Pitt-Johnstown men’s wrestling team is preparing for their season approaching this winter.  The team has gained 20 new wrestlers to its 43-member roster for the 2015-16 season.

Having a roster that constists of almost half freshmen is not new to the wrestling program.

In the 2014-14 season, there were 20 freshmen on the roster of 35 members.

Eleven of the new wrestlers are former Pennsylvania State Place-Holders in high school, including a 2015 state champion Allan Beattie.

Redshirt sophomore Tyler Reinhart said he feels positive about his new teammates.

“It gives us a variety of good partners for our practices,” said Reinhart.

“It had a huge impact on our attitudes.  Everyone is very excited and positive.”

Along with freshman recruits, the team also added four transfer student-athletes to the team.

 Having worked hard over the off-season, the team has confidence.

Senior Sam Hanau spoke on the team’s expectations.

“We are hoping to acheive winning the National Championship,” said Hanau.

“We had a great preseason and are now doing a mix of wrestling conditioning and lifting.”

Approaching his 39^th season as the Mountain Cats head coach and athletic director, Pat Pecora has the whole team on board and in full focus for the season.

Pecora has coached the Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team through two national championships, but injuries have played a major role in the team not winning a national title since 1999.

According to redshirt junior Cole Landowski, Pecora is highly respected by the team.

“Everyone listens to coach ,and we are all together trying to reach the same goal, which is a national title,” said  Landowski.