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BY ERIC KNOPSNYDER
SPORTS@TRIBDEM.COM
PITTSBURGH – Pitt’s Division I wrestling program beat Pitt-Johnstown’s Division II squad 32-8 Friday, but coaches and administrators from both sides said the historic dual meet was a victory for all involved.
The dual marked the first opportunity for Pitt-Johnstown – which started wrestling in 1973 – to face the main campus program. It was a dream come true four months too late for former Mountain Cats coach Pat Pecora, who died in September. Pitt honored Pecora with a moment of silence before the match and played a video tribute to the winningest coach in college wrestling history.
Pecora always wanted to prove that his teams could compete against bigger programs, and much of the announced crowd of 1,015 was supporting the Mountain Cats.
“We’re just a small, little branch campus, but we can pack the stands, too,” Pitt-Johnstown coach Tyler Reinhart said.
“The culture we have, that Coach created, we’re going to keep that going forever.”
Jem Spectar, Pitt-Johnstown’s president, and Abby Gearhart, the school’s associate vice president for student affairs and athletics, joined hundreds of Pitt-Johnstown fans in making the trip west in a snowstorm. Afterward, they joined the wrestlers and fans for a group photo.
“Absolutely exciting for our guys,” Spectar said. “Great experience. It’s all Pitt, and we love the fact that our guys can compete.
“We’re very proud of our guys.” Jen Tuscano, a Meyersdale Area High School and Pitt-Johnstown graduate who is now Pitt’s executive associate athletic director, was proud to have played a role in the evening, which welcomed former wrestlers from both programs.
“It was amazing,” Tuscano said. “Having an event where our alumni and the Pitt-Johnstown alumni could interact and connect was great, but what we could do for Coach Pecora and his family was the most important thing.”
The crowd gave a standing ovation to the Pecora family, and despite struggling for most of the night against a lineup that only included one Pitt starter in his regular weight class, the Mountain Cats won the final two bouts.
Heavyweight Isaiah Vance capped the night with a dramatic 9-6 victory thanks to a late takedown that brought a large cheer from the Pitt-Johnstown fans.
“This was awesome, knowing that Coach wanted to do this for years,” Vance
Please see NIGHT, B2
Pitt’s Anthony Santaniello (right) controls Pitt-Johnstown’s Chad Ozias during their 149-pound bout Friday at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh. It was the first meeting between the two programs and attracted a large number of supporters from both schools.
ERIC KNOPSNYDER/ FOR THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT
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said after his win over Mustafa Woodi. “To be able to come out here and go as hard as we can, it feels like it was the best way of honoring Coach in our own way. Instead of sending flowers, we’re out here fighting like dogs in the pit.”
Dakoda Rodgers picked up Pitt-Johnstown’s other victory, an 18-2 technical fall over Daniel Gurovich at 197 pounds.
“It was awesome,” Reinhart said. “I think we still gave them a little bit too much credit, but it’s an atmosphere that none of them have wrestled in. It’s kind of hard to let it fly sometimes – easier said than done. We finished with two wins. I think we could have squeezed in another win or two there.”
Pitt’s Nick Babin scored a takedown and four nearfall points in the first period, then added another set of backpoints and a riding-time point for a 12-0 major decision over Trevon Gray at 125 pounds.
Tyson Cook gave the Pitt-Johnstown fans something to cheer about at 133 pounds when he reversed Tyler Chappell and turned him for four backpoints, but the Panther rallied for an 8-6 victory.
Pitt added a major decision at 141, where Briar Priest beat Mason Myers 17-3, then Anthony Santaniello scored four takedowns in a 16-1 technical fall over Chad Ozias at 149.
Jack Pletcher beat Cooper Warshel, a Richland graduate who started his career at Pitt before transferring to Pitt-Johnstown, 11-3 at 157.
Grant MacKay defeated Gavyn Beck 15-0, Matedo de la Pena decisioned Macon Myers 6-2 and Chase Kranitz won 12-0 over Noah Gnibus to make it 32-0 with two bouts to go.
Pitt coach Keith Gavin was happy to be able to get some experience for his backups.
“It turned into a great opportunity for some of our guys that don’t usually get out there to go do it,” Gavin said. “I think they were grateful for that, and they wrestled well.”
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