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KUTZTOWN, Pa. – It's the match that's been circled on Kutztown's calendar all pre-season, and it's finally time for the nationally-ranked showdown between the 12th-ranked Kutztown University wrestling team and eighth-ranked University of Pitt-Johnstown on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Sports Center in Johnstown, Pa.
 
Both teams enter the matchup with nationally-ranked wrestlers, who look to set the tone for a match between longtime rivals and first-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents. The Golden Bears (2-1) are coming off a successful trip at the East Stroudsburg Open in which they placed four wrestlers. They also competed in dual meet action at the Terrapin Duals in Kutztown's season-opener, where they went 2-1. Kutztown's only loss came at the hands of Division I Maryland.
 
Kutztown is searching for its first-ever victory over the Mountain Cats (2-0), who have taken down the Golden Bears in each of the last 14 seasons. With its balanced lineup and a preseason national-favorite as its anchor, Kutztown might be facing its greatest opportunity to earn its elusive first victory.
 
Heavyweight Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)) picked up three wins and an appearance in the championship bout at last weekend's ESU Open. He will be facing off against eighth-ranked Josh Duplin for the third time of his career. Haddad won by a 10-3 decision in last year's dual meet, and by a 12-4 major decision at the Super Region I Championships. If Friday's match starts at 125 pounds, look for the heavyweight matchup to potentially decide the nationally-ranked bout.
 
133 pounds will feature a pair of 2013 national qualifiers. Kutztown's Evan Yenolevich (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh (Edinboro)) is ranked sixth in Division II and moved down to 133 this season after competing at 141 last season. Pitt-Johnstown's Evan Link was a national qualifier at 125 last year as the two meet on Friday for the first of possibly many times this season.
 
Pitt-Johnstown expects great success from 125-pounder Dave Fogle this season. The 2012 All-American is ranked seventh in Division II and is off to a 2-0 start. He'll be facing off against Kutztown's Tom Traxler (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte), who is 3-3 this season. Notably, five of Traxler's six matches have been by decision.
 
The Golden Bears are hoping for some bonus-point victories at other classes as well. At 141, redshirt senior Mitch Voelker (Shoemakersville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) was a national qualifier last year and hopes to use his wealth of experience against redshirt freshman Lucas Palamides. At 197, Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) returns as a 2012 national qualifier and could face off against one of two Mountain Cats, both of whom have not seen much action at the collegiate level.
 
Senior Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) will have his hands full at 184 pounds against two-time All-American and second-ranked Travis McKillop. McKillop moved up to 184 last season and pinned Ortiz in their only meeting of the season. Ortiz, however, is off to a 4-3 start with three bonus victories and is aiming to score an upset win at 184.
 
Following its dual match, Kutztown will head to Edinboro on Dec. 7 for the PSAC Championships, where many of Friday's matches could be contested for a second time. Kutztown placed fifth last year, the top finish of all competing Division II teams.
 
Kutztown Probables
125 – Tom Traxler (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte)
133 – #6 Evan Yenolevich (New Tripoli, PA/Northwestern Lehigh (Edinboro)) (2013 National Qualifier)
141 – Mitch Voelker (Shoemakersville, PA/Schuylkill Valley) (2013 National Qualifier)
149 – Joe Esposito (Washington Township, N.J./Saint Augustine Prep)
157 – Matt Martoccio (Kintnersville, Pa./Council Rock South)
165 – Justin Heller (Allentown, Pa./Parkland)
174 – Bo Candelaria (Reading, Pa./Middletown)
184 – Giovanni Ortiz (Reading, PA/Reading) (2012 National Qualifier)
197 – Brandan Clark (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) (2012 National Qualifier)
285 – #1 Ziad Haddad (Orefield, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic (North Carolina)) (2013 All-American)
 
 
Pitt-Johnstown Probables
125 - #7 Dave Fogle (2012 All-American)
133 - Evan Link (2013 National Qualifier)
141 - Luke Palamides
149 - #6 Dave Cawley (2013 All-American)
157 - Sam Molina
165 - Gary Lantz (2-time Nat'l Qualifier) or John Blankenship
174 - Nikos Garafola
184 - #2 Travis McKillop (2-time All-American)
197 - Zak Newton OR Jordan Kitta
285 - #8 Josh Duplin (2013 National Qualifier)