The eighth-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers got a pins from
Gary Lantz and
Josh Duplin, and a
Travis McKillop decision over fellow All-American Adam Walters in a lopsided 42-6 victory over 16
th-ranked University of Findlay in Wednesday's 2013-14 dual meet opener in the Sports Center.Â
Â
           The Mountain Cats extended their winning streak from last season to 15 straight dual meets. In the process, Head Coach
Pat Pecora earned 516
th career win and moved into sole possession of fourth-place on the All-Time Coaches Win List in all divisions.
          Â
           The Mountain Cats got things started and opened-up a 12-0 lead with forfeit victories by All-American seventh-ranked
Dave Fogle at 125 lbs, and National Qualifier
Evan Link at 133 lbs., before Findlay's Jared VanVleet used back points as time expired to defeat
Luke Palamides, 6-5, at 141 lbs.
Â
           However, a forfeit win by All-American and sixth-ranked
Dave Cawley at 141 lbs. extended the Pitt-Johnstown lead to 18-3.
Â
           The Mountain Cats then got a takedown by
Sam Molina early into overtime to defeat Dalton Nicely, 13-11, at 157 lbs., and two-time National Qualifier Lantz pinned Bradley Metz at 2:51 in the 165-lb. bout to push the Pitt-Johnstown lead out to 27-3.
Â
           At 174 lbs.,
Nikos Garafola picked-up the Mountain Cats' fourth forfeit win of the night, setting up the feature match between two-time All-America McKillop and All-American Adam Walters at 184 lbs.
Â
           Last season, the two split a pair of matches, but McKillop defeated Walters at the NCAA National Tournament in the third-place match.  Just like at nationals, it was McKillop's night again. McKillop used an early takedown and an escape and held of Walters, 3-2, to build the Mountain Cat lead to 36-3 with just two bouts remaining.
Â
           At 197 lbs., Findlay answered with Tyler Beck's 5-3 decision over
Zak Newton, but the Mountain Cats closed it out in style when National Qualifier and eighth-ranked Duplin pinned Cody Hogston in 32 seconds to set the final al 42-6.
Â
          Â
The Mountain Cats will host West Liberty (WV) University November 20 and Kutztown University on November 22. Both matches will start at 7 p.m. in the Sports Center.
         Â
125 lbs. #7
Dave Fogle (UPJ)Â Won By ForfeitÂ
6-0 UPJ
133 lbs.Â
Evan Link (UPJ)Â Won By ForfeitÂ
12-0 UPJ
141 lbs. Jared VanVleet (UF) DecisionÂ
Luke Palamides (UPJ)Â 6-5Â
12-3 UPJ
149 lbs.Â
Dave Cawley (UPJ)Â Won by ForfeitÂ
18-3 UPJ
157 lbs.Â
Sam Molina (UPJ) Decision Dalton Nicely (UF) 13-11 OTÂ
21-3 UPJ
165 lbs.Â
Gary Lantz (UPJ) Fall Bradley Metz (UF) 2:51Â
27-3 UPJ
174 lbs.Â
Nikos Garafola (UPJ)Â Won by ForfeitÂ
33-3 UPJ
184 lbs. #2
Travis McKillop (UPJ) Decision Adam Walters (UF) 3-2Â
36-3 UPJ
197 lbs. Tyler Beck (UF) DecisionÂ
Zak Newton (UPJ)Â 5-3Â
36-6 UPJ
285 lbs. #8
Josh Duplin (UPJ) Fall Cody Hogston (UF) :32Â
42-6 UPJ