Former Pitt Johnstown All-American Wrestler Key Component In Rescue of Nine Coal Miners In Somerset,

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Chris Caputo (Pitt-Johnstown Sports Information)
08/01/2002


Johnstown, PA - Sean Isgan, former Pitt Johnstown All-American heavyweight wrestler and owner of CME Engineering Inc. in Somerset Pa., played a very key role in the rescue of nine coal miners trapped 240 feet below ground at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset, Pa.  Isgan's company and team of engineers, pinpointed exactly where the air shaft and rescue shaft should be dug to locate the miners trapped underground from late in the evening of Wednesday, July 24 through the early morning hours of Sunday, July 28.  In addition, Isgan's company assisted with lowering the water level of the mine.  The miners became trapped after drilling through and old mine wall that flooded them with over 60 million gallons of water.    Isgan's crew of engineers began by drilling a six-inch airshaft into the mine shortly after the miners became trapped on July 24.  This airshaft has been credited with being the key to saving their lives.  The team then drilled the rescue shaft that eventually allowed the miners to return to the earth's surface.    Isgan, a four-year starter and two-time NCAA Division II All-American under Head Coach Pat Pecora, became the first Mountain Cat wrestler to earn National Runner-up honors in 1981.  Isgan is currently ranked 18th on the Pitt Johnstown All-Time Win List with a 92-30 overall record.  He graduated from Pitt Johnstown in 1981 with a degree in Engineering.    "It's certainly all the lessons we learned under Coach Pecora about determination and grit," Isgan said comparing the rescue efforts with what he learned on the wrestling mat.  "It was grim work, but we went at it as hard as we could.  We just gutted it out.  It was the ultimate team effort.  Hundreds of people were working together to get these guys out of the ground," Isgan said.     Isgan believes this good news is exactly what America needed.  "After the tragedy of September 11, this showed America at its best.  It was finally good news for the country," Isgan said.    With water rising to 26 feet deep at the mouth of the mine, Isgan truly feels this rescue was aided by a higher power.  "A lot of it was in God's hands," Isgan said because the miners were lucky to be in an elevated part of the mine.    Isgan has been contacted by media outlets throughout the nation, including the Philadelphia In