Dempsey's Pin at Heavyweight Lifts #9 Wrestlers Over #13 Findlay
12/03/08...The #9-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team got a pair of pins to start the match, but needed a Chris Dempsey (Sewickley, Pa.) pin in the heavyweight bout to erase a four-point deficit and earn a 21-19 victory over #13 University of Findlay (OH) in Wednesday's 2008-09 home opener in the Sports Center. The Mountain Cats are now 2-0.
Pitt-Johnstown trailed 19-15 going into the heavyweight match, but Dempsey came through for the second time in as many dual meets. This time Demspey pinned Matt Clum at 4:48 to lift the Mountain Cats to the come-from-behind win.
Scott Morgan (125 lbs.) (North Huntingdon, Pa.) opened the night by pinning Nick Weisjhan at 2:49, before #5 Shane Valko (Windber, Pa.) put the Mountain Cats up 12-0 with a fall over Mike Peraino at 2:54 in the 133-lb. bout.
Findlay stormed back to cut the lead to 12-10 with victories in the next three matches. 2008 National Qualifier Josh Falk defeated Adam Whetstone (Claysburg, Pa.) 11-7 at 141 lbs, and fellow National Qualifier Sean Dong secured a 14-4 major decision over Mountain Cat Nathan Link (Cresson, Pa.) at 149 lbs. At 157 lbs., Michael Lybarger won a 5-0 decision over Nikko Leitzel (Ridgway, Pa.) to get the Oilers to within two points of tying the match.
Then, at 165 lbs., Findlay took the lead 13-12 when #7 Justin Shannon upset Mountain Cat All-American and #1-ranked Kyle Keane (Bradford, Pa.), 3-1.
Pitt-Johnstown quickly regained the lead after Steve Makin (Portage, Pa.) earned a 9-5 decision over National Qualifier Jeff Havelka at 174 lbs. The Oilers responded and made it six wins in the last seven matches and took a lead 19-15 when #4 Hiram Smith defeated Damian Majocha (Upper Burrell, Pa.) 8-3 at 184 lbs., and Andy Zalaiskalns scored a 9-3 decision over National Qualifier Patrick Walsh (197 lbs.) (Leesport, Pa.).
However, Dempsey sealed the victory with the fall over Clum in the heavyweight bout.
Prior to Wednesday's match, Pitt-Johnstown recognized last year's All-Americans and NWCA All-Academic Team selections.
The Mountain Cats travel to the Penn State Open on Sunday and to Clarion University on December 20. Pitt-Johnstown’s next home match will take place on Friday, Jan. 30, at 7:00 p.m. when nationally-ranked Ashland (OH) University visits the Sports Center.
#9 Pitt-Johnstown Mountain Cats vs. #13 University of Findlay (OH) Oilers
PITT-JOHNSTOWN 21 UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY (OH) 19
125 lbs. Scott Morgan (Pitt-Johnstown) Fall Nick Weisjhan (UF) 2:49 6-0 Pitt-Johnstown
133 lbs. #5 Shane Valko (Pitt-Johnstown) Fall Mike Peraino (UF) 2:54 12-0 Pitt-Johnstown
141 lbs. #7 Josh Falk (UF) Decision Adam Whetstone (Pitt-Johnstown) 11-7 12-3 Pitt-Johnstown
149 lbs. Sean Dong (UF) Major Decision Nathan Link (Pitt-Johnstown) 14-4 12-7 Pitt-Johnstown
157 lbs. Michael Lybarger (UF) Decision Nikko Leitzel (Pitt-Johnstown) 5-0 12-10 Pitt-Johnstown
165 lbs. #7 Justin Shannon (UF) Decision #1 Kyle Keane (Pitt-Johnstown) 3-1 13-12 UF
174 lbs. Steve Makin (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Jeff Havelka (UF) 9-5 15-13 Pitt-Johnstown
184 lbs. #4 Hiram Smith (UF) Decision Damian Majocha (Pitt-Johnstown) 8-3 16-15 UF
197 lbs. Andy Zalaiskalns (UF) Decision Patrick Walsh (Pitt-Johnstown) 9-3 19-15 UF
HWT. Chris Demspey (Pitt-Johnstown) Fall Matt Clum (UF) 4:48 21-19 Pitt-Johnstown