Wrestlers victorious against 3 opponents

Joey+Alessandro+pushes+his+opponent+during+a+Friday+bout+at+the+Sports+Center+against+Seton+Hill+University.%0APitt-Johnstown+won+23-14+in+the+match.

Yang Chen

Joey Alessandro pushes his opponent during a Friday bout at the Sports Center against Seton Hill University. Pitt-Johnstown won 23-14 in the match.

Yang Chen, Sports Editor

Pitt-Johnstown wrestlers won all three times at the Kutztown University Duals Jan. 18.

“It’s a good result for our team to get this,” head coach Pat Pecora said.

“We still have three more dual competitions before the NCAA Super Region I tournament.”

Sophomore Nate Claar won his only bout at 165 pounds at Kutztown, winning 8-6 against a wrestler from American International College.

“The guys I work out with every day are some of the best guys in the country, and I’m grateful to be able to learn and grow from them,” Claar said.

Junior Justin Smith won the 157-pound bout against American International College at the Kutztown tournament.

“I like being right in the middle of the lineup,” Smith said.

“(It) gives me the chance to feed off my teammates’ (energy) and get mentally ready to perform.

“We are still all in the room every day with each other doing the same things and getting better,” Smith said.

Pecora said improvement is a goal for all team members.

“We are good, and continue doing good,” Pecora said.

“Coach pushes us to be better every day to be better than we were the day before,” Claar said.

Smith said Pecora is good at making suggestions.