The 19^th-ranked Mountain Cats wrestlers took advantage of three falls, including one from Evan Link to open the match, on their way to dealing Shippensburg a 33-12 PSAC loss on Tuesday's Senior Night in the Sports Center.  Pitt-Johnstown extended its winning streak to 11 straight matches and improved to 12-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference... (Full Results)
 
As usual, the Mountain Cats started fast with four consecutive wins.  Evan Link pinned Dante Steffenino with just 15 seconds remaining in the 125-lb. match to get Pitt-Johnstown rolling.
 
Corey Bush, ranked first in Super Region I at 133 lbs., needed overtime, but got an early take down in the extra period to hold off Karl Lightner, 4-2, before sixth-rank Sam Hanau built a 5-0 first period lead and went on to defeat Cody Blankenship, 6-2.
 
After a Cole Landowski won by forfeit at 149 lbs. to make it 18-0 in favor of the Mountain Cats, Shippensburg cut it to 18-6 when Pitt-Johnstown's Kevin Synan was forced to injury default one minute into the 157-lb. bout.
 
Pitt-Johnstown answered right back with a 6-1 decision by seventh-ranked Tyler Reinhart at 165 lbs., before John Blankenship sealed the Mountain Cat victory by pinning Colton Rebert at 4:42 to push the lead out to 27-3 with three bouts remaining.
 
The Red Raiders got a 2-0 win by Kyle Taylor over Nick Penatzer at 184 lbs. and a 7-4 win from 2014 National Qualifier Jalal Paige at 197 lbs. to make it 27-12, but it was too late.
 
Pitt-Johnstown finished the match just like it started…with a fall.  This time D.J. Sims closed things out by pinning Derek Earnest at 2:54 to set the final at 33-12.
 
With the loss, Shippensburg dropped to 6-12 overall and 1-5 in the PSAC.
 
Prior to the match, the Mountain Cat wrestling program recognized Zac Bennett (197/285 lbs.), this year's lone senior.
 
Bennett transferred to Pitt-Johnstown after wrestling two years at NCAA Division I University of North Carolina.  After sitting out the first semester in 2013-14, Bennett took over the starting spot at 197 lbs. on his way to winning a Super Region I title and becoming an All-American with a seventh-place finish at the National Tournament.  Bennett, who was 21-5 overall and 10-2 in dual meets, placed third at the Franklin & Marshall Open.  His team-best 16 victories by pin broke Jared Kuleck's 197-lb. single-season record (14 falls) set in 1992-93.  Bennett's 14 pins in 28:09 led the country and his 4.3478 points made him the country's second most dominating wrestler.
 
In 2014-15, Bennett also sat out the fall semester and moved from 197 lbs. to 285 lbs.  He posted a 5-0 record on his way to winning a championship at the Franklin & Marshall Open on January 3.  Prior to an injury, Bennett was 8-1 overall and 3-1 in dual meets.  Five of his eight victories came by way of fall.
 
Pitt-Johnstown closes out the 2014-15 regular season at Mercyhurst on Saturday.  The Mountain Cats will then travel to West Liberty, W.Va. for the Super Region I tournament on February 27-28 and to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in St. Louis, MO on March 13-14.
 
125 lbs.  Evan Link (UPJ)  Fall  Dante Steffenino (SU)  6:45  6-0 UPJ
133 lbs.  Corey Bush (UPJ)  Decision  Karl Lightner (SU)  4-2 SV1  9-0 UPJ
141 lbs.  #6 Sam Hanau (UPJ)  Decision  Cody Blankenship (SU)  6-2  12-0 UPJ
149 lbs.  Cole Landowski (UPJ)  Won By forfeit  18-0 UPJ
157 lbs.  Mike Springer (SU)  Injury Default  Kevin Synan (UPJ)  18-6 UPJ
165 lbs.  #7 Tyler Reinhart (UPJ)  Decision  Arthur Watkins (SU)  6-1  21-6 UPJ
174 lbs.  John Blankenship (UPJ)  Fall  Colton Rebert (SU)  4:42  27-6 UPJ
184 lbs.  Kyle Taylor (SU)  Decision  Nick Penatzer (UPJ)  3-0  27-9 UPJ
197 lbs.  Jalal Paige (SU)  Decision  Forest Tuttle (UPJ)  7-4  27-12 UPJ
285 lbs.  D.J. Sims (UPJ)  Fall Derek Earnest (SU)  2:54  33-12 UPJ