ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon wrestling team is definitely not dodging anyone. The Golden Knights will face their third nationally-ranked opponent during the last two weeks Saturday, January 26 when they host 16th-ranked Ashland at the Hammermill Center. The non-conference match is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Please note the starting time will be 4 p.m. Some schedules printed during the summer and early fall had a different time, before the start time was changed to 4 p.m.
In what is expected to be a great match overall, three individual battles have the make-up to get the crowd buzzing immediately. A showcase of nationally-ranked wrestlers could clash at 133.
Jose Matos (Egg Harbor City, N.J./St. Augustine College Preparatory School) enters the weekend ranked seventh nationally and second in the NCAA Division II Super Region One. The redshirt senior had a three-match win streak snapped Wednesday night at Lake Erie, dropping to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in dual meets. Michael Labry, ranked fourth in NCAA Division II, provides the opposition with a perfect 25-0 record.
Two of Gannon's other regionally-ranked wrestlers may get a shot at nationally-ranked competitors. At 125,
Matt Turek (Madison, Ohio/Madison) is scheduled to face off against Max Byrd. Turek has been red hot, rattling off four consecutive wins and seven during his last eight bouts. The redshirt sophomore is ranked third regionally with an 18-5 overall record and a perfect 4-0 dual mark. He has recorded three straight major decisions, giving him eight this season. Meanwhile, Byrd brings a sparkling 19-3 record into the affair. He is ranked eighth in NCAA Division II.
Chris Boyd (Chase City, Va./Randolph Henry) is one of two probables who might get a shot at the nation's third-ranked 197-pound wrestler in Joe Brandt. Boyd, ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II Super Region One, has won two of three bouts after not wrestling during the first semester. The redshirt senior is coming off a victory at Lake Erie Wednesday night that ended in a pin.
Gannon's final regionally-ranked wrestler
Zack Zelcs (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway) is listed as a probable at 184. Ranked No. 2 in the region, Zelcs has dropped two of his last three. His season record now sits at 3-5 overall and 1-2 in dual meets. Zelcs or
Kris Rahn (Maple Shade, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial) will face Jacob Howarth (4-4) for Ashland.
Ashland improved to 8-4 in dual meets with a sweep of Seton Hill (38-14), East Stroudsburg (33-6) and Belmont Abbey (42-9) at the Wendy's Mid-Atlantic Duals last Sunday. Gannon opened its dual schedule with a 29-12 victory at Millersville. But the Golden Knights have since dropped to 1-3 with losses to Pitt-Johnstown (27-7), Kutztown (21-13) and Lake Erie (26-15). Pitt-Johnstown and Kutztown are ranked 11th and 7th nationally while Lake Erie is among others receiving votes.
Saturday's Projected Starters
125 - Max Byrd (AU) (19-3 overall, 8th nationally) |
Matt Turek (GU) (18-5 overall, 4-0 dual, 3rd regionally)
133 - Michael Labry (AU) (25-0, 4th nationally) |
Jose Matos (GU) (6-2, 3-1, 2nd regionally, 7th nationally) or
Edward Marshall (GU) (2-6, 0-0)
141 - Bobby Mason (AU) (7-6) or Dan McNulty (6-10) |
Adam Weinell (GU) (8-8, 1-3)
149 - Dan Genetin (AU) (1-5) |
Mike Krysiak (GU) (3-12, 0-4)
157 - Zeb Beam (AU) (11-8) |
Casey Pace (GU) (6-8, 0-2) or
Sean Floor (GU) (6-3, 1-1)
165 - Nick Mason (AU) (8-4) |
Adam Greenman (GU) (3-11, 1-3)
174 - Michael Blum (AU) (2-6) |
Jermaine Easter (GU) (9-9, 2-2)
184 - Jacob Howarth (AU) (4-4) |
Zack Zelcs (GU) (3-5, 1-2, 2nd regionally) or
Keith Stoerr (GU) (2-5, 0-1)
197 - Joe Brandt (AU) (24-2, 3rd nationally) |
Chris Boyd (GU) (2-1, 2-1, 4th regionally) or
Kris Rahn (GU) (5-7, 0-1)
Hwt. - Tyler Houska (AU) (3-1) |
Chaz Lear (GU) (1-3, 1-3)
