Photo Provided by WLU Athletics West Liberty’s James Armstrong Jr. waits for an opportunity to shoot against Pitt-Johnstown’s Brady Baker at 133 pounds during their nationally ranked dual meet inside the ASRC. The No. 3 Mountain Cats rallied from a 17-3 decision for an 18-17 victory.

WEST LIBERTY — Oglebay Park celebrated its annual ‘Light up Night’ Thursday, but the real fireworks took place 14 miles further out W.Va. 88 on the campus of West Liberty University where a pair of nationally ranked NCAA Division II men’s wrestling teams met.

No. 19 West Liberty built a 17-3 advantage after six of the 10 dual meet bouts. However, No. 3 Pitt-Johnstown captured the final four — with two receiving bonus points — to stun the Hilltoppers, 18-17, on Alumni Night inside the ASRC.

“We got what we earned tonight. Pitt-Johnstown probably wrestled the best 10 matches against us that they ever have in a dual,” West Liberty head coach Danny Irwin said. “For us, we didn’t earn it (a team win). We had opportunities to extend ourselves, but we didn’t.”

The Hilltoppers enjoyed the first half as Caiden Harbert (125), James Armstrong Jr. (133) and Kyvon Grace (141) won the first three matches to stake the hosts to a 11-0 lead. Harbert, filling in for former Oak Glen standout Logan Davis who injured a knee over the weekend, and Grace, a returning national finalist, earned major decision victories by scores of 10-0 and 11-3, respectively. Armstrong Jr. prevailed 4-1 in overtime when he secured a takedown a minute in.

Pitt-Johnstown got on the board at 149 when No. 9 Matt Sarbo held off No. 14 Tony Wood, 15-9, in a match that had 12 points scored in the final period.

West Liberty’s Nico Taddy earned a penalty point late in his 157-pound bout with No. 15 Cooper Warshel to win, 2-1, and give the Hilltoppers a commanding 14-point margin heading into the halftime break.

The lead increased to 17-3 one match into the second half after West Liberty’s Bodie Morgan posted a 10-6 nod over, securing a takedown with 59 seconds remaining while ahead 7-6.

It was all downhill from there on for the Black-and-Gold.

Carter Winegardner dropped a 3-1 decision at 174 and Devon Bell’s rally fell short, 16-13, at 184, as Pitt-Johnstown pulled to within 17-9. Bell trailed 16-3 after two periods before scoring 10 third-period points to make it close, something that Irwin took notice of.

“I think there were a lot of good things tonight. There were a couple of matches there where we were getting beat pretty bad, but the kids stayed the course and fought back,” Irwin said of 149 and 184. “Those matches could’ve ended in landslides, but the guys were gritty and hung in there. That’s probably what I’m most pleased with tonight.”

A 19-4 technical fall by Bradley Morrison at 197 pulled the Mountain Cats to within 17-14 and set the stage for returning national runnerup Isaiah Vance at 285. The nation’s top-ranked heavyweight scored a takedown with 63 seconds left in the match for a 10-2 major decision and an 18-17 win.

“Any time we wrestle it’s a good measuring stick for us,” Irwin continued. “We have a short turnaround as we wrestled again tomorrow (Friday), so we’ve got to put this behind us and move forward.”

West Liberty visits Millersville at 3 p.m.

PIN FALLS

— During the intermission, West Liberty recognized its alumni on the mat before Irwin presented Ty McGeary with his national championship ring from last winter. The most decorated wrestler in the illustrious history of Hilltopper wrestling, McGeary won his third straight D-II national title last season at 184 pounds. He is the only wrestler in WLU and Mountain East Conference history to win four consecutive conference championships.

McGeary finished his career at 132-7 and was a sparkling 66-1 in his final two seasons.

— The loss prevented the Hilltoppers from beating the Mountain Cats three consecutive times as they won 23-10 last season and 20-14 in 2023. Prior to that, UPJ had won nine duals in a row and 10 of 12 against the Hilltoppers. Since 2005, UPJ leads the all-time series, 16-4.

— West Liberty has eight wrestlers from six different OVAC schools. UPJ had one — University High freshman Pepper Martin who competed at 125 last night.