So often in sports, a fast start can mean the difference between a win and a loss.

The Pitt-Johnstown wrestling team has two stars who always start out strong, and give the team a fighting chance.

Freshmen Ryan Link and Senior Shane Valko wrestle in the 125-pound and 133-pound weight classes, the opening matches in a wrestling meet.

In six dual-meets this season, Link and Valko have not lost a match.

Head coach Pat Pecora said Link does a good job of being unofficial lead off man for the Mountain Cats.

“He (Link) is having a really great season so far,” said Pecora. “He has been a very pleasant surprise.”

Pecora said that because wrestling is an all-or-nothing sport, with the loser of a match receiving no points for his team, a good start is crucial.

“You always want to win the first three matches,” said Pecora. “And with (Link) performing so well Shane being the most consistent wrestler on the team, we often do get out to a lead.”

Link said he is taking advantage of the time he is spending with one of the best wrestlers in the nation.

“I look up to Shane so much,” said Link. “We practice and work out together every day, and I can see myself getting better every day.”

Link said Valko is more than just a practice partner.

“It means a lot to me that we are practicing together, but he (Valko) wants to coach me as well,” said Link.

Link said that some have compared Valko’s earlier collegiate career with his.

Because Valko wrestles right after Link, Valko often goes through his pre-match warm-up alone, but Valko can often be seen coaching Link and giving him advice from the sidelines.

Valko said a coach-figure, who also wrestles, is something Link needs in the early stages of his career.

“You can see his nervousness out there when he (Link) wrestles,” said Valko. “I try to tell him to just give it time and he will settle down.

“Someone just has to keep pushing him. He (Link) really has his head on straight.”

The Mountain Cats began the new year right by defeating Kutztown (Pa.) University and winning the Virginia Duals the second weekend of January.

Pitt-Johnstown usually competes in the National Dual-Meet but, after a scheduling conflict, the team traveled to Virginia instead.

The Virginia Duals do not offer the same level of competition as the National Duals, but Pecora said the weekend still served a purpose.

“The most important ingredient (in wrestling) is confidence,” said Pecora. “And nothing helps confidence like winning.”

Pecora said in 30 matches, the Mountain Cats lost only four matches, and winning against somewhat lesser opponents can still help the team.

“Winning at Virginia can be just as important as coming in fourth at the national meet.”

Junior Chris Dempsey, who lost his match against Kutztown, said the Virginia Duals helped him get back in form.

“I am not used to losing, and it frustrates me,” said Dempsey, who won all three matches at the Virginia Duals.

Dempsey said he has been working on a new takedown move, that he learned from Pecora, that he will get to practice at the Virginia Duals.

“You have to be able to hit the new moves on lesser guys before you can execute against the better competition,” said Dempsey.

Pecora said working hard after a loss is how he was brought up, and that spills into his coaching philosophy.

“The only thing I know to do, when things go wrong, is to work harder,” said Pecora. “I mean, you can either quit, or work harder.”

Dempsey said the team shares Pecora’s beliefs and continues to work hard.

“Matches are not won at the 3:30 team practices,” said Dempsey. “You win by practicing and training alone as well.”