Mountain Cat Wrestling Adds 15 Recruits, Including PA State Runner-Up and Six Other State Place Winners
06/28/06...Head Coach Pat Pecora and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown wrestling program have signed 15 recruits for the 2006-07 season, including 2006 AAA Pennsylvania State Runner-up at Heavyweight, Chris Dempsey from Ambridge High School. Coach Pecora also added six other State Place winners, including local standouts Steve Makin from Central Cambria High School and Mike Paronish from Northern Cambria High School.
“We have added another solid recruiting class,” Coach Pecora said. “This assures that the Pitt Johnstown wrestling program continues to reload.”
Of the 15 wrestlers who will continue their wrestling careers at Pitt Johnstown, seven are former Pennsylvania State Place winners. Heading this year’s recruiting class are Chris Dempsey (HWT.) (Sewickley, Pa./Ambridge H.S.), Steve Makin (Portage, Pa./Central Cambria H.S.) and Andrew Flegler (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth H.S.). Dempsey posted a 39-2 record as a senior and a 115-27 career record on his way to earning a Runner-up finish at the 2006 PA AAA State Tournament. Makin was 39-5 as a senior and placed third at the PA AA State Tournament, while Flegler ended the 2005-06 season with a 36-13 record (140-46 career record) and became a three-time PA AAA State Place winner.
In addition, three other 2005 PA State place winners signed with Pitt Johnstown. Nathan Tomporoski (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands H.S.) placed fourth in AAA at 215 lbs. Tomporoski posted a 43-4 overall record in 2005-06 and a 117-27 career record. Nathan Murin (Washington, Pa/Trinity H.S.) had a 40-7 record last season (117-48 career record) and placed seventh at the AAA Tournament at 171 lbs., while Mike Paronish (Northern Cambria, Pa./Northern Cambria H.S.) finished eighth at the AA Tournament at 125 lbs. Paronish ended with a 37-6 senior season record and a 114-22 career record.
Coach Pecora also signed 2005 PA State place winner Chris Decker (Port Matilda, Pa./State College Area H.S.), who placed fourth at 160 lbs. at the PA AAA State Tournament.
Five other Regional Qualifiers are also among this year’s recruiting class. Bellwood-Antis High School’s Josh Ervine (141 lbs.) (Tipton, Pa.), Burrell High School’s Zach Pisano (125/133 lbs.) (Lower Burrell, Pa.) and Gateway High School’s Brian Petrakis (141 lbs.) (Monroeville, Pa.) will also join the Mountain Cat wrestling team this fall. In addition, AAA Regional Qualifier D.J. Cassler (Philipsburg, Pa.) from Philipsburg-Osceola High School will become a member of the Pitt Johnstown squad.
Coach Pecora will also welcome walk-ons Mike Daugherty (Monaca, Pa./Center H.S.), Scott McGaffic (Warrenton, VA/Liberty H.S.) and Christopher Ramos (Allentown, Pa./Liberty H.S.) to the squad this fall.
Below is an Alphabetical List of the 2005-06 Pitt Johnstown Wrestling Recruits
NAME HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL H.S./ COLL. WT. SR./CAREER REC. PA STATE PLACE
D.J. Cassler Philipsburg, Pa. / Philipsburg-Osceola 135 / 141 lbs. 29-10 / (51-24) AAA Regional Qualifier
Mike Daugherty Monaca, Pa. / Center 140 / 141 lbs.
Chris Decker Port Matilda, Pa. / State College Area 160 / 165 lbs. AAA State 4th Place (2005)
Chris Dempsey Sewickley, Pa. / Ambridge HWT. / HWT. 39-2 / (115-27) AAA State Runner-Up
Josh Ervine Tipton, Pa. / Bellwood-Antis 135 / 141 lbs. AA Regional Qualifier
Andrew Flegler Nazareth, Pa. / Nazareth 125 / 133 lbs. 36-13 / (140-46) 3-time AAA Place Winner
Steve Makin Portage, Pa. / Central Cambria 171 / 174 lbs. 39-5 AA State 3rd Place
Scott McGaffic Warrenton, VA / Liberty 141 / 149 lbs. 34-4 / (108-49)
Nathan Murin Washington, Pa. / Trinity 171 / 184 lbs 40-7 / (117-48) AAA State 7th Place
Mike Paronish Northern Cambria, Pa. / Northern Cambria 125 / 125 lbs. 37-6 / (114-22) AA State Place 8th
Brian Petrakis Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway 135 / 141 lbs. AAA Regional Qualifier
Zach Pisano Lower Burrell, Pa. / Burrell 125 / 133 lbs. AA Regional Qualifier
Christopher Ramos Allentown, Pa / Liberty 171 / 174 lbs.
Nathan Tomporoski Natrona Heights, Pa. / Highlands 215 / 197 lbs. 43-4 / (117-27) AA State Place 4th
The Mountain Cats are coming off of a 24-4 dual meet season, their 19th Regional Championship and a sixth place finish at the National Tournament in 2005-06. Pitt Johnstown had four All-Americans, including 2006 National Champion Thad Benton (Claysburg, Pa./Claysburg-Kimmel H.S.) at 141 lbs. and 2006 National Runner-up Mike Corcetti (Export, Pa./Kiski Area H.S.) at 184 lbs. Other 2006 All-Americans included: Albert Miles (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan H.S.)-Fifth Place at 165 lbs., and Brandon Reasy (New Enterprise, Pa./Northern Bedford H.S.)-Sixth Place at 133 lbs. In addition, the Mountain Cats won their 19th Regional Championship under Coach Pecora and had seven wrestlers named to the NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team, including First Team selections Mike Fowler (197 lbs.) (Carrolltown, Pa./Cambria Heights H.S.), Eli Garshnick (174 lbs.) (Armagh, Pa./United H.S.), Ryon Mazzocco (125 lbs.) (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria H.S.), and Reasy.