THE RUNDOWN
- Final Score: No. 4 Pitt-Johnstown 21, No. 21 Gannon 10
- Records: Gannon (8-6, 5-2 PSAC) | Pitt-Johnstown (21-3, 7-0 PSAC)
- Location: Sports Center — Johnstown, Pa.
GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
KEY SEQUENCE
- Gannon began eating into an early Pitt-Johnstown lead with a major from Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) and an exciting decision from Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) in a matchup of nationally ranked foes at 165 to make it 12-7, but UPJ worked for close decisions in the next two bouts to keep the Golden Knights from completing a comeback.
HOW IT HAPPENED
125
Jacob Dunlop (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) got in on a single early but UPJ's Brendan Howard fought it off. After a scoreless first, Howard popped up for a quick escape on first whistle of the second, and he managed to sprawl out of another Dunlop shot to hold onto a 1-0 lead after two periods. Howard gave a strong ride on top in the third, but Dunlop nearly got around for a reversal at the end, as Howard needed to hold onto a leg to secure a 2-0 decision.
133
There was lots of handfighting and tie-ups through scoreless first period between
Austin Hertel (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) and UPJ's Tyler Warner, and Warner spin around for quick escape to start the secon. Warner's first shot of the match came midway through the second, but Hertel sprawled out and forced a stalemate to keep it a 1-0 score after two. Hertel chose neutral to start the third, looking for a winning takedown, but Warner held him off.
141
UPJ's Jacob Ealy took the first shot, getting around for the opening takedown just over a minute in against
Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) and riding out the period. Ealy got the next takedown in the second to go up 6-0, but Young continued to push and got around for a reversal to make it 6-2 heading into the third. Young chose neutral and took advantage with a takedown, but Ealy escaped with 30 seconds left to hold on for an 8-5 win.
149
Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) had the challenge of going up against two-time national champion and No. 1 ranked Chris Eddins. Means took the first two shots, but Eddins sprawled out of each. His third shot in the first 90 seconds forced a stall call against Eddins, and he nearly converted it into the opening takedown as well, but Eddins countered and got a leg to get the two. Neutral to start the second, Eddins got a second takedown and ride out, and sealed his 6-0 win with a reversal in the third.
157
Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) got to a knee early and took UPJ's Jacob Burgette straight to his back. He got four back points out of it, but Burgette got back to his stomach. A second takedown made it an 8-1 lead after the first period, but Burgette cut into that lead with a takedown in the second. Fisler responded with a reversal nearly immediately to make it 10-3, and rang up a 13-3 major to cut into the Mountain Cat lead.
165
There wasn't much action early between the two nationally ranked wrestlers at 165. Farenchak wound up taking the first aggressive shot of the night midway through the third period, but Austin managed to sprawl his way out of it. Farenchak kept pushing though, and he hit high crotch on his follow-up with 25 seconds left and converted, holding on for 3-1 win to cut into the lead a bit more.
174
Connor Day (Elma, N.Y./Iroquois Central) fought off an early attempt by nationally ranked Brock Biddle, but Biddle converted later in the period to go up 2-0. A reversal on bottom in the second doubled that lead, and Biddle added a third-period takedown and riding time to secure a 7-1 decision that put extra pressure on the Knights' final three wrestlers.
184
Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) was the aggressor in the opening moments, but UPJ's Connor Craig used that momentum against him to notch the first takedown, and rode out the rest of the opening period. After an early escape by Craig to start the second, Leise got back into the match with a takedown near the edge midway through the second. Leise chose neutral down 4-2 to start the third period and showed a nice ankle pick with 1:20 left, but Craig wriggled free and fended off Leise the rest of the way to secure a decision.
197
Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) got to work early, pushing Alex Delp's head down and spinning around for a takedown in the first 20 seconds. He bumped his lead to 4-1 when he got into a leg for a second takedown. Nixon escaped quickly in the second, and got a strong ride going in the third, but Delp started mounting a comeback. A takedown near the edge with four seconds left momentarily tied it up at 5-5, but with Nixon already having the riding time point assured, Delp was forced to cut him, and couldn't get the tying score in the final seconds.
285
Gehrig Hutchison (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) took the first shot of the match, but UPJ's Allan Beattie was able to find the edge of the mat to escape danger. Beattie then got the first takedown with just over a minute left in the period, and added an escape and another takedown in the second. Hutchison kept pushing, but Beattie wouldn't yield a score to close the match.
MATCH NOTES
- For the second straight season, Gannon was wrestling its final dual of the season with the PSAC title on the line. UPJ had already locked up at least a share of the dual meet title entering Saturday night.
- Gannon saw its five-match winning streak snapped by the Mountain Cats.
- Fisler has won 10 matches in a row, and hasn't dropped a match since Jan. 5 against Edinboro.
- Fisler and Farenchak both finish the season unbeaten in PSAC duals, Fisler at 7-0 and Farenchak at 6-0.
- Six of the 10 weights featured both wrestlers ranked in the top six in the Super Region 1 coaches poll. UPJ went 4-2 in those matchups, but Gannon got the only upset according to those rankings with Farenchak (third) topping Austin (first).
- That win by Farenchak also evened the scorecard in matchups between two nationally ranked wrestlers on the night. He entered the night ranked eighth at 165, while Austin was fourth.
- Gannon closed its PSAC slate outscoring opponents 207-80 in seven duals.
UP NEXT
- The Golden Knights head to the postseason, taking part in the NCAA Super Region 1 Championships Feb. 29 at Mercyhurst.
