West Liberty Wrestlers Shock No. 8 Pitt-Johnstown

11/18/2011

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The West Liberty University wrestling team made its first dual match of the season a memorable one, winning the last four bouts to shock No. 8-ranked Pitt-Johnstown, 20-17, on the Mountain Cats' home mat.

Coach Brian Davis's Hilltoppers appeared to be dead in the water, looking up at a 17-4 deficit with six of the 10 bouts already in the books. Art Hobley's 17-4 major decision against Nick Katich at 149 pounds was WLU's lone win in the early going.

Jordan Nolan started the comeback with a fall against Travis McKillop at the 3:19 mark of their 174-pound match.

Matt Littleton followed with a crucial 8-6 decision in overtime against Gary Lantz at 184 pounds to pull the visitors within range at 17-13.

Things got even more interesting when Derrick Williams came through with a 9-6 win against Zak Newton at 197, cutting the deficit to a single point, 17-16, heading into the final match of the night.

West Liberty sent J.D. Ramsay, the nation's No. 7-ranked 285-pounder, out to the mat for the decisive match and Ramsay finished off the upset in impressive fashion, rolling to an 11-3 major decision against Josh Krupa to seal the win.

The Hilltoppers swing right back into action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. match at Shippensburg.

West Liberty 20, No. 8 Pitt-Johnstown 17
125: Dave Fogle (UPJ) md. Joe Wagstaff (WLU), 10-1
133: Ryan Link (UPJ) md. Dillon Nolte (WLU), 19-7
141: Jack Bachman (UPJ) d. Nick Wykoff (WLU), 9-3
149: Art Hobley (WLU) md. Nick Katich (UPJ), 17-4
157: Joel Paolo (UPJ) d. Mike Emery (WLU), 6-2
165: Zach Lundgren (UPJ) d. Jarrod Shaw (WLU), 6-2
174: Jordan Nolan (WLU) p. Travis McKillop (UPJ), 3:19
184: Matt Littleton (WLU) d. Gary Lantz (UPJ), 8-6 OT
197: Derrick Williams (WLU) d. Zak Newton (UPJ), 9-6
285: J.D. Ramsey (WLU) md. Josh Krupa (UPJ), 11-3


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