University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
At Pennsylvania Dual Championships - 11/13/05
#3 Wrestlers Post 2-1 Record at Pennsylvania State Dual Tournament
11/13/05...Head Coach Pat Pecora and the NCAA Division II #3-ranked Mountain Cat wrestlers opened the 2005-06 dual meet schedule with an impressive 2-1 record at Sunday's Pennsylvania State Dual Championships at Penn State University. After suffering a 31-10 loss to Division I #12-ranked Penn State, Pitt Johnstown rebounded with a 26-12 win over Division I Clarion University and a 30-7 win over East Region rival Mercyhurst College. Mountain Cat sophomores Albert Miles (165 lbs.) (Canonsburg, Pa.) and Mike Corcetti (184 lbs.) (Export, Pa.) both recorded 3-0 records at the tournament.
The Mountain Cats opened the tournament with with a 31-10 loss to the Nittany Lions. Pitt Johnstown trailed 19-0 after the first five bouts, despite several very competitive meatches. Sophomore Albert Miles (Canonsburg, Pa.) got Pitt Johnstown on the scoreboard and cut the Penn State lead to 19-4 with a 13-5 major decision over Mark Friend in the 165-lb. bout. The Nittany Lions increased their lead to 22-4 with a decision victory at 174 lbs., before Corcetti, Division II's #1-ranked wrestler at 184 lbs., pinned Chad Unger at 6:53 to make the score 22-10. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions earned a fall at 197 lbs. and a 3-2 decision over the Mountain Cats' Zach Majocha (Upper Burrell, Pa.) at heavyweight to set the final score at 31-10.
Coach pecora and the Mountain Cats rebounded from the opening round loss with a convincing, 26-12 win over Division I Clarion University. Pitt Johnstown jumped on the Golden Eagles early with a decision victory by senior National Runner-up Ryon Mazzocco (125 lbs.) (Cresson, Pa.), a fall at 2:41 by sophomore Brandon Reasy (133 lbs.) (New Enterprise, Pa.) and a 13-3 major decision by 2005 National Champion Thad Benton (141 lbs.) (Claysburg, Pa.). Clarion claimed decision wins at 149 lbs. and 157 lbs., before Miles (165 lbs.) put Pitt Johnstown up, 16-6, with a 3-1 victory over Logan Downes at 165 lbs. The Golden Eagles' Dave Gardner pinned Eli Garshnick (174 lbs.) (Armagh, Pa.) at 3:38 to cut the Pitt Johnstown lead to 16-12, but Corcetti, junior Mike Fowler (197 lbs.) (Carrolltown, Pa.) and Majocha finished the match with decision wins to set the final score at 26-12 in favor of the Mountain Cats.
Pitt Johnstown ended the day with a 30-7 win over Mercyhurst College. Once again, the Mountain Cats jumped out to a big lead. This time, Mazzocco (125 lbs.), Reasy (133 lbs.) and Benton (141 lbs.) gave Pitt Johnstown a 13-0 lead with a major decision, a decision and a fall. Mercyhurst got back into the match with a decision win at 149 lbs. and major decision victory at 157 lbs. However, that was as close as the Lakers would get, as the Mountain Cats would win the final five bouts. Miles (165 lbs.) and Majocha (HWT.) earned major decisions, sandwiched around decision wins by junior Adam Musisko (174 lbs.) (McKeesport, Pa.), Corcetti (184 lbs.) and Fowler (197 lbs.).
Pitt Johnstown will open its home dual meet schedule against West Liberty State (WV) College on Monday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sports Center.
Last Reviewed: November 13, 2005