Head Coach Pat Pecora (48th season) and the 14
th-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers will open both the home and PSAC schedules on Wednesday against East Stroudsburg as part of a doubleheader in the Sports Center with the women's basketball team. The wrestlers will take on the Warriors at 5:30 p.m., before the women's team tips-off its home-opener against Malone (OH) at 7:30 p.m.
The Mountain Cats, 0-1 after a narrow 20-14 loss at second-ranked West Liberty on Nov. 2, posted a combined 33-18 record against all Division I opponents at Sunday's Journeymen Classic in Bethlehem.
Byron Daubert (133 lbs.),
Jacob Ealy (149 lbs.),
Noah Gnibus (184 lbs.), and
Dakoda Rodgers (197 lbs.) all went 3-0.
The Mountain Cats are led by three-time All-American and third-ranked
Ealy (149 lbs.), 2022 NCAA National Qualifier
Dillon Keane (165 lbs.), and 2023 NCAA National Qualifiers No. 7
Trevon Gray (125 lbs.), No. 9
Dakoda Rodgers (197 lbs.) and No. 7
Isaiah Vance (285 lbs.).
East Stroudsburg, receiving votes in the NWCA Poll under sixth-year
Head Coach Anibal Nieves, is 2-0 overall and will also begin their PSAC schedule. The Warriors opened the season with a 56-0 win over Elmira on Nov.1, before defeating Scranton, 42-8, last Wednesday.
Since 2009, Pitt-Johnstown has defeated the Warriors 13 consecutive times, including a 41-6 win in East Stroudsburg last year on Nov. 16.
Caleb Morris (141 lbs.),
Alex Weber (174 lbs.), and
Oggie Atwood (285 lbs.) all won by fall for the Mountain Cats, while
Brock Biddle (184 lbs.) and Rodgers (197 lbs.) both won by technical fall.
Key Match-Ups: 2023 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 7-ranked
Trevon Gray (UPJ) vs. Jason Athey or Danny Principe at 125 lbs…2023 NCAA National Qualifier
Byron Daubert (UPJ) vs. Ben Makaritis at 133 lbs…3-time NCAA All-American and No. 3-ranked
Jacob Ealy vs. Jacob Remolina or Troy Gentzel at 149 lbs…2022 NCAA National Qualifier
Dillon Keane (UPJ) vs. Sergio Cespedes, Luke Schirmacher, or Justin Halbert at 165 lbs…2023 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 9-ranked
Dakoda Rodgers (UPJ) vs. Ajay Hill or Matthew Richardson at 197 lbs…2023 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 7-ranked
Isaiah Vance (UPJ)
vs. Layton Schmick or David Pierson at 285 lbs.
Pitt-Johnstown travels to the Fairmont State (WV) Duals to take on Glenville State (WV) and the hosts on Nov. 19, before returning home to host non-conference match against King (TN) on Dec. 2 in the Sports Center.
PROBABLE STARTERS
125 lbs. – Jason Athey OR Danny Principe (ESU) vs.
#7 Trevon Gray (UPJ)
133 lbs. – Ben Makaritis (ESU)vs.
Byron Daubert (UPJ)
141 lbs. – Shawn Redfield OR Anthony Hernandez (ESU) vs.
Mason Myers (UPJ)
149 lbs. – Jacob Remolina OR Troy Gentzel (ESU) vs.
#3 Jacob Ealy (UPJ)
157 lbs. – Eric Falleni or Jack Spahn (ESU) vs.
Cooper Warshel (UPJ)
165 lbs. – Sergio Cespedes, Luke Schirmacher, OR Justin Halbert (ESU) vs.
Dillon Keane (UPJ)
174 lbs. – Luke Ciampa, Robert Burke, OR Kasim Bahar (ESU)vs.
Tony Salopek (UPJ)
184 lbs. – Jarrett Pantuso OR Matthew Murray (ESU) vs.
Noah Gnibus (UPJ)
197 lbs. – Ajay Hiller OR Matthew Richardson (ESU) vs.
#9 Dakoda Rodgers (UPJ)
285 lbs. – Layton Schmick OR David Pierson (ESU) vs.
#7 Isaiah Vance (UPJ)
