ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon wrestling team remained ninth for the third consecutive poll in the latest NCAA Division II Super Region One regional rankings released Wednesday afternoon. In addition, a season-high seven Golden Knights are ranked among the top six in their respective weight classes.
Notre Dame (Ohio) is still the region's top-ranked team for the third consecutive poll. Pitt-Johnstown, Mercyhurst, Wheeling Jesuit and Shippensburg complete the top five. Seton Hill, Kutztown, LIU Post, Gannon and Millersville round out the top 10.
Lorenzo Maddox (Baltimore, Md./North County),
Nate Ross (Egg Harbor City, N.J./Absegami) and
Garret Smith (Erie, Pa./Seneca) are tabbed fourth in their weight classes.
Maddox was ranked third at 184 pounds in the previous regional poll, but has moved up to 197 pounds where he sits fourth in the latest rankings. The senior is 17-10 overall and 5-3 in dual competition. He finished third at the Thunderwolf Open (4-1), fourth at the Cleveland State Open (1-2), fifth at the Mount Union Invitational (4-2) and eighth at the Findlay Open (3-2).
The Baltimore, Md., native has recorded three pins, three major decisions and two technical falls. Maddox is 1-1 against the region's top six, defeating fifth-ranked Terrance Fanning of Wheeling Jesuit 12-9 at the Findlay Open and falling to third-ranked Evan Ramos of Shippensburg 6-1.
Ross remained fourth for the second consecutive poll at 165 pounds. The redshirt junior is 18-5 overall with five major decisions, including a 7-1 dual record. He began the season with a third-place finish at the Mount Union Invitational, winning five of six matches. Ross then placed fifth at the Findlay Open with a 4-1 record, including a pair of victories against NCAA Division I opponents.
The Egg Harbor City, N.J., native finished the first semester by placing fourth at the NCAA Division I-heavy Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships. Ross defeated third-ranked Tyler Reinhart of Pitt-Johnstown during his run. He is 2-1 against the region's top six after knocking off top-ranked Francis Mizia on February 3.
Smith jumped back into the regional rankings at 157 pounds for the first time since the January 12 poll, assuming the fourth spot. The redshirt junior owns a 10-10 overall record, but seven bouts have come against NCAA Division I wrestlers. He split his first four matches this season at the Findlay Open, including a split against two NCAA Division I opponents. He then placed sixth at the PSAC Championships. Smith's three losses at the conference championships came against an NCAA Division I wrestler, as well as the second- and sixth-ranked wrestlers in NCAA Division II Super Region One.
The Erie, Pa., native has won four consecutive matches. The run includes victories over fifth-ranked Adam Martz of Shippensburg (8-3), sixth-ranked Michael Griffith of Mercyhurst (7-4) and the region's second-ranked 149-pound wrestler in Ty Lydic of Seton Hill (F, 2:47). Smith went 3-3 at last year's NCAA Division II Super Regional One, advancing to the third-place bout. Smith barely missed the national cut after dropping the third-place match and a true fourth-place bout.
Nicholas Costa (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) jumping into the regional rankings for the first time since the initial rankings released on December 2 at No. 5 in the 184-pound division. The redshirt freshman has put together an 11-4 overall record with three major decisions. He opened the season with back-to-back individual titles at the Mount Union Open and Findlay Open, winning his first nine matches in the process. Costa ended the first semester with a fourth-place finish at the PSAC Championships.
The Brick, N.J., native returned to action January 30 after nearly two months off, splitting two matches since his return. Costa has yet to compete against any wrestler ranked in the top six.
John Marotto (Verona, Pa./Plum),
Christopher Matthews (Kennerdell, Pa./Franklin) and
George McGuire (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) complete Gannon's group of ranked wrestlers. All three are listed sixth in their respective weight classes.
Marotto dropped one spot to No. 6 at 141 pounds. The redshirt junior is 14-9 overall and 4-3 in dual competition. He has recorded two pins, two technical falls and one major decision.
The Verona, Pa., native kicked off the season with a third-place finish at the Mount Union Invitational, winning four of five matches. Marotto later placed sixth at the PSAC Championships. Six of his nine losses have come against NCAA Division I wrestlers or NCAA Division II regionally-ranked grapplers.
Matthews fell two spots to sixth at 174 pounds after being ranked fourth in the previous four rankings with a 13-11 overall record and 4-3 dual mark. The redshirt sophomore owns two technical falls, one pin and one major decision. He opened the season with seven victories during his first 10 matches. He finished second at the Mount Union Invitational with a 3-1 record and sixth at the Findlay Open with a 4-2 mark.
The Kennerdell, Pa., native followed with a sixth-place finish at the PSAC Championships. The run included a victory over Kyle Wojtaszek of NCAA Division I Bloomsburg. Five of his bouts this season have come against NCAA Division I opponents.
McGuire moved into the rankings for the first time this season, being listed No. 6 at 149 pounds. The redshirt freshman has won three consecutive matches to improve his overall record to 14-6 and dual mark to 6-1. He has recorded four pins, two major decisions and one technical fall during his victories.
The Waterford, Pa., native opened the season with a third-place finish at the Mount Union Invitational, winning four of five matches. McGuire has won six of seven bouts since the calendar flipped to 2016.
Gannon (3-5, 2-5) returns to action Friday, February 12 at West Liberty. The non-conference dual meet is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Golden Knights then conclude the regular season Wednesday, February 17 at No. 16 Wheeling Jesuit.
