Men's Wrestling Takes Split with Belmont Abbey, #20 Pitt-Johnstown at Bobcat Duals

FROSTBURG, Md. – The Frostburg State Men's Wrestling team split their day at the Bobcat Duals with a 20-12 win over Belmont Abbey before falling 34-10 to No. 20 Pitt-Johnstown.
 
In the first match against BAC, FSU got off to a quick start with freshman Nate Wilhelm (12-9) earning an overtime decision win at 125, then senior Thierno Diallo followed suit with a 7-4 victory at 133 for an early 6-0 lead. The Crusaders answered back with a pair of decisions at 141 and 149 before sophomore Mason Buckler gave the Bobcats back the lead in a 9-1 major decision.
 
Belmont Abbey pulled back within one with a decision at 165, but graduate Owen Butler kept Frostburg with a four-point advantage, winning 8-5 at 174. After a Crusader decision brought the deficit back to a single point, freshman Austin Lewis picked up a huge 13-7 decision, while sophomore Gavin Bage polished off the meet victory with a 12-0 shutout major decision for the 20-12 final.
 
It would be a different story against the national powerhouse Mountain Cats, as the visitors took each of the first five bouts for a 21-0 lead. FSU got on the board after an illegal move resulted in a default win, then Butler completed an undefeated day with a 10-1 major decision. UPJ took each of the final three matches by a pair of major decisions and a tech fall for the 34-10 final.
 
With the split, the Bobcats move to 8-3 on the year and will return to action on Saturday, February 1 for the Mountain East Conference Championships hosted by West Liberty. Information and updates will be posted to frostburgsports.com.