Mountain Cat red-shirt 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 lbs.
Shane Valko (Windber, Pa.), the 2009 National Runner-up and the nation's No 1-ranked wrestler at 133 lbs., followed with a 17-8 major decision over No. 8 Nick Wycoff, before All-American and top-ranked Adam Whetstone (Claysburg, Pa.) increased Pitt-Johnstown's lead to 12-0 with a 5-3 decision over 2009 National Qualifier Kayne Melko in the 141-lb. bout.
West Liberty got back into the match with victories at 149 lbs. and 157 lbs. The Hilltoppers quickly cut the Mountain Cat lead in half when No. 3 Mitch Smith pinned Ryan McIntyre (Claysburg, Pa.) at 4:21. Then, Brian Leggett scored a 5-1 decision over Myers Miller (Bolivar, Pa.) to pull West Liberty to within three points, at 12-9.
However, Pitt-Johnstown responded with four consecutive wins to seal the match. All-American and No. 4-ranked Kyle Keane (Bradford, Pa.) 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 (Portage, Pa.) earned a 7-1 decision over Matt Littleton, before two-time National Qualifier and No. 6-ranked Patrick Walsh (Leesport, Pa.) sealed the victory and gave Pitt-Johnstown 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 (Irwin, Pa.) 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 lbs.
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 (Sewickley, Pa.) at heavyweight.
West Liberty is now 0-1 on the season.
The Mountain Cats travel to East Stroudsburg University on Dec. 2 and to the Penn State Open on December 6. Pitt-Johnstown’s next home match will take place on Wednesday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m. when East Region rival Kutztown University visits the Sports Center.
Results:
125 lbs.-Ryan Link (UPJ) Tech. Fall Justin Fisher (WLU) 23-7 (6:10) 5-0 UPJ
133 lbs.-#1 Shane Valko (UPJ) Maj. Dec. #8 Nick Wycoff (WLU) 17-8 9-0 UPJ
141 lbs.-#1 Adam Whetstone (UPJ) Decision Kayne Melko (WLU) 5-3 12-0 UPJ
149 lbs. - #3 Mitch Smith (WLU) Fall Ryan McIntyre (UPJ) 4:21 12-6 UPJ
157 lbs. - Brian Leggett (WLU) Decision Myers Miller (UPJ) 5-1 12-9 UPJ
165 lbs. - #4 Kyle Keane (UPJ) Decision Jarrod Shaw (WLU) 4-3 15-9 UPJ
174 lbs. - Steve Makin (UPJ) Decision Matt Littleton (WLU) 7-1 18-9 UPJ
184 lbs. -#6 Patrick Walsh (UPJ) Fall Shawn Fullerton (WLU) 2:58 24-9 UPJ
197 lbs. -A.J. Brentzel (UPJ) Decision #7 Mitch Knapp (WLU) 3-2 27-9 UPJ
HWT.-Mike Carpenter (WLU) Decision #6 Chris Dempsey (UPJ) 3-2 27-12 UPJ
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