After exchanging the lead with Shippensburg University through the first five matches, Head Coach Pat Pecora's #5 Mountain Cat wrestlers got things rolling and improved to 3-2 with 22-12 win over their East Region rival in Friday's 2006-07 home opener in the Sports Center. Pitt-Johnstown's Mike Corcetti (Export, Pa.), the top-ranked wrestler in the country at 184 lbs. and a returning National Runner-Up, highlighted the Mountain Cats' victory with a convincing, 6-1, win over #2-ranked Mark Murphy.
Pitt-Johnstown jumped out to a 3-0 lead with Derrek Bosso's (Pequea, Pa.), 11-4, win over Andrew Jones at 125 lbs., but Shippensburg evened the score when Steve Fittery upset #4-ranked Brandon Reasy (New Enterprise, Pa.), 6-1, in overtime in the 133-lb. bout. The Mountain Cats regained the lead with a 14-6 major decision by Shane Valko (Windber, Pa.) at 141 lbs. until the Red Raiders took the lead back, 9-7, when 2006 National Qualifier Dan Nauman pinned Pitt-Johnstown's Mazen Kholi (Allentown, Pa.) at 2:39.
However, that was the last time Shippensburg would hold the lead, as the Mountain Cat went on to win five of the last six matches to seal the victory. National Qualifier Joe Strittmatter (157 lbs.) (Ebensburg, Pa.), #3-ranked Albert Miles (165-lbs.) (Canonsburg, Pa.), All-American Eli Garshnick (174 lbs.) (Armagh, Pa.), Corcetti and #4-ranked Mike Fowler (197 lbs.) (Carrolltown, Pa.) all won by decision to help Pitt-Johnstown. Sophomore Jon Neese (Chambersville, Pa.) suffered a 4-3 loss to Jason Groller in the Heavyweight bout to set the final score at 22-12 in favor of the Mountain Cats.
With the loss, Shippensburg dropped to 0-1 on the year.
The Mountain Cats travel to the Penn State Open on Sunday and to the Clarion University Duals on December 17, where they will wrestle Division I opponents Lock Haven University, Kent State (OH) University and Clarion. Pitt-Johnstown will host its next home event on January 19-20 when it hosts the 2007 East Coast Duals in the Sports Center.
VS. SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY - 12/01/06
#5 Pitt-Johnstown Shippensburg University 0
125 lbs. Derrek bosso (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Andrew Jones (SU) 11-4 3-0
133 lbs. Steve Fittery (SU) Decision Brandon Reasy (4) (Pitt-Johnstown) 6-1 OT 3-3
141 lbs. Shane Valko (Pitt-Johnstown) Major Decision Bill Purvis (SU) 14-6 7-3
149 lbs. Dan Nauman (SU) Fall Mazen Kholi (Pitt-Johnstown) 2:39 7-9
157 lbs. Joe Strittmatter (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Jake Wilson (SU) 6-1 10-9
165 lbs. Albert Miles (3) (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Derek Deutsch (SU) 8-5 13-9
174 lbs. Eli Garshnick (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Rick Mascino (SU) 6-1 16-9
184 lbs. Mike Corcetti (1) (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Mark Murphy (2) (SU) 6-1 19-9
197 lbs. Mike Fowler (4) (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Peter Grodziak (SU) 7-2 22-9
HWT. Jason Groller (SU) Decision Jon Neese (Pitt-Johnstown) 4-3 22-12
NATIONAL RANKING NEXT TO WRESTLER'S NAME
