./Meyersdale Area HS), and Noah Myers (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County HS) in this year's recruiting class.

Biddle was a three-time PIAA AA State Qualifier who placed fourth as a senior in 2016.  He finished his career with a 129-26 overall record.

Deremer, a PIAA AA sixth-place finisher in 2017, was a two-time state qualifier who posted a 118-44 career record at Chestnut Ridge.

Hutzell posted a 104-45 career record at Meyersdale Area High School and placed sixth and eighth at the PIAA AA State Tournament.

Myers, 93-42 in his career, reached the PIAA AAA State Tournament in 2016 and 2017, and placed seventh as a junior in 2016.
     
Gage Arnold (Coudersport, Pa./Coudersport HS) was a three-time PIAA AA State Qualifier, while Zach Clark (Everett, Pa./Northern Bedford HS), Dillan Jeffrey (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell HS), Dominic Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic HS), Tanner Vogel (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area HS), Emorson Wentz (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff HS), Dylan Williams (Schellsburg, Pa./Chestnut Ridge HS), and Logan Witwicki (Carnegie, Pa./Carlynton HS) were also Pennsylvania State Qualifiers.
 
Five others will also join the squad in 2017-18, including Sean Agnello (Hawthorn, NJ/Hawthorne HS), Bryce Biddle (Martinsburg, Pa./Central Martinsburg HS), Anthony Colello (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield HS), Sam Rocazella (Chardon, OH/Chardon HS), and Matt Siszka (Leechburg, Pa./Kiski HS).

Below is an Alphabetical List of the 2017-18 Pitt-Johnstown Wrestling Recruits
NAME                                         HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL         PROJ. WT.    CAREER RECORD                                H.S. HONORS
Sean Agnello                                  Hawthorne, NJ / Hawthorne             149 lbs.               90-34     
Gage Arnold                             Coudersport, Pa. / Coudersport             165 lbs.              103-38                        3-time PA AA State Qualifier
Brock Biddle                  Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg             157 lbs.              129-26  3-time AA State Qual./2017 State Place 4^th
Bryce Biddle                  Martinsburg, Pa. / Central Martinsburg             165 lbs.                71-26                 
Conner Buttry               Osterburg, Pa. / Chestnut Ridge / WVU             197 lbs.            136-27   3-time AA State Qual./2015 State Place 3^rd
Zach Clark                                Everett, Pa. / Northern Bedford             141 lbs.               97-33                            2017 PA AA State Qualifier
Anthony Colello                            Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield             149 lbs.               46-15
Morgan Deremer                    Alum Bank, Pa. / Chestnut Ridge             165 lbs.             118-44                        PIAA PA AA State Place (6^th)
Dillan Jeffrey                                    Lower Burrell, Pa. / Burrell         125/133 lbs.            99-66                            2017 PA AA State Qualifier
Christian Hutzell                 Meyersdale, Pa. / Meyersdale Area         184/197 lbs.           104-45           2x PA AA State Place Winner (6^th, 8^th)
Dominic Means                      Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic         141/149 lbs.            69-16                          2017 PA AAA State Qualifier
Noah Myers                              Lewistown, Pa. / Mifflin County             133 lbs.               93-42     2-time AA State Qual./State Place 7^th 2016
Sam Rocazella                                    Chardon, OH / Chardon             157 lbs.              125-42
Matt Siszka                                         Leechburg, Pa.  / Kiski             133 lbs.               83-44                            3-time Section Place-Winner
Tanner Vogel                   Wyomissing, Pa. / Wyomissing Area             165 lbs.               84-56                               2017 PA AA State Qualifier
Emorson Wentz                            Camp Hill, Pa.  / Cedar Cliff           184/197 lbs.           75-28                             2017 PA AAA State Qualifier
Dylan Williams                     Schellsburg, Pa. / Chestnut Ridge             125 lbs.               84-27                               2017 PA AA State Qualifier
Logan Witwicki                                 Carnegie, Pa. / Carlnyton             157 lbs.               128-44                              2016 PA AA State Qualifier
                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                         
The Mountain Cats are coming off of a 14-2 overall dual meet season, and a perfect 7-0 mark on their way to winning their second straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Dual Meet Championship.

Pitt-Johnstown placed third at the NCAA Super Region I Tournament under Coach Pecora and sent five wrestlers to the 2017 NCAA Division II National Tournament in Birmingham, Ala. where the team placed 17^th With two more All-Americans.  Cody Law (157 lbs.) placed fourth at the National Tournament, and Tyler Reinhart (165 lbs.) finished seventh.

In the classroom, John Blankenship (174 lbs.), was a First-Team of the NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team selection, and D.J. Sims (285 lbs.) was named to the second team.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will kick-off the 2017-18 season with a home non-conference match against West Liberty (WV) University on November 9, before hosting a PSAC match against Kutztown University on November 17.