Faris Messai
Freshman Faris Messai placed sixth at 133 pounds during his first action of the season,

Men's Wrestling Dan Teliski, Assistant Director of Athletics for Media Relations

Messai's Sixth-Place Finish Paces 14 Gannon Wrestlers at the Mount Union Open

THE RUNDOWN
  • Event: Mount Union Open (Alliance, Ohio)
  • Competing Teams: Ashland (Ohio), Central (Iowa), Central Michigan, Clarion (Pa.), Cleveland State (Ohio), Eastern Michigan, Edinboro (Pa.), Gannon (Pa.), Indiana University, Jamestown (N.Y.) Community College, Kent State, Lake Erie (Ohio), Lock Haven (Pa.), Mercyhurst (Pa.), Mercyhurst North East (Pa.), University of Michigan, Mott (Mich.) Community College, Mount Union (Ohio), North Carolina State, Notre Dame (Ohio), Ohio University, Ohio State, Ohio Valley (W.Va.), University of Pittsburgh, Pitt-Johnstown, Purdue (Ind.), Seton Hill (Pa.), Shorter (Ga.), West Virginia and Wheeling Jesuit (W.Va.).
  • Result: No team scores kept.
  • The Short Story: Freshman Faris Messai (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown) led 14 Golden Knights Sunday afternoon with a sixth-place finish in the 133-pound weight division at the Mount Union Open. No team scores were kept due to the open format.

GAMEDAY MEDIA CENTER
GANNON'S TOP WRESTLER
  • 133 - After an opening bye, Messai immediately fell into the wrestlebacks after a loss to Andrew Coghill of NCAA Division I Cleveland State ... rattled off four consecutive wins in the wrestlebacks, including the first two against wrestlers from the host school and the final one against Armando Torres of NCAA Division I Eastern Michigan ... defaulted during his last two bouts, including the fifth-place match ... finished with a 4-1 record.

GANNON'S REMAINING RECORDS OF .500 OR BETTER
  • 157 - Jared Sample (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) (2-2) | Notes: Suffered losses to NCAA Division I wrestlers.
  • 174 - Anthony Williamson (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) (2-2) | Notes: Had two losses to NCAA Division I grapplers.

REMAINING GANNON RESULTS
EVENT NOTES
  • Gannon entered wrestlers in six of the 10 weight classes.
  • No Golden Knights competed at 125, 149, 184 and heavyweight.
  • Matthews is ranked third at 174 pounds in the NCAA Division II Super Region One.
  • Gannon was competing at the Mount Union Open for the fourth consecutive year.
  • Messai competed for the first time this season.
  • Gannon is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II Super Region One and listed among others receiving votes in the latest Wrestling Coaches Association (WCA) Top 25 Poll.

UP NEXT
  • Gannon is idle this week until hosting No. 8 Pitt-Johnstown on Saturday, January 21 at the Hammermill Center.
  • The dual meet is scheduled for 7 p.m.
  • Pitt-Johnstown is ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II Super Region One and No. 8 nationally.
  • The Mountain Cats have won the last five meetings against Gannon.
  • Pitt-Johnstown has regionally-ranked wrestlers in all 10 weight classes.
  • The Mountain Cats have nationally-ranked grapplers at 157, 165, 174 and heavyweight.
  • There are possible match-ups between regionally-ranked wrestlers at 133, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184 and heavyweight.
  • At 133, Gannon's Carmine Ciotti (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (second) could face Pitt-Johnstown's Tanner Cahill (seventh).
  • At 149, Gannon's Giovanni Ciotti (Erie, Pa./General McLane) (sixth) could face Pitt-Johnstown's Cole Landowski (fifth).
  • At 157, Gannon's Eric Lewandowski (Depew, N.Y./Lancaster Central) (fifth) could face Pitt-Johnstown's Cody Law (first and second nationally).
  • At 165, Gannon's Garret Smith (Erie, Pa./Seneca) (seventh) could face Pitt-Johnstown's Tyler Reinhart (second and second nationally).
  • At 174, Gannon's Christopher Matthews (Kennerdell, Pa./Franklin) (third) could face Pitt-Johnstown's John Blankenship (second and 11th nationally).
  • At 184, Gannon's Nicholas Costa (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) (fourth) could face Pitt-Johnstown's Levi Niebauer (seventh).
  • At heavyweight, Gannon's Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) (fourth) could face Pitt-Johnstown's D.J. Simms (third and 11th nationally).
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Players Mentioned

Trevor Beiter

Trevor Beiter

Redshirt Junior
197
Nick Budd

Nick Budd

Redshirt Junior
Hwt.
Nick Costa

Nick Costa

Redshirt Sophomore
184
Eric Lewandowski

Eric Lewandowski

Redshirt Junior
157
Gunner Loughman

Gunner Loughman

Redshirt Junior
197/Hwt.
Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews

Redshirt Junior
165/174
Teagan O

Teagan O'Sullivan

Sophomore
165/174
Jared Sample

Jared Sample

Junior
157
Garret Smith

Garret Smith

Redshirt Senior
157/165
Nigel Toussaint

Nigel Toussaint

Redshirt Junior
197

Players Mentioned

Trevor Beiter

Trevor Beiter

Redshirt Junior
197
Nick Budd

Nick Budd

Redshirt Junior
Hwt.
Nick Costa

Nick Costa

Redshirt Sophomore
184
Eric Lewandowski

Eric Lewandowski

Redshirt Junior
157
Gunner Loughman

Gunner Loughman

Redshirt Junior
197/Hwt.
Chris Matthews

Chris Matthews

Redshirt Junior
165/174
Teagan O

Teagan O'Sullivan

Sophomore
165/174
Jared Sample

Jared Sample

Junior
157
Garret Smith

Garret Smith

Redshirt Senior
157/165
Nigel Toussaint

Nigel Toussaint

Redshirt Junior
197