KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- No. 1 Pitt-Johnstown collected a pair of pins and a technical fall to defeat No. 15 Kutztown, 31-12, Friday night in an early-season dual between PSAC contenders.

In a matchup of nationally-ranked grapplers at 125 pounds, UPJ's No. 7 Brendan Howard got the best of the Golden Bears' 12th-ranked Matt Wilde (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), 10-4, but Kutztown (1-1, 1-1 PSAC) quickly evened the match on Collin Wickramaratna's (Malton, N.J./Cherokee) second straight dual win, a 9-3 decision over Matt Siszka at 133.

The Mountain Cats (7-2, 3-0) gained the upper hand by winning the next three weight classes with bonus points in each bout. Jacob Ealy won by technical fall at 141, defending national champion and top-ranked Chris Eddins picked up a pin at 149 and Nate Smith grabbed a major decision at 157 to make it 18-3.

Chad Haegele (Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood), 11th in the NWCA Preseason Rankings at 157, continued his successful start to the year having bumped up to 165. An early second period escape and takedown vaulted Haegele to a 3-0 lead over Gage Thomas, before Thomas retired 1:45 into the period.

UPJ increased its lead to 31-9 on a major decision by No. 4 Brock Biddle at 174, a pin from No. 3 Connor Craig at 184 and a decision from Alex Delp at 197.

Kutztown's final points came from defending heavyweight national champ and No. 1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic), who held off Allan Beattie, 4-2. Following a scoreless first period, Dunn Jr. scored a takedown and gained a penalty point for a 3-2 lead. An escape from bottom to start the third provided the final margin of victory.

The Golden Bears will break from dual competition until the new year, next competing in the Centenary (N.J.) Bob Quade Cyclone Open on Sunday, Dec. 8.

 

#15 KUTZTOWN at #1 PITT-JOHNSTOWN Friday, November 22, 2019 | Johnstown, Pa. (Sports Center)
WT.		KUTZ	UPJ
125	#7 Brendan Howard (UPJ) dec. #12 Matt Wilde (KUTZ), 10-4	0	3
133	Collin Wickramaratna (KUTZ) dec. Matt Siszka (UPJ), 9-3	3	3
141	Jacob Ealy (UPJ) tech. fall Michael Albergo (KUTZ), 16-0 (2:52)	3	8
149	#1 Chris Eddins (UPJ) pinned Michael Cusick (KUTZ), 2:45	3	14
157	Nate Smith (UPJ) major dec. AJ Bencivenga (KUTZ), 11-3	3	18
165	#11 Chad Haegele (KUTZ) injury def. Gage Thomas (UPJ), 4:45	9	18
174	#4 Brock Biddle (UPJ) major dec. Connor Rogovich (KUTZ), 13-2	9	22
184	#3 Connor Craig (UPJ) pinned James Potts (KUTZ), 3:30	9	28
197	Alex Delp (UPJ) dec. Robert Spezza (KUTZ), 7-4	9	31
285	#1 Andrew Dunn Jr. (KUTZ) dec. Allan Beattie (UPJ), 4-2	12	31