THE RUNDOWN

• Event: 2017 NCAA Division II National Championships (Hosted by CrossPlex-Harris Arena - Birmingham, Ala.)
• Number of Competing Teams: 44
• Result: Gannon finished 13th out of 44 teams with 28.5 points.
• The Short Story: Gannon freshman Carmine Ciotti (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (133), redshirt junior Eric Lewandowski (Depew, N.Y./Lancaster Central) (157) and redshirt junior Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) (Hwt.) placed and earned all-america honors Saturday at the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. The trio helped the Golden Knights finish 13th place, representing the program's best finish since tying for eighth in 2010.

MEDIA CENTER

• Final Team Scores and Brackets: Click Here

BOUT-BY-BOUT RESULTS

133 Pounds

• Gannon Wrestler: Carmine Ciotti (Erie, Pa./McDowell)
• Record on Day Two: 1-2
• Ciotti's Final Record: 26-5 Overall
• Notes: Ciotti is ranked 10th in NCAA Division II ... Ciotti began the day with a 7-1 loss to the nation's top-ranked 133-pounder wrestler and eventual national champion in Ashland's Michael Labry during the championship semifinals ... Labry recorded the first period's only points with a takedown ... Labry extended his lead to 5-0 with an escape and takedown during the middle period ... Ciotti started the final period down and escaped after 12 seconds to record his only point of the match ... Labry added his third takedown with 43 seconds remaining to account for the final 7-1 score ... Labry handed Ciotti one of his previous three losses with a 3-2 decision at the Findlay Open on November 19 ... Ciotti then suffered a 4-2 overtime defeat against third-ranked Dustin Kirk of King (Tenn.) during the consolation semifinals ... after a scoreless first period, Ciotti started the second frame down and escaped within 18 seconds for a 1-0 lead ... Kirk reversed the sequence, starting the third period down and escaping in 17 seconds to tie the match at one ... Kirk produced the decisive points with a takedown during the first overtime ... Ciotti generated an escape during the second overtime session while Kirk countered with one of his own during the third overtime period to secure a 4-2 victory ... Ciotti lost back-to-back matches for the first time in his career ... Ciotti rebounded with an 8-2 victory in the fifth-place bout against unranked Anthony Sparacio of LIU Post ... Ciotti recorded a takedown 46 seconds into the contest for a 2-0 lead ... Ciotti doubled his advantage with another takedown during the second period, before Sparacio escaped for his first point ... Ciotti started the final stanza down and escaped in 10 seconds ... Ciotti followed with his third takedown, bolstering his lead to 7-1 ... Sparacio escaped with 12 seconds left, before Ciotti added a riding-time point for an 8-2 victory that clinched fifth place ... Ciotti won his team-best 26th match ... Ciotti improved to 2-0 against Sparacio after a 6-0 shutout at the NCAA Division II Super Regional One two weeks ago ... Ciotti qualified for the national championships as a true freshman. 

157 Pounds

• Gannon Wrestler: Eric Lewandowski (Depew, N.Y./Lancaster Central)
• Record on Day Two: 1-1
• Lewandowski's Final Record: 17-6 Overall
• Notes: Lewandowski is ranked 12th in NCAA Division II ... Lewandowski began the day with a setback against fourth-ranked Larry Bomstad of St. Cloud State (Minn.) in the consolation quarterfinals ... Bomstad took an early 3-0 lead after a takedown and penalty point due to an illegal move ... Lewandowski countered with a reversal, cutting the deficit to 3-2 ... Bomstad answered with his own reversal which turned into a pin one minute and 41 seconds into the contest ... Lewandowski bounced back with a 22-6 technical fall in the seventh-place match against sixth-ranked Heath Lange of Indianapolis ... the two wrestlers went back-and-forth during a first period that featured 11 points ... Lewandowski led 4-0 after a takedown and two-point nearfall ... three reversals followed, before Lewandowski ended the period with an escape for a 7-4 lead ... Lewandowski started the second period on top and dominated with a four-point nearfall and pair of two-point nearfalls ... the blitz gave Lewandowski a 15-4 advantage after two periods ... Lange started the final period with a takedown followed by a Lewandowski escape ... Lewandowski then recorded a takedown and ended the bout with a four-point nearfall as time expired to capture seventh place ... Lewandowski produced his team-best sixth technical fall of the season ... Lewandowski was making his first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship appearance.

174 Pounds

• Gannon Wrestler: Jake Stratton (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley)
• Record on Day Two: Did not compete
• Stratton's Final Record: 21-14 Overall
• Notes: Stratton was eliminated during Friday's action with a pair of losses ... Stratton was making his first NCAA Division II National Championship appearance.

184 Pounds

• Gannon Wrestler: Nicholas Costa (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial)
• Record On Day Two: Did not compete
• Costa's Final Record: 10-4 Overall
• Notes: Costa was eliminated during Friday's action with a pair of losses ... Costa was making his first NCAA Division II National Championship appearance.

Heavyweight

• Gannon Wrestler: Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany)
• Record on Day Two: 1-2
• Budd's Final Record: 21-12 Overall
• Notes: Budd began the day with a 3-1 victory against unranked Ryan Appleby of Kutztown during the consolation quarterfinals ... after a scoreless first period, Appleby started the middle stanza down and escaped in six seconds for a 1-0 lead ... Budd started the third period down and escaped in seven seconds to tie the bout at one ... Budd then produced a takedown late in the third period to capture the victory ... Budd improved to 3-0 against Appleby this season, including a pin during the third-place match of the NCAA Division II Super Regional One ... Budd later dropped into the fifth-place match after a setback against seventh-ranked Michael Lowman of Augustana (S.D.) ... a Lowman takedown quickly turned into a pin with 36 seconds left in the first period to settle the match ... Budd concluded his run with a 5-3 loss against eighth-ranked Logan Hopp of Upper Iowa during the fifth-place match ... Hopp led 2-1 after one period following a takedown that was followed by a Budd escape ... Hopp started the second stanza down and escaped for a 3-1 lead ... Hopp continued with a takedown that was followed by another Budd escape, leaving the Hopp advantage at 5-2 after two periods ... Budd started the final two minutes down and needed only five seconds to escape, climbing within 5-3 ... neither wrestler was able to score the rest of the way, giving Budd a sixth-place finish ... Hopp defeated Budd for the second time during the national championships ... Budd was making his second NCAA Division II National Championship appearance ... Budd wrestled in the 2015 national championships after placing second at the regional tournament that season.

TEAM NOTES

• Gannon is listed among others receiving votes in the latest Wrestling Coaches Association (WCA) Top 25 Poll.
• The Golden Knights finished second at the NCAA Division II Super Regional One two weeks ago, recording their best team finish since placing second at the 2010 NCAA Division II East Regional.
• Gannon's five national qualifiers are the program's most since sending six to the 2010 national championships.
• Four of Gannon's five national qualifiers were making their first-ever trip with Budd making his second appearance.
• Ciotti, Lewandowski and Budd secured all-america honors.
• The trio represents Gannon's first All-Americans since Matt Turek (125) in 2014.
• Ciotti is the program's third 133-pound All-American, but first since Corey Bowers in 2010.
• Lewandowski is Gannon's first-ever 157-pound All-American.
• Budd became the fourth heavyweight in program history to achieve all-america status. The previous three reached that level seven times. The last heavyweight to earn all-america honors was Frank McGrath in 2010.
• Ciotti is Gannon's first freshman All-American since Mike Sanders placed eighth at 133 pounds in 2005.
• Gannon had three All-Americans for the fourth time in program history and first time since having five in 2010.
• The Golden Knights' 13th-place finish was the program's best since tying for eighth in 2010.
• Ciotti, Lewandowski and Budd all picked up their first career victory at the national championship level during Friday's action.
• Gannon recorded three first-round victories at the national championships on Friday for the first time since 2009 when Kevin McElhaney (149), Jacob Tazzi (184) and McGrath (Hwt.) earned wins during their first bouts.

UP NEXT

• The 2017 NCAA Division II National Championships conclude Gannon's 2016-17 campaign.

---

2017 NCAA Division II National Championships Results for Gannon
(Saturday's matches in BOLD. Friday's matches not in bold)

133 - Carmine Ciotti (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (23-4) placed 5th and scored 11.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Ciotti (Gannon) 23-4 won by decision over Mike Rhone (St. Cloud St.) 19-8 (Dec 3-1)
    Quarterfinal - Ciotti (Gannon) 23-4 won by fall over Devin Rogers (Findlay) 22-22 (Fall 4:21)
    Semifinal - Michael Labry (Ashland ) 35-1 won by decision over Ciotti (Gannon) 23-4 (Dec 7-1)
    Cons. Semi - Dustin Kirk (King (TN)) 25-7 won in sudden victory - 2 over Ciotti (Gannon) 23-4 (SV-2 4-2)
    5th Place Match - Ciotti (Gannon) 23-4 won by decision over Anthony Sparacio (LIU Post) 22-10 (Dec 8-2)

---

157 - Eric Lewandowski (Depew, N.Y./Lancaster Central) (17-6) placed 7th and scored 9.50 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Lewandowski (Gannon) 17-6 won by major decision over Tyler Nation (Augustana (SD)) 21-12 (MD 10-0)
    Quarterfinal - Destin McCauley (Neb.-Kearney) 34-7 won by decision over Lewandowski (Gannon) 17-6 (Dec 3-1)
    Cons. Round 2 - Lewandowski (Gannon) 17-6 won by tech fall over Greg Tooley (Fort Hays St.) 27-6 (TF-1.5 6:38 (17-2))
    Cons. Round 3 - Larry Bomstad (St. Cloud St.) 24-4 won by fall over Lewandowski (Gannon) 17-6 (Fall 1:41)
    7th Place Match - Lewandowski (Gannon) 17-6 won by tech fall over Heath Lange (UIndy) 24-10 (TF-1.5 7:00 (22-6))

---

174 - Jake Stratton (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley) (15-9) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Nick Becker (Wis.-Parkside) 25-0 won by tech fall over Stratton (Gannon) 15-9 (TF-1.5 5:34 (18-2))
    Cons. Round 1 - Brandon Supernaw (Western St.) 31-11 won by decision over Stratton (Gannon) 15-9 (Dec 8-6)

---

184 - Nicholas Costa (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) (7-9) place is unknown and scored 0.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Zeb Wahle (Maryville (MO)) 30-4 won by decision over Costa (Gannon) 7-9 (Dec 4-0)
    Cons. Round 1 - Jared Chambers (Tiffin) 18-15 won by decision over Costa (Gannon) 7-9 (Dec 7-5)

---

285 - Nick Budd (Port Allegany, Pa./Port Allegany) (15-6) placed 6th and scored 8.00 team points.
    Champ. Round 1 - Budd (Gannon) 15-6 won by decision over Dylan Faulkenberg (UIndy) 27-11 (Dec 3-2)
    Quarterfinal - Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa ) 23-10 won by decision over Budd (Gannon) 15-6 (Dec 8-4)
    Cons. Round 2 - Budd (Gannon) 15-6 won by decision over Deaken McCoy (Ashland ) 18-12 (Dec 11-5)
    Cons. Round 3 - Budd (Gannon) 15-6 won by decision over Ryan Appleby (Kutztown) 20-13 (Dec 3-1)
    Cons. Semi - Michael Lowman (Augustana (SD)) 29-11 won by fall over Budd (Gannon) 15-6 (Fall 2:24)
    5th Place Match - Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa ) 23-10 won by decision over Budd (Gannon) 15-6 (Dec 5-3)

---