Head Coach Pat Pecora and his Pitt-Johnstown wrestling squad was ranked 14th when the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) released its Division II Preseason Poll on Monday.  Four Mountain Cats were individually-ranked, including three-time NCAA All-American Jacob Ealy who was ranked third at 149 lbs.

Lander (SC), the 2022-23 NCAA Division II National Runner-up, sits atop of the preseason poll with 82 points, while West Liberty (WV) (69 points), Central Oklahoma (63 points), and St. Cloud State (Minn.) are second through fourth, and McKendree (IL) and Upper Iowa are tied for fifth (48 points).  Pitt-Johnstown is 14th with 31 points.

Ealy, a three-time NCAA All-American and the top-ranked wrestler at 149 for much of the 2022-23 season is ranked third in his weight class, while 2023 NCAA National Qualifiers Trevon Gray (125 lbs.) and Isaiah Vance (285 lbs.) are both ranked seventh, and national qualifier Dakoda Rodgers is ranked ninth at 197 lbs.