Roberts and Reinhart Capture NCAA Division II Championships; 9 PA All-Americans
Pitt-Johnstown head coach Pat Pecora is no stranger to success at the NCAA Division II National Championships and 2016 was another example of the Mountain Cats success in March. Pecora’s squad finished the team race in fourth place a year after finishing in 31st place. In 2015 Pecora stated, despite having a successful dual meet record of (12-2), his Mountain Cats were struck with multiple injuries during the individual post-season.
2016 will go down as one of the top seasons for Pecora and the Pitt-Johnstown Wrestling program. In the dual season Pecora, who is in his 40th year at the helm, saw the Mountain Cats finish third at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. Ending the season with a (15-1) dual record their only loss was to #2 St. Cloud who went on to finish second at the NWCA National Dual Championship.
The momentum kept rolling into the individual post-season as the Mountain Cats won the Super Region East and placed 9 of 10 wrestlers in the top 4 including two Tournament Champions. At the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship Pecora was confident his wrestlers would continue that success.
Nick Roberts (Pitt-Johnstown / North Star) was one of several stars for Pecora in 2016 and the former Ohio State Buckeye made a statement in his first Division II National Tournament appearance. The former 3x PIAA State Champion was the top seed at 133 lbs. but was on the same side of the bracket as 3x NCAA Finalist and 2x NCAA Champion Daniel DeShazer (Nebraska-Kearney). Roberts edged out DeShazer (4-3) to advance into his first National Finals. There Roberts defeated returning All-American sophomore Nick Crume (University of Indianapolis) by a (4-3) decision. Coach Pecora knew he had a special wrestler in Roberts stating “he has been really focused since arriving on campus. Nick wrestled a very tough opponent in the semifinals with a 2x National Champion. He just loves wrestling.”
Two additional Mountain Cats found themselves in the NCAA Championship Finals with redshirt sophomore Tyler Reinhart having one of the most impressive runs of the Tournament. Reinhart, a redshirt sophomore who was a PIAA State Medalist for Greensburg Salem, was relentless at 165 lbs. against the toughest of opponents. Reinhart was a NCAA Qualifier last season but in 2016 he had a monumental run to capture his first All-American honors and the NCAA National Championship. Reinhart fell in the Super Regional East Finals to fellow Keystone State grappler Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst / Bentowrth) in sudden victory (7-5 SV).
Entering his second straight NCAA Division II National Tournament Tyler Reinhart had a tough draw. After securing a narrow (2-1) decision in the first round Tyler faced St. Cloud State senior Clint Poster who last season was third at the NCAA National Tournament. Poster defeated Reinhart on January 8, 2016 by a (4-2) score. This time around Reinhart outlasted the third seed winning (9-8) in a wild quarterfinal bout.
Advancing into the semifinals Reinhart secured his first All-American honors but was not satisfied with just making it there. In the semifinals Tyler went into sudden victory and came away with a (5-3 SV) decision over Mathew Vandermeer (Lake Erie College) who he defeated (5-2) earlier in the season. On the top half of the bracket Super Region East Champion and top seed Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst / Bentworth) fell to Nick Fishback (Wisconsin-Parkside) score (8-1). In the finals Tyler Reinhart capped his unbelievable run with a fall (2:42) over Fishback to secure the NCAA National Championship.
In total an impressive nine (9) Pennsylvania Wrestlers earned All-American honors including five (5) who advanced into the NCAA National Finals. At 125 lbs. former Penn Trafford wrestler Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) advanced into the National Finals despite a Runner-up finish at the Super Region East a week prior. Bohince finished as an NCAA All-American for the third time in his career as the redshirt junior placed eighth and seventh previously. Also finishing as a National Runner-up was Joey Alessandro (Seton Hill / Hempfield Area) who advanced into the 141 lbs. finals. The Super Region East Runner-up scored a series of victories, including one over fellow Keystone State wrestler Bryce Killian (King / Middletown Area) in the first round (7-2), and advanced into the finals. The redshirt freshman fell to fourth seed Darren Wynn (McKendree) in the finals (12-8) to earn his first career All-American finish.
Pitt-Johnstown’s redshirt senior Travis McKillop (Burrell) became one of the most decorated wrestlers in Mountain Cat history at 184 lbs. finishing his career as a 4x NCAA All-American. The former PIAA State Champion from Burrell finished seventh at the NCAA National Tournament as a true-freshman. His sophomore season Travis moved up to 184 lbs. where he finished in third place at the NCAA Tournament before a Runner-up finish his junior season. McKillop took a redshirt season last year and in his final season again advanced into his second NCAA Finals.
“Unfortuantly for Travis he ran into one of the most decorated wrestlers in the history of NCAA Division II Wrestling” stated UPJ head coach Pat Pecora. The wrestler he is referring to is 4x NCAA Champion Joey Davis of Notre-Dame. In the Super Region East finals a week prior McKillop fell to Davis (4-3) as the two would meet again in the NCAA National Finals. McKillop had no issues advancing into his second career Finals appearance but again fell to Davis by a narrow (3-1) decision. Travis ended his season with a record of (34-2) with his only two defeats coming to Joey Davis.
In addition to the five NCAA National Finalists from Pennsylvania a total of four wrestlers from the Keystone State earned All-American honors. Kutztown senior and former Lock Haven wrestler Matt Martoccio (Council Rock South) placed sixth at 157 lbs. to earn his second career All-American finish.
Earning his third career All-American finish for Mercyhurst was redshirt senior Jeremy Landkowski (Burrell) who placed sixth at 149 lbs. for the second season in a row. As a sophomore he placed eighth at 149 lbs.
Landkowski’s teammate Francis Mizia (Mercyhurt / Bentworth) captured his second career All-American finish for the Lakers. The former PIAA State Champion and redshirt junior won the Super Region East at 165 lbs. defeating eventual National Champion Tyler Reinhart (Pitt-Johnstown / Greensburg Salem) in the finals (7-5 SV). As a sophomore Mizia placed sixth at the NCAA National Tournament in his second trip to Nationals. In 2016 he was the top seed at 165 lbs. but fell in the semifinals ending in fifth place.
Rounding out the NCAA All-Americans from Pennsylvania was heavyweight Andy Welton (Mercyhurst / Erie Tech) who earned his second straight NCAA All-American finish. The former PIAA State Runner-up was the top seed but was upset in the first round. The Mercyhurst junior bounced back to finish in seventh place a year after placing fifth.
Full brackets can be found here!
125 – Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst / Penn Trafford) – Runner-up
Champ. Round 1 – Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Jaret Singh (Maryville, MO) (Dec 2-1)
Quarterfinal – Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Ronald Wardleigh (Western St.) (Dec 9-4)
Semifinal – Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) won in sudden victory over Jacob Goodwin (Notre Dame, OH) (3-1 SV)
1st Place Match – Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.) won by decision over Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) (Dec 5-0)
125 – Evan Link (Pitt-Johnstown / Penn Cambria) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Evan Link (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Danny Swan (Lindenwood, MO) (Dec 9-2)
Quarterfinal – Ronzel Darling (Wis.-Parkside) won by decision over Evan Link (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Dustin Reed (Newman) won by decision over Evan Link (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 4-3)
133 – Nick Roberts (Pitt-Johnstown / North Star) – Champion
Champ. Round 1 – Nick Roberts (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Fern Giron (San Fran. St.) (Dec 8-4)
Quarterfinal – Nick Roberts (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Naquan Hardy (McKendree) (Dec 6-1)
Semifinal – Nick Roberts (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Daniel DeShazer (Neb.-Kearney) (Dec 2-1)
1st Place Match – Nick Roberts (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Nick Crume (Indianapolis) (Dec 4-3)
141 – John Marotto (Gannon / Plum) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – John Marotto (Gannon) won by decision over Pernevlon Shepperd (Wis.-Parkside) (Dec 5-3)
Quarterfinal – Darren Wynn (McKendree) won by fall over John Marotto (Gannon) (Fall 3:31)
Cons. Round 2 – Corbin Bennetts (Western St.) won by decision over John Marotto (Gannon) (Dec 3-0)
141 – Bryce Killian (King / Middletown Area) – (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill) won by decision over Bryce Killian (King, TN) (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Corbin Bennetts (Western St.) won by decision over Bryce Killian (King, TN) (Dec 4-2)
141 – Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill / Hempfield Area) – Runner-Up
Champ. Round 1 – Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill) won by decision over Bryce Killian (King, TN) (Dec 7-2)
Quarterfinal – Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill) won by major decision over Nate Rodriguez (Maryville, MO) (MD 11-3)
Semifinal – Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill) won by decision over Matt Nelson (St. Cloud St.) (Dec 13-10)
1st Place Match – Darren Wynn (McKendree) won by decision over Joseph Alessandro (Seton Hill) (Dec 12-8)
149 – Ty Lydic (Seton Hill / Greater Latrobe) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Jay Hildreth (St. Cloud St.) won by decision over Ty Lydic (Seton Hill) (Dec 8-4)
Cons. Round 1 – Ty Lydic (Seton Hill) won by decision over Brent Fickel (Ashland) (Dec 5-3)
Cons. Round 2 – Mech Spraggins (McKendree) won by decision over Ty Lydic (Seton Hill) (Dec 7-5)
149 – Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit / Hempfield Area) – (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 – John Hagerty (Maryville, MO) won by major decision over Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit) (MD 13-3)
Cons. Round 1 – Bradley Little (Fort Hays St.) won by major decision over Dominick Nania (Wheeling Jesuit) (MD 14-4)
149 – Jeremy Landowski (Mercyhurst / Burrell) – Sixth Place
Champ. Round 1 – Mech Spraggins (McKendree) won by decision over Jeremy Landowski (Mercyhurst) (Dec 12-7)
Cons. Round 1 – Jeremy Landowski (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Zach Dobbins (Newberry) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 2 – Jeremy Landowski (Mercyhurst) won by fall over Drew Schumann (Colorado Mesa) (Fall 6:07)
Cons. Round 3 – Jeremy Landowski (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Bradley Little (Fort Hays St.) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Semi – Nic Goebel (Findlay) won by decision over Jeremy Landowski (Mercyhurst) (Dec 7-2)
5th Place Match – Mech Spraggins (McKendree) won by decision over Jeremy Landowski (Mercyhurst) (Dec 4-3)
157 – Devin Austin (Pitt-Johnstown / Penn Trafford) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – JaCobi Jones (Colorado St.-Pueblo) won by decision over Devin Austin (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 6-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Devin Austin (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over DeAndre` Johnson (Limestone College) (Dec 8-7)
Cons. Round 2 – Greg Hegarty (Maryville, MO) won by decision over Devin Austin (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 6-1)
157 – Matt Martoccio (Kutztown / Council Rock South) – Sixth Place
Champ. Round 1 – Matt Martoccio (Kutztown) won by decision over Ian Steen (Western St.) (Dec 6-2)
Quarterfinal – Matt Martoccio (Kutztown) won by disqualification over Greg Hegarty (Maryville, MO) (DQ)
Semifinal – Brady Bersano (California Baptist) won by major decision over Matt Martoccio (Kutztown) (MD 10-1)
Cons. Semi – Jonatan Rivera (Notre Dame, OH) won in sudden victory over Matt Martoccio (Kutztown) (3-1 SV)
5th Place Match – Jordan Rinken (Upper Iowa) won by tech fall over Matt Martoccio (Kutztown) (TF-6:49/15-0)
157 – Scott Bosak (Belmont Abbey / State College Area) – (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Jordan Rinken (Upper Iowa) won by decision over Scott Bosak (Belmont Abbey) (Dec 6-4)
Cons. Round 1 – Chase White (Neb.-Kearney) won in sudden victory over Scott Bosak (Belmont Abbey) (3-1 SV)
165 – Tyler Reinhart (Pitt-Johnstown / Greensburg Salem) – Champion
Champ. Round 1 – Tyler Reinhart (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Alonzo Turner (Findlay) (Dec 2-1)
Quarterfinal – Tyler Reinhart (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Clint Poster (St. Cloud St.) (Dec 9-8)
Semifinal – Tyler Reinhart (Pitt.-Johnstown) won in sudden victory over Mathew Vandermeer (Lake Erie) (5-3 SV)
1st Place Match – Tyler Reinhart (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by fall over Nick Fishback (Wis.-Parkside) (Fall 2:42)
165 – Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst / Bentworth) – Fifth Place
Champ. Round 1 – Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst) won by major decision over Kade Kitchens (Shorter) (MD 19-5)
Quarterfinal – Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst) won in sudden victory over Tyler Mclean (Simon Fraser) (11-5 SV)
Semifinal – Nick Fishback (Wis.-Parkside) won by decision over Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst) (Dec 8-1)
Cons. Semi – Clint Poster (St. Cloud St.) won by major decision over Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst) (MD 13-2)
5th Place Match – Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Mathew Vandermeer (Lake Erie) (Dec 5-0)
174 – August Mizia (Mercyhurst / Bentworth) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – August Mizia (Mercyhurst) won by tech fall over John Filipek (McKendree) (TF-2:51/16-0)
Quarterfinal – Calvin Ochs (Neb.-Kearney) won by decision over August Mizia (Mercyhurst) (Dec 11-6)
Cons. Round 2 – Clayton Jennissen (St. Cloud St.) won by decision over August Mizia (Mercyhurst) (Dec 5-2)
174 – John Blankenship (Pitt-Johnstown / United) – (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Adam Cooling (Minn. St. Mankato) won by decision over John Blankenship (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 3-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Austin Harris (Western St.) won by decision over John Blankenship (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 6-3)
174 – Christopher Matthews (Gannon / Franklin) – (0-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Zeb Wahle (Maryville, MO) won by decision over Christopher Matthews (Gannon) (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Tarrence Williams (Colorado St.-Pueblo) won by major decision over Christopher Matthews (Gannon) (MD 12-2)
184 – Travis Mckillop (Pitt-Johnstown / Burrell) – Runner-up
Champ. Round 1 – Travis Mckillop (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Zack Slotten (Colorado Mesa) (Dec 4-0)
Quarterfinal – Travis Mckillop (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by major decision over Montrail Johnson (Wis.-Parkside) (MD 13-2)
Semifinal – Travis Mckillop (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Jon Inman (Fort Hays St.) (Dec 8-4)
1st Place Match – Joey Davis (Notre Dame, OH) won by decision over Travis Mckillop (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 3-1)
197 – Jacob Hart (Pitt-Johnstown / Hampton) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Jake Cramer (Tiffin) won by decision over Jacob Hart (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 6-5)
Cons. Round 1 – Jacob Hart (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by fall over Paul Wilson (Colorado Mines) (Fall 4:46)
Cons. Round 2 – Ryan Beltz (Maryville, MO) won by major decision over Jacob Hart (Pitt.-Johnstown) (MD 16-5)
197 – Brandon Clark (Kutztown / Pennridge) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Brandon Clark (Kutztown) won in tie breaker over Joseph Brandt (Ashland) (3-2 TB1)
Quarterfinal – Romero Cotton (Neb.-Kearney) won by fall over Brandon Clark (Kutztown) (Fall 0:25)
Cons. Round 2 – Marcus Haughian (Colorado Mesa) won by forfeit over Brandon Clark (Kutztown) (For.)
285 – Damon Sims (Pitt-Johnstown / Hopewell) – (1-2)
Champ. Round 1 – Malcolm Allen (Minn. St. Mankato) won by decision over Damon Sims (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 8-6)
Cons. Round 1 – Damon Sims (Pitt.-Johnstown) won by decision over Kyle Factor (Central Okla.) (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Cole Wilson (Southwest Minnesota St.) won by decision over Damon Sims (Pitt.-Johnstown) (Dec 8-3)
285 – Andy Welton (Mercyhurst / Erie Tech) – Seventh
Champ. Round 1 – Cole Wilson (Southwest Minnesota St.) won by decision over Andy Welton (Mercyhurst) (Dec 6-3)
Cons. Round 1 – Andy Welton (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Dylan Faulkenberg (Indianapolis) (Dec 3-0)
Cons. Round 2 – Andy Welton (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Garrett Gray (Tiffin) (Dec 4-1)
Cons. Round 3 – Jacob Mitchell (Colorado St.-Pueblo) won by fall over Andy Welton (Mercyhurst) (Fall 0:42)
7th Place Match – Andy Welton (Mercyhurst) won by decision over Cole Wilson (Southwest Minnesota St.) (Dec 6-0)