The Millersville Marauders open the 2019-2020 dual meet season on Saturday evening against Pitt-Johnstown, the No. 1 team in the Division II pre-season NWCA poll. The Mountain Cats have six nationally-ranked wrestlers on the roster and have already won five dual meets in 2019. Millersville ended the 2018-2019 season with two straight dual meet victories and look to carry that momentum over to this winter.
ABOUT THE MARAUDERS
• The Marauders began the 2019-2020 season last Saturday at the Washington & Jefferson Invitational. Senior
Caleb Warner won the 285-pound bracket, while
Josh Walls (also at 285 pounds) and
Travis Kotelnicki (at 125 pounds) both earned runner-up finishes. Eight Marauders picked up at least three victories in the tournament.
• Three other Marauders (
Devin Flannery at 125,
Ryan McGuire at 141, and
Jackson Erb at 149) earned third-place finishes at the Washington & Jefferson Invitational.
Elijah Tuckey lost his first match of the tournament but wrestled back through the consolation bracket to claim fifth place at 141.
• There are 23 freshmen and sophomores on the Millersville roster.
• Millersville has recorded 12 falls and five technical falls in the 2019-2020 season.
SERIES HISTORY
All-time series vs. Pitt-Johnstown: 2-9
Series Streak: Pitt-Johnstown, eight wins
First Meeting: 1983-84, (W, 32-12)
Last Meeting: 2018-19 (L, 30-6)
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS WRESTLED
• The then-ranked-No.6 Mountain Cats claimed a 30-6 dual meet victory over the No. 18 Marauders.
•
Ryan McGuire and
Shane Ruhnke were the only Millersville wrestlers to earn victories. McGuire defeated Matt Siszka 4-2 in overtime while Ruhnke defeated Devin Austin 12-6.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
• UPJ head coach Pat Pecora is in his 44th season coaching the Mountain Cats and picked up his 600th career victory early this season. He is 14 wins shy of tying the record for most wins all-time across all NCAA divisions.
• Pitt-Johnstown returns six All-Americans, including two-time NCAA Division II National Champion Chris Eddins and 2019 National Champions Tyler Warner and Connor Craig, who transferred from Wheeling Jesuit University.
• The Mountain Cats have picked up dual meet victories over No. 22 East Stroudsburg, Centenary University, Long Island-Post, Ithaca College and American International College.
PROBABLE STARTERS
