Nania Fall Highlights a Tough WJU Wrestling Night Against No. 3 UPJ

January 29, 2016

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – As he fought defensively, Dominick Nania reversed the momentum into his own fall and highlighted the Wheeling Jesuit wrestling effort against No. 3 Pitt-Johnstown Friday night. The host Mountain Cats, though, claimed eight of the 10 bouts for the 32-9 team victory.

"Tonight, we got beat up a little bit. UPJ is very good and with some new faces in the lineup they're serious contenders to win a national championship in March," said WJU head coach Sean Doyle. "In our few years, we continue to have some issues with dual meets and wrestling off of the hour weigh in. Fortunately, we've performed very well in tournament environments and that's what our post season entails. A year ago, we won one match against UPJ in the dual meet and finished above them in the regional tournament."

The Cardinals (7-5) totaled their highest point total in three dual matches against the perennial NCAA Division II power Mountain Cats (12-1) of nine points. It was WJU's fifth dual loss in a row, all to top 15-ranked teams.

Nania, who won the lone match last year by fall as well, was the Cardinals lone win until the team's hottest wrestler, Terrance Fanning, stole the 197-pound match in the final seconds.

The redshirt freshman scored a reversal takedown in the last three seconds over UPJ's Jacob Hart, 4-2. Fanning claimed his fifth dual win in a row and took his season record to 16-4.

"Dom and Terrance both continue to do a great job, and tonight, they beat two individuals that were part of Division I programs not long ago," noted Doyle.

In his first action of the year, WJU's Dean Meyer wrestled strong against the Region's No. 3 ranked wrestler, John Blankenship of UPJ. The Cardinals sophomore gave up only an early second-period escape, before Blankenship added a riding time point for the 2-0 decision win.

At 125, No. 6 ranked nationally Evan Link of UPJ earned a 6-1 decision over No. 5 rated Dustin Warner to begin the night.

WJU returns home for the second time this season on Sunday, Jan. 31. The Cardinals host the Warriors of East Stroudsburg in a noon match.

#3 Pitt-Johnstown vs. #16 Wheeling Jesuit (WV) University
125 lbs. #6 Evan Link (UPJ) Decision #5 Dustin Warner (WJU) 6-1 – 3-0 UPJ
133 lbs. Nick Roberts (UPJ) Major Decision Nolan Whitely (WJU) 16-3 – 7-0 UPJ
141 lbs. #8 Sam Hanau (UPJ) Technical Fall Damon Outward (WJU) 19-4 (4:08) – 12-0 UPJ
149 lbs. Dominick Nania (WJU) Fall Travis Shaffer (UPJ) 2:24 – 12-6 UPJ
157 lbs. Devin Austin (UPJ) Major Decision Reyse Wallbrown (WJU) 10-2 – 16-6 UPJ
165 lbs. Tyler Reinhart (UPJ) Major Decision Keegan Driscoll (WJU) 13-2 – 20-6 UPJ
174 lbs. John Blankenship (UPJ) Decision Dean Meyer (WJU) 2-0 – 23-6 UPJ
184 lbs. #2 Travis McKillop (UPJ) Technical Fall Sawyer Leppla (WJU) 18-0 (6:18) – 28-6 UPJ
197 lbs. Terrance Fanning (WJU) Decision Jacob Hart (UPJ) 4-2 – 28-9 UPJ
285 lbs. #3 D.J. Sims (UPJ) Major Decision Logan Bowman (WJU) 9-1 – 32-9 UPJ


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