It didn't take long for the Mountain Cats to build a double-digit lead. Ryan Link (Cresson, Pa.) won by forfeit at 125 lbs., and NCAA No. 1-ranked Shane Valko (133 lbs.) (Windber, Pa.) pinned David Bolger at 2:50 to give Pitt-Johnstown a 12-0 lead.
NCAA No. 5-ranked Adam Whetstone (Claysburg, Pa.) won 10-4 over Tony D'Urso at 141 lbs., and East Region No. 5 Ryan McIntyre (Claysburg, Pa.) built the lead to 18-0 and made it four straight wins to start the match with a 6-0 decision over Robert Blatzer at 149 lbs.
Mercyhurst got on the scoreboard with consecutive victories at 157 and 165 lbs. Two-time All-American and No. 3-ranked Andy Lamancusa held off Zach Lundgren (DuBois, Pa.), 8-6, in the 157-lb. bout. In the process, Lamancusa became the Laker's all-time "winningest wrester with 110 victories. Then, 2009 National champion and top-ranked Josh Shields made a second period takedown hold up in a 3-1 decision over All-American and No. 3-ranked Kyle Keane (Bradford, Pa.) at 165 lbs.
That was as close as Mercyhurst would get. Pitt-Johnstown won three of the final four matches to seal the lopsided win. Steve Makin (174 lbs.) (Portage, Pa.), ranked fifth in the East Region, got the Mountain Cats going again with a fall over Pat Carter at 2:27, before East Region No. 4 Patrick Walsh (Leesport, Pa.) scored a 10-1 major decision over Eric Lundgren at 197 lbs. to extend the lead to 28-6.
East Region No. 3 A.J. Brentzel (Irwin, Pa.) defeated Chris Nocchi, 6-2, at 197 lbs., before Mercyhurst set the final at 31-9 when East Region No. 2 Fred Hale earned an 8-4 decision over East Region No. 6 Chris Dempsey (Sewickley, Pa.) at heavyweight.
Prior to the match, Pitt-Johnstown recognized this year's seniors...Valko (133 lbs.), Whetstone (141 lbs.), McIntyre (149 lbs.), Keane (165 lbs.) and Walsh (184 lbs.).
With the loss, the Lakers fell to 5-12.
The Mountain Cats travel to Seton Hill University on Sunday and to Shippensburg University on Wednesday, before hosting the 2010 NCAA Division II Super Region I Tournament on February 26-27 in the Sports Center.
Results:
125 - Ryan Link (UPJ) Won By Forfeit 6-0 UPJ
133 - #1 Shane Valko (UPJ) Fall David Bolger (MC) 2:50 12-0 UPJ
141 - #5 Adam Whetstone (UPJ) Decision Tony D'Urso (MC) 10-4 15-0 UPJ
149 - Ryan McIntyre (UPJ) Decision Robert Blatzer (MC) 6-0 18-0 UPJ
157 - #3 Andy Lamancusa (MC) Decision Zach Lundgren (UPJ) 8-6 18-3 UPJ
165 - #1 Josh Shields (MC) Decision #3 Kyle Keane (UPJ) 3-1 18-6 UPJ
174 - Steve Makin (UPJ) Fall Pat Carter 2:27 24-6 UPJ
184 - Patrick Walsh (UPJ) Maj. Dec. Eric Lundgren (MC) 10-1 28-6 UPJ
197 - A.J. Brentzel (UPJ) Decision Chris Nocchi (MC) 6-2 31-6 UPJ
HWT. - Fred Hale (MC) Decision Chris Dempsey (UPJ) 8-4 31-9 UPJ
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