Pitt Johnstown 18 Clarion 15

Clarion matmen fall to UPJ, 18-15

JOHNSTOWN — Clarion University split the 10 bouts and held a 15-12 lead with two remaining, but Pitt-Johnstown claimed the final two bouts Friday to log a 18-15 win over the visiting Golden Eagles in non-league wrestling action.

UPJ, ranked fourth in the nation in NCAA Division II, improved to 11-2 on the season while Clarion slipped to 5-7.

Clarion’s Clint Podish won a 4-2 decision over Patrick Walsh at 184 pounds to give the visitors a 15-12 lead. Podish scored a takedown with five seconds left in the third period for the difference.

The host Mountain Cats used a 5-4 win at 197 by A.J. Brentzel and a 3-1 decision by Chris Dempsey at 285 to secure the victory.

Clarion started strong with four wins in the first five bouts.

Freshman Joe Waltko hit a headlock for a four-point move late in the third period to notch a 6-5 win at 125. Greg Lewis used a pair of takedowns in a 7-3 win at 141 and 18th-ranked James Fleming posted a 6-0 whitewash at 149 before Hadley Harrison had two takedowns in a 6-3 victory at 157.

UPJ’s Kyle Keane and Steve Makin followed with decisions at 165 and 174, respectively, to knot the dual at 12-12 entering the final three bouts.

Clarion will wrestle at Pitt on Thursday at Fitzgerald Fieldhouse.

PITT-JOHNSTOWN 18 CLARION 15
125 - Joe Waltko (CU) Decision Ryan Link (UPJ) 6-5 3-0 CU
133 - Div. 2 #1 Shane Valko (UPJ) Fall Jay Invanco (CU) 1:05 6-3 UPJ
141 - Greg Lewis (CU) Decision Div. 2 #5 Adam Whetstone (UPJ) 7-3 6-6 TIE
149 - Div. I #20 James Fleming (CU) Decision Ryan McIntyre (UPJ) 6-0 9-6 CU
157 - Div. I #18 Hadley Harrison (CU) Decision Zach Lundgren (UPJ) 6-3 12-6 CU
165 - Div. 2 #3 Kyle Keane (UPJ) Decision Justin McCrillis (CU) 10-6 12-9 CU
174 - Steve Makin (UPJ) Decision Steven Cressley (CU) 7-4 12-12 TIE
184 - Clint Podish (CU) Decision Patrick Walsh (UPJ) 4-2 15-12 CU
197 - A.J. Brentzel (UPJ) Decision Alex Thomas (CU) 5-4 15-15 TIE
HWT - Chris Dempsey (UPJ) Decision Quintas McCorkle (CU) 3-1 18-15 UPJ