ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon wrestling team will split to compete in two events Sunday, January 5. The Golden Knights head to Ashland, Ohio to compete in the Mid-Atlantic Duals while selected wrestlers will compete at the Lake Erie Open in Painesville, Ohio.

Ashland University will serve as the host of the Mid-Atlantic Duals. The loaded event features three nationally-ranked teams. Gannon will see one of those squads immediately with an opening match-up against fifth-ranked St. Cloud State (Minn.) at 10 a.m. The Huskies have wrestled in five tournaments while winning both of their dual meets against Saint John's (38-0) and Concordia (Minn.) (23-9). The program won the NCAA Division II Super Region Three and finished second at the NCAA Division II National Championships last season.

The Gannon-St. Cloud State winner will face the Shippensburg-Indianapolis winner in the semifinals. The bottom half of the bracket includes East Stroudsburg-Tiffin and Belmont Abbey-Ashland. Indianapolis is ranked ninth in NCAA Division II and Ashland is tabbed 15th.

Every team is guaranteed three matches at the Mid-Atlantic Duals. The consolation bracket will not be a traditional format as teams will be paired against programs they normally don't wrestle against. Teams will compete during a second session at 11:45 a.m. and a final session at 1:30 p.m.

Gannon will be wrestling in a dual meet for the first time this season. In addition to the PSAC Championships, the Golden Knights have participated in four opens or invitationals. The squad was tabbed fifth in the latest NCAA Division II Super Region One rankings released Friday afternoon.

Six Golden Knights were listed among the region's top six in their respective weight classes. Matt Turek (Madison, Ohio/Madison) and Zack Zelcs (Ridgway, Pa./Ridgway) headlined the group with No. 2 rankings at 125 and 184, respectively. Gannon's group of ranked grapplers was rounded out by Buddy Blotzer (McKeesport, Pa./Serra Catholic) at 157 (third), Adam Weinell (Blairsville, Pa./Blairsville) at 133 (fourth), Garret Smith (Erie, Pa./Seneca) at 149 (fifth) and Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) at heavyweight (sixth).

Turek and Smith lead Gannon in victories with 10 each. Turek enters the weekend with a 10-4 overall record, four pins and two major decisions. Smith holds a 10-5 overall mark with two pins and one major decision. Casey Pace (Erie, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) tops the Golden Knights with six pins.