THE RUNDOWN
- Score: at Gannon 32, No. 25 Kutztown 7
- Records: Gannon (5-2, 4-2 PSAC), Kutztown (10-5, 2-3 PSAC)
- Location: Erie, Pa. - Hammermill Center
- The Short Story: Redshirt junior Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany)'s victory over the nation's 10th-ranked heavyweight highlighted eight individual wins as the Gannon wrestling team steamrolled No. 25 Kutztown 32-7 Saturday afternoon at the Hammermill Center.
MEDIA CENTER
BOUT-BY-BOUT RESULTS
141 Pounds
Result: John Marotto (Verona, Pa./Plum) (GU) def. Mikey O'Brien (KU) by decision, 4-3
Wrestlers' Records: Marotto (9-9 Overall, 4-3 Dual) | O'Brien (4-5 Overall, 3-3 Dual)
Team Score: Gannon led 3-0
Notes: Dual match started at 141 pounds ... Marotto is ranked No. 7 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... O'Brien opened the scoring with a takedown, but Marotto responded with an escape and trailed 2-1 after one period ... O'Brien produced the only points of the middle period after starting down and escaping ... Marotto started the final period down and cut the deficit to 3-2 with an escape ... Marotto then forged ahead 4-3 with a takedown and rode O'Brien out the rest of the way.
149 Pounds
Result: Justo Hernandez (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) (GU) def. Chad Haegele (KU) by injury default, 0:19
Wrestlers' Records: Hernandez (4-10, 1-0) | Haegele (11-7, 7-3)
Team Score: Gannon led 9-0
Notes: Haegele is ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... the two wrestlers battled out of bounds early in the bout ... after the whistle blew, Heagele came up injured and eventually declared an injury default 19 seconds into the match ... Hernandez earned his first career dual victory during his first career dual action.
157 Pounds
Result: Eric Lewandowski (Depew, N.Y./Lancaster Central) (GU) def. Bill Manley (KU) by major decision, 13-1
Wrestlers' Records: Lewandowski (9-3, 6-1) | Manley (5-6, 4-4)
Team Score: Gannon led 13-0
Notes: Lewandowski is tabbed No. 12 in NCAA Division II and No. 3 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Lewandowski led 6-1 after one period, recording a takedown and four-point nearfall during the opening three minutes ... Manley escaped late to cut the deficit to 6-1 after one period ... Lewandowski posted the only points of the middle stanza with a takedown, before riding Manley out ... Lewandowski added a four-point nearfall and riding-time point during the final two minutes to account for a 13-1 major decision ... Lewandowski remained tied for the team lead in dual victories with six.
165 Pounds
Result: T.C. Warner (KU) def.
Garret Smith (Erie, Pa./Seneca) (GU) by major decision, 13-3
Wrestlers' Records: Warner (10-0, 10-0) | Smith (15-10, 5-2)
Team Score: Gannon led 13-4
Notes: Smith is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Warner is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II and No. 4 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... after a scoreless first period, Warner started the second stanza down and jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a reversal ... Warner later added a four-point nearfall to extend his lead to 6-0 after two periods ... after Warner opened the third period with a takedown, Smith received a penalty point when Warner was called for pulling on Smith's head gear ... Warner followed with a two-point nearfall for a 10-1 lead ... the two wrestlers then exchanged reversals, before Warner added a riding-time point for a 13-1 victory ... the decision snapped Smith's four-match win streak.
174 Pounds
Result: Jake Stratton (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) (GU) pinned Joe Balboni (KU), 2:59
Wrestlers' Records: Stratton (16-10, 5-2) | Joe Balboni (13-4, 12-2)
Team Score: Gannon led 19-4
Notes: Stratton is ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Balboni is ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Balboni led 4-2 after a pair of takedowns were followed by escapes ... Stratton then tied the match with a takedown of his own, before turning the move into a pin with one second left in the first period ... Stratton picked up his 16th victory and seventh pin of the season ... both marks rank second among Golden Knights ... Stratton defeated Balboni for the second time this season, recording another pin in four minutes and 13 seconds at the PSAC Championships.
184 Pounds
Result: Nicholas Costa (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) (GU) def. Jeff Reimel (KU) by decision, 14-9
Wrestlers' Records: Costa (6-1, 4-0) | Reimel (4-5, 4-5)
Team Score: Gannon led 22-4
Notes: Costa is ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Costa struck first with a takedown, before Reimel escaped and left the score at 2-1 after one period ... Reimel started the middle stanza on bottom and escaped, tying the bout at two after two periods ... the final two minutes featured 19 points ... Costa recorded four takedowns, a reversal and two-point nearfall during the third period ... Reimel countered with five escapes and two penalty points due to stalling calls ... Costa is 4-0 since returning the mat after a two-month lay-off ... Costa remained perfect in four dual matches this season.
197 Pounds
Result: Ethan Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) (GU) def. Christian Jenco (KU) by decision, 7-2
Wrestlers' Record: Budd (5-10, 1-6) | Jenco (4-7, 3-5)
Team Score: Gannon led 25-4
Notes: Jenco is ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Budd pounced on Jenco early, racing to a 4-0 lead after one period with a takedown and two-point nearfall ... after a scoreless middle period, Budd extended his lead to 6-0 with a third-period takedown ... Jenco got on the board with a penalty point and escape, before Budd added a riding-time point for a 7-2 victory ... the decision clinched Gannon's team victory with three bouts remaining ... Budd recorded his first career dual win ... Budd defeated Jenco for the second time this season, recording a pin in four minutes and 18 seconds at the PSAC Championships.
285 Pounds
Result: Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) (GU) def. Ryan Appleby (KU) by decision, 6-3
Wrestlers' Records: Budd (12-7, 5-2) | Appleby (13-7, 9-3)
Team Score: Gannon lead 28-4
Notes: Budd is ranked No. 6 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Appleby is ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division II and No. 2 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Budd kicked off the scoring with a takedown, before Appleby's escape made the score 2-1 after one period ... Budd scored the second period's only point with an escape after starting down ... Appleby cut the deficit to 3-2 by opening the final period with an escape ... Budd countered with a takedown, extending his lead to 5-2 ... Appleby managed one more escape, but couldn't score again ... Budd added a riding-time point for a 6-3 victory.
125 Pounds
Result: Austin Petril (KU) def.
Abraham Guarriello (Erie, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) (GU) by decision, 6-5
Wrestlers' Records: Petril (16-4, 12-1) | Guarriello (9-13 Overall, 2-5 Dual)
Team Score: Gannon led 28-7
Notes: Petril is ranked No. 11 in NCAA Division II and No. 3 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Guarriello drew first blood with a takedown, but Petril countered with a reversal to tie the bout ... Guarriello regained the lead with an escape, before Petril produced a takedown for a 4-3 lead after one period ... after a scoreless second period, Guarriello started the final stanza down and tied the match at four with an escape ... Petril followed with the eventual winning takedown that was followed by a Guarriello escape to account for the final 6-5 score.
133 Pounds
Result: Carmine Ciotti (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (GU) def. Lucas Miller (KU) by major decision, 10-1
Wrestlers' Records: Ciotti (19-2, 6-0) | Miller (10-7, 8-3)
Team Score: Gannon won 32-7
Notes: Ciotti is ranked No. 11 in NCAA Division II and No. 1 in NCAA Division II Super Region One ... Ciotti posted his team-high 19th victory and remained tied for the team lead in dual wins with six ... Ciotti recorded the only point of the first period with a takedown ... Ciotti extended his lead to 5-0 with an escape and another takedown during the middle two minutes ... the difference expanded to 7-0 after Ciotti opened the final period with his third takedown ... Miller escaped for his only point, before Ciotti answered with another takedown and riding-time point for a 10-1 victory ... Ciotti won his fourth consecutive match ... Ciotti defeated Miller for the second time this season, earning a 12-2 major decision during the PSAC Championships.
TEAM NOTES
- East Stroudsburg is ranked No. 25 in the latest Wrestling Coaches Association (WCA) Top 25 Poll and No. 6 in the NCAA Division II Super Region One.
- Gannon is listed among others receiving votes in the latest national poll and sit No. 5 in NCAA Division II Super Region One.
- The Golden Knights snapped a six-meet losing streak against the Golden Bears, winning for the first time in the series since a 37-3 verdict at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center on February 7, 2009.
- Gannon wrestled its fourth nationally-ranked team this season, improving to 3-1 in those meets.
- Every ranked wrestler competed during Saturday's meet. Gannon featured seven ranked grapplers while Kutztown had six.
- Gannon reached the 30-point plateau for the third time in seven dual meets this season.
- The Golden Knights' 25-point victory was their largest since posting a 31-6 win against West Liberty at the Hammermill Center on February 13, 2015.
EDINBORO OPEN
- Two Golden Knights competed Saturday afternoon at the Edinboro Open.
- Sophomore Anthony Williamson (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) went 2-2 at 174 pounds.
- Redshirt junior Chirstopher Matthews finished 1-2 in the same weight division.
UP NEXT
- Gannon continues its six-meet homestand Wednesday, February 8 against rival Mercyhurst at the Hammermill Center.
- The Lakers are ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II and No. 4 in NCAA Division II Super Region One.
- The dual meet is scheduled for 7 p.m.
- Gannon has dropped five consecutive matches against Mercyhurst.
- The Golden Knights' last victory in the all-time series was a 27-15 victory January 27, 2011 at the Hammermill Center.
- Mercyhurst has regionally-ranked wrestlers at 125, 149, 165, 184, 197 and heavyweight.
- The Lakers have nationally-ranked grapplers at 125, 165 and heavyweight.
- There are possible match-ups between regionally-ranked wrestlers at 165, 184 and heavyweight.
- At 165, Gannon's Garret Smith (Erie, Pa./Seneca) (sixth) could face Mercyhurst's Francis Mizia (first regionally and first nationally).
- At 184, Gannon's Nicholas Costa (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) (fourth) could face Mercyhurst's Dakota DesLauriers (third).
- At heavyweight, Gannon's Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) (sixth) could face Mercyhurst's Andy Welton (first regionally and eighth nationally).
