JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) and Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) picked up impressive wins, but four narrow losses cost the Gannon University men's wrestling team its first PSAC loss of the season.

In a showdown of nationally ranked teams, No. 7 Pitt-Johnstown defeated No. 14 Gannon 28-6 on Wednesday at UPJ Sports Center. The Mountain Cats moved to 10-0 overall and 3-0 in the PSAC, while Gannon slipped to 4-5 and 1-1.

Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside), a graduate student who started the season late after recovering from a season-ending injury in 2021-22, moved to 5-0 with a win at 165 pounds. He defeated No. 11-ranked Dillon Keane 4-1.

Senior Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) claimed Gannon's other victory with a solid 8-1 decision over Dakoda Rodgers at 197 pounds. Leise improved to 3-2 since returning to the lineup this month.

A series of close setbacks was the difference in the match, though. A takedown here or there could swung the dual in Gannon's direction.

With UPJ leading 6-0, Gannon 133-pounder Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) lost a tough 1-0 decision to Byron Daubert.

UPJ led 13-0 when the premier match of the dual – and perhaps throughout NCAA Division II this week – took place. No. 2-ranked Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) of Gannon faced No. 1 Jacob Ealy of UPJ, and the showdown of top-ranked competitors did not disappoint.

The match was close throughout and Young had a chance to claim the upset in the final minute but could not get the decisive takedown. Ealy improved to 18-0 while Young dipped to 18-4.

Gannon's No. 8-ranked Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) also had a highly competitive match against No. 9 Nate Smith of UPJ. Smith was able to fend off Means' takedown attempts throughout the match after Means came close on several occasions. Means saw his record slide to 17-5.

Another narrow Gannon loss occurred at 174 pounds, where Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg Area) lost to Alex Weber 4-3. Casilio made a valiant effort at a reversal at the buzzer but could not convert the tying points.

Gannon will now prepare to host Shippensburg on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Highmark Events Center.
 
At UPJ Sports Center
 
No. 7 PITT-JOHNSTOWN 28, No. 14 GANNON 6
125 lbs. -- Trevon Gray (UPJ) fall over Jose Diaz (Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler) (GU) 0:48
133 lbs. -- Byron Daubert (UPJ) dec. Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) (GU) 1-0
141 lbs. -- Caleb Morris (UPJ) maj. dec. Joel Huck (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) (GU) 8-0
149 lbs. – No. 1 Jacob Ealy (UPJ) dec. No. 2 Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (GU) 7-6
157 lbs. – No. 9 Nate Smith (UPJ) dec. No. 8 Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (GU) 3-1
165 lbs. -- Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) (GU) dec. No. 11 Dillon Keane (UPJ) 4-1
174 lbs. -- Alex Weber (UPJ) dec. Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg Area) (GU) 4-3
184 lbs. – No. 8 Brock Biddle (UPJ) dec. Cole Hivnor (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic) (GU) 7-0
197 lbs. -- Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (GU) dec. Dakoda Rodgers (UPJ) 8-1
285 lbs. – No. 5 Isaiah Vance (UPJ) dec. Eli Reese (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) (GU) 9-2