ERIE. Pa. - The fifth-ranked Mercyhurst University wrestling team won its third consecutive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Division II Regular Season Dual Championship Saturday night when it vanquished 16th-ranked Pitt-Johnstown 24-15 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Lakers improved to 18-1 overall and to 7-0 in the conference. The Mountain Cats fell to 12-2 and 5-2.

Mercyhurst trailed 6-3 after the first three matches, but rallied to win five of the next six, including three by major decision and another by fall. Mercyhurst forfeited the heavyweight bout, reducing the victory margin to nine.

Redshirt sophomore Willie Bohince earned his 28th victory of the season to open the night, getting the only point of the match against UPJ's Evan Link on an escape in the second period. Bohince moved to 28-4 overall and 18-1 in duals.

After redshirt senior Ryan Bohince and redshirt junior Kody Young suffered losses at 133 and 141 respectively, redshirt junior Jeremy Landowski and redshirt sophomore Francis Mizia posted back-to-back major decision wins at 149 and 157 to put the Lakers back in front by a 11-6 margin. Landowski defeated his cousin, Cole Landowski, by a 15-2 margin while Mizia earned a 12-0 win.

The 165-pound bout featured two nationally-ranked grapplers - redshirt junior Angelo Bortoluzzi and UPJ's Tyler Reinhart. Bortoluzzi led 4-3 early in the third period after an escape but Reinhart countered with a late takedown and added a riding time point for a 6-4 victory. Bortoluzzi dropped to 24-7 overall and 16-3 in duals this season.

But, the Lakers responded with three straight victories to put the match out of reach. Redshirt junior August Mizia earned a major decision win at 174 while sophomore Dakota DesLauriers pinned Nick Pasqualle in just 48 seconds at 184 pounds. Redshirt junior Brian Beattie mathematically ended the night with a 4-0 win at 197.

Mercyhurst won the first two PSAC regular season titles that the conference awarded - last year clinching the championship with a 23-15 victory at Pitt-Johnstown. It was the first time that Mercyhurst had defeated the Mountain Cats since head coach Mike Wehler took over the reins in 2007. The Lakers are now 3-12-1 lifetime against Pitt-Johnstown.

Both teams had nationally-ranked grapplers who participated Saturday night. Mercyhurst entered the match with five wrestlers in the top eight of their respective weight classes - Bohince (4th at 125), Landowski (7th at 149), Francis Mizia (6th at 157), Bortoluzzi (4th at 165), and August Mizia (5th at 174). Pitt-Johnstown had a pair in the national rankings - Sam Hanau (6th at 141) and Reinhart (7th at 165).

The most interesting match of the night came at 149 where Landowski squared off against his cousin, Cole Landowski. Mercyhurst's Landowski won Saturday night's bout by a major decision, 15-2. He also defeated his cousin 5-3, last season in their first-ever meeting at the collegiate level. The two met again in the Super Region I Tournament last season with Mercyhurst's Landowski earning a 5-1 decision.

Before the match, Mercyhurst recognized seniors Ryan Bohince, Grant Chase, Nick Hannan, and Ryan Martini.

The Lakers will conclude the regular season Wednesday, February 18, when they host Findlay at 7:00 p.m.

#5 Mercyhurst 24, #16 Pitt Johnstown 15
125 – Willie Bohince (MER) decision over Evan Link (UPJ), 1-0
133 – Corey Bush (UPJ) decision over Ryan Bohince (MER), 4-2
141 – Sam Hanau (UPJ) decision over Kody Young (MER), 7-4
149 - Jeremy Landowski (MER) major decision Cole Landowski (UPJ), 15-2
157 - Francis Mizia (MER) major decision over Steve Edwards (UPJ), 12-0
165 – Tyler Reinhart (UPJ) decision over Angelo Bortoluzzi (MER), 6-4
174 - August Mizia (MER) major decision over John Blankenship (UPJ), 9-1
184 - Dakota DesLauriers (MER) fall over Nick Pasqualle, 0:48
197 – Brian Beattie (MER) decision over Forrest Tuttle (UPJ), 4-0
285 – Damon Sims (UPJ) won by forfeit