Former NCAA Division II National Champion Tyler Reinhart will make his collegiate head coaching debut and lead the Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers, ranked ninth in the Open Mat Preseason Division II Rankings and 10^th in the NWCA Rankings, against No. 20/18 West Liberty (WV) in Thursday's 2024-25 dual meet opener in the Sports Center.  Wrestling is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. with a tribute to legendary Coach Pat Pecora following the match.
 
Following the match, Pitt-Johnstown will hold a memorial service for Head Coach Pat Pecora, who lost his courageous battle with cancer on Sept. 8.  In his 48-year coaching career, Coach Pecora, college wrestling's all-time leader in dual meet wins, led Pitt-Johnstown to NCAA Division II National Championships in 1996 and 1999, 25 NCAA Regional titles, and eight consecutive PSAC championships.
 
Pitt-Johnstown will be led by trio of All-Americans in Open Mat No. 7 and NWCA No. 5 Trevon Gray (125 lbs.), No. 6/6 Dakoda Rodgers (197 lbs.), and No. 3/3 Isaiah Vance (285 lbs.) and returning NCAA National Qualifiers No. 10/8 Mason Myers (141 lbs.) and No. 11/9 Cooper Warshel (157 lbs.).
 
West Liberty, under fourth-year Head Coach Danny Irwin, wrestled at the Tiffin (OH) open on Saturday and got individual title from Logan Davis (125 lbs.), top-ranked Ty McGeary (184 lbs.), and Devon Bell (197 lbs.) to lead the Hilltoppers to a runner-up team finish.
 
The Hilltoppers are led McGeary, a two-time NCAA National Champion at 184 lbs. and the 2023-24 NCAA Division II National Wrestler of the Year, No. 14/8 Alec Cook at 165 lbs., and No. 19 Bell at 197 lbs.
 
Since the 2004-05 season, Pitt-Johnstown holds a 16-3 advantage over West Liberty.  However, in last year's season-opener on Nov. 2 in West Liberty, W.Va., the second-ranked Hilltoppers secured a, 20-14, victory over the 14^th-ranked Mountain Cats.  Gray (125 lbs.) and Vance (285 lbs.) both won by major decision for the Mountain Cats, but top-ranked Ty McGeary's technical fall win at 184 lbs. sealed the win for the Hilltoppers.
 
Key Match-Ups: 2024 NCAA All-American and No. 7/5 Trevon Gray (UPJ) vs. Logan Davis (WLU) at 125 lbs…2024 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 10/8 Mason Myers (UPJ) vs. Ridge Kidder (WLU) at 141 lbs…2024 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 11/9 Cooper Warshel (UPJ) vs. Jordan Watters (WLU) at 157 lbs…Brock McMillen (UPJ) vs. #14/8 Alec Cook (WLU) at 165 lbs….Noah Gnibus (UPJ) vs. 2-time NCAA National Champion Ty McGeary (WLU) at 184 lbs…2024 NCAA All-American and No. 6/6 Dakoda Rodgers (UPJ) vs. No. 19 Devon Bell (WLU) at 197 lbs…2024 NCAA All-American No. 3/3-ranked Isaiah Vance vs. Parker Bentley at 285 lbs.
 
The Mountain Cats travel to Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Sunday and to East Stroudsburg to open the PSAC schedule on Nov. 14.  Pitt-Johnstown will return to the Sports Center on Jan. 4 with a Quad Match with Lake Erie (OH), UNC-Pembroke, and Grand Valley State (MI).