Pitt-Johnstown won eight of the 10 bouts, including falls from Sam Hanau (141 lbs.), Travis McKillop (184 lbs.), and D.J. Sims (285 lbs.) in a dominating 39-6 victory over West Liberty (WV) University, in Friday night's 2015-16 dual meet opener in the Sports Center.
 
Evan Link set the tone for the night with a 17-0 technical fall at 4:54 over Zach Brown to get things going at 125 lbs.
 
West Liberty answered with a 7-1 decision by Jonathan Spence at 133 lbs., but Pitt-Johnstown quickly pushed it out to 16-3 with a pair of convincing wins in the next two bouts.  Hanau, a two-time National Qualifier, pinned Josh Cornell at 53 seconds at 141 lbs., and Travis Shaffer followed with the Mountain Cats' second technical fall victory of the night.  This time, Shaffer defeated Anthony Craig at 149 lbs. 16-0 in just 2:11 to build the lead to 16-3 after four bouts.
 
A decision win by the Hilltoppers at 157 lbs. narrowed it to 16-6, before National Qualifier and eighth-ranked Tyler Reinhart pulled away for a 13-2 major decision over DeMadre Turner at 165 lbs. A
 
All-American and fourth-ranked John Blankenship defeated Daniel Carpenter 9-1 at 174 lbs., and McKillop, a three-time All-American who's ranked fourth in the country at 184 lbs., pinned Doug Sizemore in 22 seconds to increase the Mountain Cat lead to 30-6 with two bouts remaining.
 
Pitt-Johnstown wasn't done yet.  True freshman Tyler Oliver made his Mountain Cat debut a good one with a 4-0 shutout over Nathan Dawson at 197 lbs., before national Qualifier D.J. Sims put the final touches on the 39-6 Mountain Cat victory by pinning Matt Dixon at 2:43 at 285 lbs.
 
With the loss, the Hilltoppers dropped to 1-4 on the season.
 
SCHEDULE NOTE:  If the Lady Cat volleyball teams wins on Tuesday, Pitt-Johnstown will the PSAC Volleyball Tournament Semifinals and finals in the Sports Center next Friday and Saturday.  If that occurs, Pitt-Johnstown's home wrestling match against Kutztown University will be moved from Friday November 20 to Thursday November 19 at 7 p.m.
 

125 lbs.  Evan Link (UPJ)  Technical Fall  Zach Brown (WLU)  17-0 (4:54)  5-0 UPJ
133 lbs.  Jonathan Spence (WLU)  Decision  Jim Harrison (UPJ)  7-1  5-3 UPJ
141 lbs.  Sam Hanau (UPJ)  Fall  Josh Cornell (WLU)  :53  11-3 UPJ
149 lbs.  Travis Shaffer (UPJ)  Technical Fall  Anthony Craig (WLU)  16-0 (2:11)  16-3 UPJ
157 lbs.  David Schlieper (WLU)  Decision  Luke Palamides (UPJ)  4-2  16-6 UPJ
165 lbs.  #8 Tyler Reinhart (UPJ)  Major Decision  DeMadre Turner (WLU)  13-2  20-6 UPJ
174 lbs.  #4 John Blankenship (UPJ)  Major Decision  Daniel Carpenter (WLU)  9-1  24-6 UPJ
184 lbs.  #4 Travis McKillop (UPJ)  Fall  Doug Sizemore (WLU)  :22  30-6 UPJ
197 lbs.  Tyler Oliver (UPJ)  Decision  Nathan Dawson (UPJ)  4-0  33-6 UPJ
285 lbs.  D.J. Sims (UPJ)  Fall  Matt Dixon (WLU)  2:43  39-6 UPJ