In the spirit of the holiday season, admission will be free when Head Coach Pat Pecora and the fourth-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers host 10^th-ranked West Liberty (WV) University, Saturday afternoon in the Sports Center.  Bring the family!!!  Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
 
Coach Pecora (44^th season) and the Mountain Cats, ranked fourth in NCAA Division II, improved to 9-2 with a 19-12 come-from-behind win at No. 7 Ashland (OH) University last Saturday.  Pitt-Johnstown trailed by six after four bouts, but came back to outscore the Eagles 16-3 the rest of the way, including 12^th-ranked Jacob Ealy's 3-1 sudden victory over No. 4 Chandler Minnard at 141 lbs., and No. 4 Connor Craig's major decision victory over No. 6 Aidan Pasiuk at 184 lbs. that sealed the match.
 
The Mountain Cats are led by two-time National Champion Chris Eddins (149 lbs.), 2019 National Champions Tyler Warner (133 lbs.) and Connor Craig (184 lbs.), two-time All-American Devin Austin (165 lbs.), 2019 All-Americans Brendan Howard (125 lbs.) and Brock Biddle (174 lbs.).
 
Nationally for Pitt-Johnstown, Eddins (149 lbs.) is ranked No. 1 at 149 lbs., while Austin (165 lbs.) is third, Biddle (174 lbs.) and Craig (184 lbs.) are fourth, Howard (125 lbs.) is seventh, and Ealy (141 lbs.) is 12^th.
 
West Liberty, 4-4 under first year Coach Danny Irwin, is ranked 10^th in the most recent NCAA Division II National Poll.  The Hilltoppers suffered a 22-21 loss to Lake Erie (OH) and a 31-9 loss to Mercyhurst at last Sunday's Lake Erie Quad Match in Painesville, OH.
 
West Liberty is led by 2019 NCAA third-place finisher and No. 4-ranked Cole Laya at 125 lbs., 2018 NCAA fourth-place finisher and No. 3-ranked Darius Bunch at 141 lbs., and two-time NCAA National Qualifier and No. 3-ranked Logan Kemp at 197 lbs.
 
Last year, Pitt-Johnstown traveled to West Liberty on November 7 and dealt the Hilltoppers a 38-0 loss behind Austin's fall at 165 lbs. and major decisions from Matt Siszka (133 lbs.) and Eddins (149 lbs.).
 
Key Match-Ups: 2019 All-American and NCAA No. 7 Brendan Howard (UPJ) vs. 2019 All-American and No. 4 Cole Laya or Corey Secrist (WLU) at 125 lbs… NCAA No. 12 Jacob Ealy (UPJ) vs. 2018 NCAA All-American and NCAA No. 3 Darius Bunch at 141 lbs…2-time NCAA National Champion and NCAA No. 1 Chris Eddins vs. Jamie Ward (WLU) at 149 lbs…2-time NCAA All-American and NCAA No. 3 Devin Austin vs. Chase Morgan or Jalen King (WLU) at 165 lbs…2019 All-American and NCAA No. 4 Brock Biddle (UPJ) vs. Chance Morgan (WLU) at 174 lbs…2019 NCAA National Champion and NCAA No 4 Connor Craig (UPJ) vs. Zane Lanham or Garrett Cook (WLU) at 184 lbs…Alex Delp (UPJ) vs. 2-time NCAA National Qualifier and NCAA No. 3 Logan Kemp or Isaiah Myers at 197 lbs.
 
The Mountain Cats will break for the holiday season before competing in the 2020 NCAA Division II National Duals in Louisville, KY on January 10-11.  Pitt-Johnstown will host its next match on February 7 against Mercyhurst at 7 p.m. in the Sports Center.