#11 Wrestlers Roll Over #9 Mercyhurst, 31-6
01/17/09...The #11 Mountain Cat wrestlers built a 15-0 lead, and Shane Valko (133 lbs.) (Windber, Pa.) and Steve Makin (174 lbs.) (Portage, Pa.) each won by fall en route to leading Pitt-Johnstown to a 31-6 victory at #9 Mercyhurst College, Saturday night. Pitt-Johnstown improved to 5-3 on the year.
The Mountain Cats jumped out 15-0 after four matches. Scott Morgan (North Huntingdon, Pa.) got things started with a 5-4 win over Payne Lint at 125 lbs, before Valko, ranked #4 in the nation, pinned #5 Michael Baxter at 1:02 to put Pitt-Johnstown up 9-0. Adam Whetstone (141 lbs.) (Claysburg, Pa.) and Ryan McIntyre (Claysburg, Pa.) won by decision over James Henderson and Lenny Calhoun, respectively, to increase the lead to 15-0.
Mercyhurst won the next two bouts by decision. Andy Lamancusa defeated Mazen Kholi (Allentown, Pa.) 6-2 at 157 lbs., and #2 Josh Shields scored a 7-0 decision over top-ranked Kyle Keane (Bradford, Pa.) at 165 lbs. to cut the deficit to 15-6.
However, the Mountain Cats won the next four bouts to seal the victory. Makin pinned Pat Carter at 4:40 at 174 lbs. and Jon Moore (Leechburg, Pa.) earned a 15-1 major decision over Tim McAndrew at 184 lbs. Patrick Walsh's (Leesport, Pa.) 9-4 win over Trevor Gallo at 197 lbs, raised the lead to 28-6, before Chris Dempsey (Sewickley, Pa.) ended the match with a 5-2 decision over Mike Sullivan in the heavyweight bout to set the final score at 31-6.
The Mountain Cats travel to Gannon University on Sunday and to the 2009 East Region Duals at St. Andrews Presbyterian (NC) College on Friday and Saturday. Pitt-Johnstown’s next home match is Friday, Jan. 30, at 7:00 p.m. when Nationally-ranked Ashland (OH) University visits the Sports Center.
#11 PITT-JOHNSTOWN 31 #9 MERCYHURST COLLEGE 6
125 lbs. - Scott Morgan (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Payne Lint (MC) 5-4 3-0 Pitt-Johnstown
133 lbs. - #4 Shane Valko (Pitt-Johnstown) Fall #5 Michael Baxter (MC) 1:02 9-0 Pitt-Johnstown
141 lbs. - Adam Whetstone (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision James Henderson (MC) 11-4 12-0 Pitt-Johnstown
149 lbs. - Ryan McIntyre (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Lenny Calhoun (MC) 5-4 15-0 Pitt-Johnstown
157 lbs. Andy Lamancusa (MC) Decision Mazen Kholi (Pitt-Johnstown) 6-2 15-3 Pitt-Johnstown
165 lbs. - #2 Josh Shields (MC) Decision #1 Kyle Keane (Pitt-Johnstown) 7-0 15-6 Pitt-Johnstown
174 lbs. - Steve Makin (Pitt-Johnstown) Fall Pat Carter (MC) 4:40 21-6 Pitt-Johnstown
184 lbs. - Jon Moore (Pitt-Johnstown) Major Decision Tim McAndrew (MC) 15-1 25-6 Pitt-Johnstown
197 lbs. - Patrick Walsh (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Trevor Gallo (MC) 9-4 28-6 Pitt-Johnstown
HWT. - Chris Dempsey (Pitt-Johnstown) Decision Mike Sullivan (MC) 5-2 31-6 Pitt-Johnstown