Head Coach Pat Pecora and the sixth-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers will make their 2017-18 home debut against West Liberty (WV) University, Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Sports Center.
Prior to the match, Pitt-Johnstown will recognize last year's All-Americans, National Qualifiers, and NWCA All-Academic Team selections.
Coach Pecora (42nd season) and the Mountain Cats, ranked sixth in NCAA Division II, are 1-1 to begin the season following a 37-3 win over #23 LIU-Post and a 29-8 loss to Division I Drexel at the Drexel Dragons' Duals on Sunday. The win over LIU-Post gave
Coach Pecora his 570
th and moved him into sole possession of second-place on the all-time wins list among all coaches in all divisions.
The Mountain Cats are led by 2017 All-Americans
Cody Law (157 lbs.) and
Tyler Reinhart (174 lbs.), two-time National Qualifier
D.J. Sims (285 lbs.), and National Qualifiers
Chris Eddins (141 lbs.),
Devin Austin (165 lbs.), and
Levi Niebauer (197 lbs.).
Nationally for Pitt-Johnstown,
Law (157 lbs.) and
Reinhart (165 lbs.) are both ranked second, while
Eddins (141 lbs.) is fifth,
Austin and
Sims (285 lbs.) are 11
th, and
Niebauer (197 lbs.) is 12
th.
West Liberty, under third-year
Head Coach Mitch Smith will open their season on Thursday.
Last year, the Mountain Cats took advantage of falls from
Eddins,
Law, and
Reinhart to earn a 28-17 win at West Liberty on November 9.
Key Match-Ups: 2017 National Qualifier and NCAA No. 5
Chris Eddins (UPJ) vs. Josh Ridgeway (WLU) at 141 lbs…2017 All-American and NCAA No. 2
Cody Law (UPJ) vs. Josh Cornell (WLU) at 157 lbs…2016 National Qualifier and NCAA No. 11
Devin Austin (UPJ) vs. Dillon Shaw (WLU) at 165 lbs…2016 National Champion, 2017 All-American, and NCAA No. 2
Tyler Reinhart vs. Chase Morgan or Jacob Ramsey (WLU) at 174 lbs…2017 National Qualifier and NCAA No. 12
Levi Niebauer (UPJ) vs. Logan Kemp (WLU) at 197 lbs…2-time National Qualifier and NCAA No. 11
D.J. Sims or Allan Beattie (UPJ) vs. Ronnie D'Amico (WLU) at 285 lbs.
Pitt-Johnstown opens-up the PSAC portion of its schedule with a home match against Kutztown on Friday, November 17 at 7 p.m. in the Sports Center, before traveling to a conference match at East Stroudsburg on Tuesday, November 21.
