In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, the Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers, ranked 19^th in the NWCA Division II National Poll, will host a non-conference match against eighth-ranked Ashland (OH) University, Friday night in the Sports Center.  Start-time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
    
     Prior to the match, Pitt-Johnstown will recognize last year's, All-Americans, National Qualifiers, and all other Award winners.
 
     Coach Pat Pecora (46^th season) and the Mountain Cats, ranked 19^th in the NWCA National Poll, opened the year with a 23-14 victory at fifth-ranked West Liberty on Nov. 4.  Caleb Morris' pin at 6:19 broke a 14-all tie with one match remaining and lifted Pitt-Johnstown to the win and earned Morris PSAC Wrestler of the Week honors.  Pitt-Johnstown also competed in the Division I dominated Journeymen Classic in Manheim on Nov. 14.  The Mountain Cats then dealt East Stroudsburg a 42-0 PSAC loss to open the home slate on Nov.18.
 
     The Mountain Cats are led by three-time All-American and eighth-ranked Brock Biddle at 174 lbs., 2021 All-American and fifth-ranked Jacob Ealy at 149 lbs., and 2020 National Qualifier and 11^th-ranked Matt Siszka at 125 lbs.
 
     Second-year Coach Colt Sponseller's Ashland Eagles come into the match ranked eighth in the nation at 2-1.  The Eagles are coming off of a 41-8 win over Davenport (MI) and a 27-14 victory over 25^th-ranked Mercyhurst at Sunday's Ashland Tri-Meet. Ashland opened its dual meet season with a 22-19 loss to Lourdes (OH) on Nov. 12.
 
     Ashland is led by four nationally-ranked wrestlers.  2021 NCAA All-American Daniel Beemer is ranked third at 174 lbs., two-time All-American Aidan Pasiuk is ranked seventh at 184 lbs., and two-time All-American Carson Speelman is ranked ninth at 149 lbs.  In addition, Drew Wiechers is ranked ninth at 165 lbs. for the Eagles.
 
     Since 2005, Pitt-Johnstown has won 14 of the 17 match-ups between the two programs.  The Mountain Cats have won the previous eight meetings, including a 19-12 win in Ashland on Dec. 7, 2019.  Ealy's sudden victory over fourth-ranked Chandler Minnard at 141 lbs. got the Mountain Cats within three, and No. 3 Connor Craig's, 9-1, major decision over Aidan Pasiuk at 184 lbs. sealed the Pitt-Johnstown victory.
 
     Key Match-Ups: 2021 NCAA National Qualifier and NCAA No. 11 Matt Siszka (UPJ) vs. Nicholas Barber at 125 lbs…2021 NCAA American and No. 5-ranked Jacob Ealy vs. 2-time NCAA All-American and No. 9-ranked Carson Speelman (AU) at 149 lbs…Dillon Keane (UPJ) vs. No. 9-ranked Drew Wiechers (AU) at 165 lbs…three-time NCAA All-American and No. 8-ranked Brock Biddle vs. 2021 NCAA All-American and No. 3-ranked Daniel Beemer (AU) at 174 lbs…Gage Arnold OR Will Small (UPJ) vs. 2-time NCAA All-American and No. 7 Aidan Pasiuk (AU) at 184 lbs.
 
     Following Friday's match, Pitt-Johnstown travels to the 2021 Midwest Classic in Indianapolis on Dec. 18-19, before breaking for the holiday season.  The Mountain Cats will then compete at the Kutztown Duals on January 8, before hosting Seton Hill for a PSAC match on January 14 at 7 p.m. in the Sports Center.