JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Tanner Halling showcased why he’s the top-ranked 133-pound wrestler in Division II on Friday night, posting one of Frostburg State’s three victories in a 38-11 loss to No. 5 Pitt-Johnstown.
Nico D’Amico and Nick McCarthy also picked up wins for the Bobcats, which fell to 6-6 on the season. The Bobcats are 0-3 all time against their neighbors 60 miles to the north.
Halling looked to be in trouble early, as Pitt-Johnstown’s Brady Baker got in deep on a single-leg, but the true freshman from Boonsboro was able to scramble out of the position and end up with not only a takedown but also four nearfall points.
“I didn’t really expect him to get on my leg that fast, but the kid’s good,” Halling said. “I don’t even know what I did, but I came out on top and got to work. From there, you just keep stacking points. Eventually, you get the win.”
Halling tilted Baker later in the first period and led 11-0 entering the second. Another takedown — this one on a go-behind — and three more nearfall points gave him a 17-0 technical fall in 4:27.
“My hand’s been hurt, but it’s been getting better,” Halling said. “And so, throughout the weeks, I’ve been able to do more on top.”
Neither D’Amico nor McCarthy did much on top, but they didn’t need to in their victories.
D’Amico took advantage of an apparent slip by Cooper Warshel, catching the Pitt-Johnstown wrestler off-balance for a second-period takedown that proved to be the difference in a 5-4 victory.
McCarthy’s win was also a bit unconventional, as Pitt-Johnstown’s Aiden Hight controlled the action for most of the match and came close to a takedown on several slideby attempts, but the redshirt senior from Rockville scored a nice double-leg takedown in the third for a 4-3 victory.
Tristen Hawkins, a redshirt freshman from Hollsopple, Pennsylvania, got to make his Bobcats’ debut just a few miles from his boyhood home, but there was no storybook ending on Friday night. Hawkins was pinned by Matt Sarbo, the nation’s third-ranked 149-pounder.
“Tough spot, to get Sarbo there,” FSU head coach Josh Hutchens said. “(Hawkins has) a great attitude. We had the starter go out with an injury, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I want it.’ You want guys who say ‘I’m going to take the toughest matches I can get out there.’ And, of course, just being back home is always a pleasure for him.”
Sophomore Amir Wray-Hill scored a first-period takedown against Trevon Gray, but the Mountain Cat showed why he’s the top-ranked 125-pounder in the country with a 19-4 technical fall.
Andrew Wolfanger lost 12-1 to Noah Gnibus at 184 pounds, and Mason Buckler dropped a 20-5 technical fall to Trent Hoover at 165.
Pitt-Johnstown’s Ty Morrison pinned Duncan Kammar at 174, and No. 4 Isaiah Vance pinned Colen Yonken at heavyweight.
The Bobcats forfeited to No. 9 Chad Ozias at 141 pounds.
Frostburg State had little time to recover from the loss, with Saturday afternoon duals against Fairmont State and Garrett College in McHenry.