ERIE, Pa. - The fifth-ranked Gannon wrestling team heads across town to face Mercyhurst College Saturday, January 30. The Golden Knights square off with the Hurst at 1 p.m. 

GU is ranked fifth in the latest NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches Association Top 20 poll. The ranking is the highest in program history. The Knights defeated Division I Duquesne 32-12 January 23 in their last meet. Gannon is 3-3 in dual competition this season. They placed fourth at the 2010 Cliff Keen/National Duals January 9-10, beating then-third-ranked Nebraska-Kearney at the event. 

Frank McGrath (Hammonton, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) is tabbed fifth in the individual rankings for the heavyweight division. Corey Bowers (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) is fifth in the 133-pound class and Zack McKendree (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) is seventh as a 157-pounder. McGrath is 15-2 this season, while Bowers has won 21 matches. McKendree has recorded eight pinfalls. 

Mercyhurst (4-8) is among others receiving votes in the NWCA poll. Josh Shields is first in the 165-pound division and Andy Lamancusa is third in the 157-pound class. 

Second-ranked Newberry (SC) College was scheduled to compete against both schools, but inclement weather has forced them to withdraw from the meet. Coincidentally, Gannon and Mercyhurst's match is a make-up of War at the Shore V, which was postponed due to inclement weather December 11.