#5 Mountain Cat Wrestlers Defeat #4 Shippensburg in Home Opener

12/01/2004

Head Coach Pat Pecora (29th season) and the NCAA Division II #5-ranked Mountain Cat wrestlers faced a tough test in the 2004-05 home opener when #4-ranked Shippensburg University visited the Sports Center Wednesday night. With national and regional rankings on the line, Pitt Johnstown took the mat and defeated the Raiders 23-9 in front of a large crowd in the Sports Center.
After splitting the first four matches of the night, the Mountain Cats took control and won five of the next six matches, including a pair of major decision victories by sophomore Eli Garshnick (Armagh, Pa./United H.S.) at 174 lbs. and red-shirt freshman Mike Corcetti (Export, Pa./Kiski Area H.S.). Pitt Johnstown red-shirt freshman Brandon Reasy (133 lbs.) (New Enterprise, Pa./Northern Bedford H.S.), junior 2003 All-American Thad Benton (141 lbs.) (Claysburg, Pa./Claysburg-Kimmel H.S.), 2004 National Qualifier Matt Roncolato (157 lbs.) (Allentown, Pa./Salisbury H.S.), 2004 All-American Mark Glova (165 lbs.) (St. Benedict, Pa./Cambria Heights H.S.) and three-time All-American Howard Bell (HWT.) (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford H.S.) all won by decision.
The Mountain Cats suffered just three losses in the match, all to nationally-ranked opponents. Shippensburg All-American and #3-ranked Jamie Thomas defeated #8-ranked Ryon Mazzocco (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria H.S.), 6-4, before All-American and #5-ranked Zach Leathers upset #3-ranked Ryan Ickes (Claysburg, Pa./Claysburg-Kimmel H.S.), 6-4 at 149 lbs. In Pitt Johnstown's only other loss, NCAA #2-ranked Corey Jacoby defeated sophomore Mike Fowler (Carrolltown,Pa./Cambria Heights H.S.) 8-4 at 197 lbs.
With the victory, Pitt Johnstown improved to 4-1 on the season, while Shippensburg slipped to 1-1-1 on the year.

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