#4 Mountain Cat Wrestlers Fall, 19-16, at #8 Mercyhurst College

12/08/2004

After defeating NCAA Division II #4-ranked Shippensburg University last week, the Pitt Johnstown wrestlers were tabbed the new #4-ranked team in the country in this week's NWCA poll. Once again, the Mountain Cats' high national ranking would be tested when they traveled to #8-ranked Mercyhurst College Wednesday night. The Mountain Cats and Lakers battled through the last match of the night. Pitt Johnstown senior three-time All-American Howard Bell (HWT.) (Irwin, Pa./Penn Trafford H.S.) needed a pin to tie the score 19-19. Unfortunately, Bell was only able to earn a 3-1 decision over Angelo Caponi, and Pitt Johnstown fell to 4-2 on the season with a 19-16 loss.
Pitt Johnstown trailed 6-0 after the first two matches, but junior All-American Thad Benton (141 lbs.) (Claysburg, Pa./Claysburg-Kimmel H.S.) pinned Don Cummings at 6:00 to tie the score, before senior All-American Ryan Ickes (149 lbs.) (Claysburg, Pa./Claysburg-Kimmel H.S.) gave the Mountain Cats a 10-6 lead with a major decision over Brian Kuhn. However, Mercyhurst won the next two matches by decision to regain the lead, 12-10. Sophomore Eli Garshnick (174 lbs.) gave Pitt Johnstown a 13-12 advantage with a 6-5 decision over Paul Bergman, but that as as close as the Moutain Cats would get. A major decision at 184 lbs. by Mercyhurst's Ben McAvinew and a 3-1 decision by Justin Mautz at 197 lbs. put the Lakers up 19-13 heading into the heavyweight match that Bell won 3-1.
With the victory, Mercyhurst improved to 3-1 on the year.

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