01/20/06...Head Coach Pat Pecora became only the 18th wrestling coach in NCAA history to reach the 400-win mark when his #3-ranked Mountain Cats handed visiting Anderson (S.C.) College a lopsided, 37-4, loss Friday night in the Sports Center. Ryon Mazzocco (125 lbs.) (Cresson, Pa.), Thad Benton (141 lbs.) (Claysburg, Pa.) and Jay Matteo (149 lbs.) (New Castle, Pa.) all recorded falls to help Pitt Johnstown improve to 15-4 on the season.
Along with the three falls, junior Adam Musisko (McKeesport, Pa.) picked up a major decision victory at 174 lbs, while Joe Strittmatter (157 lbs.) (Ebensburg, Pa.), Rob Sakmar (165 lbs.) (Johnstown, Pa.), All-American Mike Corcetti (184 lbs.) (Export, Pa.), junior Mike Fowler (197 lbs.) (Carrolltown, Pa.) and red-shirt freshman Jon Neese (HWT.) Chambersville, Pa.) all won by decision. Anderson's lone win came by way of Anthony DiCarlo's major decision over Tom Brambley (Everett, Pa.) at 141 lbs.
With Friday's victory, Coach Pecora now has 400 career wins in 30 seasons at Pitt Johnstown. Pecora, who ranks 18th all-time among wrestling coaches in all divisions, has led his Mountain Cats to NCAA Division II National Championships in 1996 and 1999 and 18 NCAA Regional Championships. His Mountain Cat squads have also finished in the Top-20 in the nation 22 times. In his tenure, Pecora has tutored 106 NCAA All-Americans, eight individual National Champions and 69 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Academic Wrestling Team members.
After winning the 1999 National Title, Pecora received the NWCA Coaching Excellence Award given to the best coach in all divisions. He also coached the National All-Star Team, which showcased the best wrestlers from all divisions.
Pecora, a two-time Division II National Coach of the Year and an 11-time Regional Coach of the Year, has been inducted into the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame (2003), the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, East Boro Chapter (1994), the Cambria County Sports Hall of Fame (1998) and his Alma Mater, the West Liberty State (WV) College Hall of Fame (1998).
Pitt Johnstown travels to the East Coast Duals at Shippensburg University for four matches on Saturday, before returning home to host East Region rival and #16-ranked Gannon University on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Sports Center.
VS. ANDERSON (S.C.) COLLEGE - 01/20/06
#3 Pitt Johnstown 37 Anderson (S.C.) College 4
125 lbs. Ryon Mazzocco (UPJ) Fall Tyler Davis (AC) 4:38 6-0
133 lbs. Anthony DiCarlo (AC) Major Decision Tom Brambley (UPJ) 13-4 6-4
141 lbs. Thad Benton (UPJ) Fall Nick DiCarlo (AC) 6:07 12-4
149 lbs. Jay Matteo (UPJ) Fall Carl Waller (AC) 1:57 18-4
157 lbs. Joe Strittmatter (UPJ) Decision Herb Porter (AC) 3-1 21-4
165 lbs. Rob Sakmar (UPJ) Decision Matt Godwin (AC) 10-4 24-4
174 lbs. Adam Musisko (UPJ) Major Decision Hunter Garner (AC) 9-0 28-4
184 lbs. Mike Corcetti (UPJ) Decision Jeremy Smith (AC) 9-2 31-4
197 lbs. Mike Fowler (UPJ) Decision Dayo Scott (AC) 7-4 34-4
HWT. Jon Neese (UPJ) Decision Aaron Lambert (AC) 3-1 37-4
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