Head Coach Pat Pecora and the 11^th-ranked Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cat wrestlers will kick off the 2022-23 season at home when the sixth-ranked West Liberty (WV) Hilltoppers visit the Sports Center on Thursday.  Wrestling is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. following the recognition of last season's All-Americans, National Qualifiers and other award winners.
 
Pitt-Johnstown, tied for 11^th with McKendree (IL) in the NWCA Preseason National Poll, open their 2022-23 season tonight.  Pitt-Johnstown returns 12 wrestlers with starting experience, including three NCAA All-Americans and two other National Qualifiers from last year's team that went 13-1 overall and won its 24^th NCAA Regional crown under Coach Pecora.
 
The Mountain Cats are led by three-time All-American and 12^th-ranked Brock Biddle at 184 lbs., two-time All-American and second-ranked Jacob Ealy at 149 lbs., and 2022 All-American and fourth-ranked Nate Smith at 157 lbs.  In addition, 2022 NCAA National Qualifiers Caleb Morris, ranked 10^th at 141 lbs., and Dillon Keane, ranked 12^th at 165 lbs., are back in the line-up, as well as 11^th-ranked Oggie Atwood (285 lbs.).
 
Fourth-year Head Coach Danny Irwin's sixth-ranked West Liberty Hilltoppers also open their 2022-23 campaign on Thursday.  West Liberty is coming off of a third-place finish at last year NCAA Division II National Championships.

The Hilltoppers are led by is led by five nationally-ranked wrestlers, including two-time NCAA National Champion and top-ranked Cole Laya at 125 lbs.  All-American Ty McGeary is ranked No. 4 and 184 lbs., while National Qualifier Francesco Borsellino is No. 6 at 285 lbs., National Qualifier Vinny Scollo is No. 7 at 133 lbs., and Jamar Williams is No. 12 at 157 lbs.  West Liberty also has National Qualifier Chase Morgan at 165 lbs.
 
Since 2005, Pitt-Johnstown holds a 15-2 advantage in the series between the two programs, including a 23-14 win over the then fifth-ranked Hilltoppers in West Liberty, W.Va. on Nov. 4, 2021.  Morris' fall at 141 lbs. put the Mountain Cats up by six with one bout remaining, before Ealy sealed the victory with a 6-3 decision at 149 lbs.
 
Key Match-Ups: Travon Gray (UPJ) vs. two-time NCAA National Champion and No. 1-ranked Cole Laya (WLU) at 125 lbs…Byron Daubert vs. 2022 National Qualifier and No. 7 Vinny Scollo (WLU) at 133 lbs…2022 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 10 Caleb Morris (UPJ) vs. Khyvon Grace (WLU) at 141 lbs…two-time NCAA All-American and No. 2 Jacob Ealy (UPJ) vs. Greg Brusco (WLU) at 149 lbs…2022 All-American and No. 4 Nate Smith (UPJ) vs. No. 12 Jamar Williams (WLU) at 157 lbs…2022 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 12 Dillon Keane (UPJ) vs. 2-time National Qualifier Chase Morgan (WLU) at 165 lbs…three-time All-American and No. 12 Brock Biddle vs. NCAA 2022 NCAA All-American and No. 4 Ty McGeary (WLU) at 184 lbs…No. 11 Oggie Atwood or Isaiah Vance (UPJ) vs. 2021 NCAA All-American No. 6 Francesco Borsellino (WLU) at 285 lbs.