JOHNSTOWN — Ryan Link’s technical fall to start the match helped No. 10-ranked Pitt-Johnstown build a 12-0 lead after three matches en route to a 27-12 season-opening victory over No. 16 West Liberty University on Friday. UPJ is now 1-0.
Redshirt freshman Link made a great impression in his first career home match with a 23-7 technical fall over Justin Fisher at 6:10 at 125 pounds.
“We knew it was going to be a tough one,” said UPJ coach Pat Pecora.
“They’re ranked 16th in the nation and third in our region. It was a battle. We wrestled well in spots.
“We came out real strong at 125, Ryan Link has been a real bright spot in our new guys. He just did a great job.”
Shane Valko, the 2009 national runner-up and the nation’s No 1-ranked wrestler at 133 pounds, followed with a 17-8 major decision over No. 8 Nick Wycoff, before All-American and top-ranked Adam Whetstone increased UPJ’s lead to 12-0 with a 5-3 decision over 2009 national qualifier Kayne Melko in the 141-pound bout.
West Liberty got back into the match with victories at 149 and 157. The Hilltoppers quickly cut the Mountain Cat lead in half when No. 3 Mitch Smith pinned Ryan McIntyre at 4:21. Then, Brian Leggett scored a 5-1 decision over Myers Miller to pull West Liberty to within three points at 12-9.
However, UPJ responded with four consecutive wins to seal the match.
All-American and No. 4-ranked Kyle Keane built a 4-2 lead after two periods and held off Jarrod Shaw for a 4-3 win to push the Mountain Cats’ lead out to 15-9.
Steve Makin earned a 7-1 decision over Matt Littleton, before two-time national qualifier and No. 6-ranked Patrick Walsh sealed the victory and gave UPJ a 24-9 advantage when he pinned Shawn Fullerton with :02 remaining in the first period.
The Mountain Cats added three more points after A.J. Brentzel broke a 2-2 tie with an escape early in the third period and held on for a 3-2 win to upset No. 3 Mitch Knapp at 197 pounds.
The Hilltoppers won their third bout of the night and set the final at 27-12 on Mike Carpenter’s 3-2 upset decision over two-time national qualifier Chris Dempsey at heavyweight.
The Mountain Cats travel to East Stroudsburg University on Dec. 2 and to the Penn State Open on Dec. 6. UPJ’s next home match will take place Jan. 6 at
7:30 p.m. when East Region rival Kutztown University visits the Sports Center.
“I’d like to see our guys wrestle with a little more aggressiveness in some of the weights,” Pecora said.
“I’m not a big proponent of hanging onto a one-point lead. I think we did that in some of our matches. I’m disappointed in some of the matches.”
