Seton Hill cut an early 13-point deficit to four, but the 18th-ranked Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers used pins from Corey Bush and Zac Bennett and pulled away from the Griffins for a 26-12 PSAC victory, Wednesday night in the Sports Center. Pitt-Johnstown made it five straight wins and improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC… (Full Results)
The Mountain Cats jumped on the Griffins to start. Evan Link opened the match with a dominating 10-0 win over Mike Soria at 125 lbs., and Bush pinned Collin Dees at 4:31 to make it 10-0 Pitt-Johnstown.
At 141 lbs., sixth-ranked Sam Hanau held off Pat Owens, 4-3, to increase it to 13-0.
Seton Hill battled their way back in it with three straight decision wins. Ty Lydic’s 3-1 overtime win over Cole Landowski at 149 lbs. got the Griffins on the board, before 2014 National Qualifier Zach Voytek dealt Steve Edwards a 6-3 loss at 157 lbs. Ryan Walters then earned a 9-5 decision over Boe Bonzo at 165 lbs. to get Seton Hill to within four.
However, John Blankenship and Adam Nickelson followed with victories for the Mountain Cats to end the Griffins’ run. At 174 lbs., Blankenship, ranked third in the region, dealt the region’s sixth-ranked wrestler Brett Smith an 8-3 setback, and Nickelson dealt Christian Bosco a 12-3 major decision loss at 184 lbs. to build the Pitt-Johnstown lead to 20-9.
After Devante Chance’s lay-up extended it to 38-26, Dale Clancy hit a late free-throw for the Mountain Cats to make it 38-27 at the break.
Seton Hill answered with a 7-6 overtime win by Morris Lawson over Forest Tuttle at 197 lbs., but it was a little too late for the Griffins. Bennett came out ant 285 lbs. and pinned Alex Soutiere at 58 seconds to give the Mountain Cats the 26-12 victory.
With the loss, Seton Hill dropped to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the PSAC.
Pitt-Johnstown travels to Millersville for a conference match on Saturday and to Wheeling Jesuit (WV) on January, 30, before returning home to host Lake Erie (OH) on February 6 at 7 p.m. and a tri-match with Ohio Valley (WV) and Tiffin (OH) on February 7.
125 lbs. Evan Link (UPJ) Major Decision Mike Soria (SHU) 10-0 4-0 UPJ 133 lbs. Corey Bush (UPJ) Fall Collin Dees (SHU) 4:31 10-0 UPJ 141 lbs. #6 Sam Hanau (UPJ) Decision Pat Owens (SHU) 5-4 13-0 UPJ 149 lbs. Ty Lydic (SHU) Decision Cole Landowski (UPJ) 3-1 SV1 13-3 UPJ 157 lbs. Zach Voytek (SHU) Decision Steve Edwards (UPJ) 6-3 13-6 UPJ 165 lbs. Ryan Walters (SHU) Decision Boe Bonzo (UPJ) 9-5 13-9 UPJ 174 lbs. John Blankenship (UPJ) Decision Brett Smith (SHU) 8-3 16-9 UPJ 184 lbs. Adam Nickelson (UPJ) Major Decision Christian Bosco (SHU) 12-3 20-9 UPJ 197 lbs. Morris Lawson (SHU) Decision Forest Tuttle (UPJ) 7-6 OT 20-12 UPJ 285 lbs. Zac Bennett (UPJ) Fall Alex Soutiere (SHU) :58 26-12 UPJ
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