The fourth-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestling program recognized its five seniors, then went out won its fifth consecutive PSAC Dual Meet with a 21-10 victory over 21
st-ranked Gannon, Saturday night in the Sports Center. Senior two-time National Champion
Chris Eddins became the 25
th Mountain Cat to reach 100 career wins and help Pitt-Johnstown close out the regular season at 21-3 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the PSAC.
Prior to the match, Pitt-Johnstown recognized this year's seniors…
Brendan Howard (125 lbs.),
Chris Eddins (149 lbs.),
Devin Austin (165 lbs.),
Mike Geyer (197 lbs.), and
Tyler Oliver (197 lbs.).
At 125 lbs., fourth-ranked Howard got a second period escape and a point for riding time to defeat 2019 National Qualifier Jacob Dunlap, 2-0, before 2019 National Champion
Tyler Warner returned to the Mountain Cat lineup and held off National Qualifier Austin Hertel, 1-0, at 133 lbs. to give Pitt-Johnstown a 6-0 advantage.
Pitt-Johnstown kept it going when
Jacob Ealy dealt Nick Young a 7-5 loss in a match between two of the top-four wrestlers in the region, and top-ranked and Eddins picked-up his 100
th career victory
by shutting out 12
th-ranbked Dom Means at 149 lbs.
Gannon got back in it with wins at 157 and 165 lbs. A 14-3 major decision by Evan Fisler over
Jacob Burgette at 157 lbs., got the Golden Knights on the scoreboard, and eight-ranked Alex Farenchak scored a 4-1 win over No. 4 Austin at 165 lbs. to cut the deficit to 12-7.
However, Pitt-Johnstown answered with a 6-1 win by No. 6
Brock Biddle at 174 lbs. and 2019 National Champion and fifth-ranked
Connor Craig's 5-2 decision over Joel Leise at 184 lbs. to extend the lead out to 18-7 with two bouts remaining.
The Golden Knights needed falls in each of the last two matches, but that didn't happen. At 197 lbs., fifth-ranked Freddie Nixon defeated
Alex Delp to narrow Gannon's game to 18-10, but it was not enough.
At 285 lbs., Pitt-Johnstown's
Allan Beattie won a 6-0 decision over Gehrig Hutchison, 6-0, to close out the Mountain Cats' fifth straight PSAC title.
With the loss, Gannon slipped to 8-6 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC.
Pitt-Johnstown travels to the 2020 Super Region I Tournament at Mercyhurst on February 29 and to the 2020 NCAA Division II National Championships in Sioux Falls, SD on March 13 and 14.
