The Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers, up four spots to No. 11 in this week's Open Mat Division II Dual Meet Rankings, will host a PSAC match against No. 21 Kutztown, Friday evening in the Sports Center. Start time is set for 7 p.m.
First-year
Head Coach Tyler Reinhart and the Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats have won four straight matches and come in at 6-2 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC after picking up a pair of dual meet wins at last Saturday's Pitt-Johnstown Tri-Meet in the Sports Center. The Mountain Cats opened the day with a 41-5 victory over Findlay (OH), before winning nine of the 10 bouts with bonus points in a 51-0 win over Fairmont State (WV).
Pitt-Johnstown is led by trio of All-Americans in No. 8
Trevon Gray (125 lbs.), No. 6
Dakoda Rodgers (197 lbs.), and No. 4
Isaiah Vance (285 lbs.) and returning NCAA National Qualifiers
Mason Myers (141 lbs.) and
Cooper Warshel (157 lbs.).
Kutztown, ranked 21
st in the Open Mat Dual Meet Rankings under 24
th-year
Head Coach Rob Fisher, comes in at a perfect 6-0 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC after sweeping three matches at the Virginia Duals last weekend. The Golden Bears opened the duals with a 35-5 victory over Apprentice School (VA), before earning a 29-12 win over Reinhardt (GA) and a 34-12 win over Frostburg State (MD).
Kutztown is led by 2024 NCAA All-American and No. 2-ranked
Matt Weinberg at 184 lbs., and 2024 NCAA National Qualifiers
Bailey Gimbor (165 lbs.),
Dalton Gimbor (174 lbs.), and
Wayne McIntyre (197 lbs.). Nationally, Bailey Gimbor is 11
th and
Jimmy Ryan (149 lbs.) and Dalton Gimbor are both ranked 18
th.
Since the 2004-05 season, Pitt-Johnstown holds a 16-3 advantage over the Golden Bears. Last season, the Mountain Cats got falls from
Mason Myers (141 lbs.) and Vance (285 lbs.), and technical fall wins from
Jacob Ealy (149 lbs.) and Rodgers (197 lbs.) in a 31-11 victory at Kutztown on Feb. 2.
Key Match-Ups: 2024 NCAA All-American and No. 8
Trevon Gray (UPJ) vs. Nic Allison (KU) at 125 lbs…2024 NCAA National Qualifier
Mason Myers (UPJ) vs. Jared Fulton (KU) at 141 lbs…
Carter Weaver or Chad Ozias (UPJ) vs. No. 18
Jimmy Ryan at 149 lbs…2024 NCAA National Qualifier
Cooper Warshel (UPJ) vs.
Ali Alicea (KU) at 157 lbs…
Gavyn Beck (UPJ) vs. 2024 NCAA National Qualifier and #11
Bailey Gimbor (KU) at 165 lbs…
Macon Myers or Tony Salopek (UPJ) vs. 2024 NCAA National Qualifier and No. 19
Dalton Gimbor (KU) at 174 lbs.…Noah Gnibus (UPJ) vs. 2024 NCAA All-American and No. 2
Matt Weinberg (KU) at 184 lbs…2024 NCAA All-American and No. 6
Dakoda Rodgers (UPJ) vs. 2024 NCAA National Qualifier
Wayne McIntyre (KU) at 197 lbs…2024 NCAA All-American and No. 4
Isaiah Vance vs. Liam Akers (KU) at 285 lbs.
The Mountain Cats travel to the Frostburg State (MD) Duals on Sunday and to Seton Hill for a PSC Match next Friday. Pitt-Johnstown will return home to celebrate Senior Night and Winterfest Weekend with a PAC match against nationally-ranked Gannon on Feb. 14.
