wrestling winter senior night

Men's Wrestling Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

No. 11 Gannon Wins Five Bouts by Bonus Points in 42-7 Victory over Fairmont State

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's wrestling team rode five bonus-point wins, including three first-period falls, to a convincing 42-7 win over Fairmont State in the home opening dual on Saturday night. The match took place at the Recreation and Wellness Center with the Hammermill Center set up for graduation.

Gannon won eight of ten bouts on a night when seniors Owen Balas (Warren, Pa./Warren Area), Brad Crislip (Ravenna, Ohio/Ravenna), and Nico Marsico were recognized before the match. The trio will walk in the graduation ceremonies on Sunday. Gannon is now 1-2 while Fairmont State dropped to 0-4.

The night got underway with a forfeit victory for ninth-ranked Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) at 125 lbs. Aseel Almudhala (Dearborn, Mich./Fordson) followed with a 10-2 major decision at 133 lbs. to make it 10-0. Fairmont State picked up a decision at 141 lbs., but Gannon won the next four bouts to extend the lead to 33-3. Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) won by forfeit at 149 lbs., with Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) picking up a technical fall at 157 lbs. by a score of 20-2, and Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) and Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) followed back-to-back pins at 165 and 174 lbs., respectively.

The Falcons picked up their second win of the evening on a major decision at 184 lbs., but Gannon ended the dual with a fall by Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds), ranked ninth at 197 lbs., and a 4-0 decision for 11th-ranked Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) at heavyweight.

There were a pair of exhibitions after the dual, with Dunlop, an All-American at 133 lbs. last season, winning by a third period fall in a 133 lb. match, and Deven Abbott (Erie, Pa./Collegiate Academy (Erie)) winning by technical fall in a 174 lb. exhibition match. Dunlop is now 12-2 after the two wins.

Here's a look at how the bouts went:

133 lbs. – Aseel Almudhala (Dearborn, Mich./Fordson) improved to 4-5 with a 10-2 major decision over Levi Smith. He grabbed a 4-1 lead after one period on the strength of a pair of takedowns, then added a third takedown in the second period for a 6-1 lead. Almudhala picked up a point for stalling to start the third period, and after a Smith escape added his fourth takedown of the night. He owned 4:10 in riding time.

141 lbs. – Fairmont State's Dylan Dennison would claim an 8-2 decision over Parker Loera (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) (2-9) thanks to a big third period. The Falcon led 2-0 after two periods thanks to a takedown in the final seconds of the first period. Loera closed the gap to 2-1 with an escape to start the third, but Dennison registered a takedown and would pick up four nearfall points late. Loera actually owned riding time after riding out Dennison in the second period.

157 lbs. – All-American Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) was impressive while recording a 20-2 technical fall, the end coming with four nearfall points to end the first period. While improving to 9-3, Young had a pair of takedowns but would turn Jordan Hamlin four times, all for four points.

165 lbs. -- Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) picked up the first of Gannon's three falls to improve to 2-0. He had a takedown, then turned Taven Swick for a pair of four-point nearfalls and a 10-0 lead. After a Swick escape, he added another takedown and actually had four back points in hand when he flattened Swick at 2:30.

174 lbs. – Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (8-1) had Gannon's fastest fall of the evening as he pinned Davy Mundy at 0:58. He took a 2-0 lead on a takedown in the first 20 seconds of the match, then rode Mundey until eventually picking up the fall.

184 lbs. – Deven Abbott (Erie, Pa./Collegiate Academy (Erie)), moving up to 184 lbs., lost an 8-0 major decision to Austin Gibson. Gibson recorded a takedown in each of the first two periods, then used an escape, a third-period takedown, and over two minutes in riding time for the major decision. Abbott came back to turn in an impressive showing in a 174 lb. exhibition match. He won a 16-0 technical fall at 3:59 over Lance Scott and is now 3-7.

197 lbs. – Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) won by fall at 1:29 over Jaxson Turner as the seventh-ranked wrestler at 197 lbs. remained undefeated at 4-0. Leise began with a takedown 30 seconds into the bout, and added four nearfall points before pinning Turner.

Hwt. – In just the second decision of the evening, 11th-ranked Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) won a 4-0 decision over TJ Boyd. Nixon boosted his record to 10-1 on the strength of a quick takedown in the first period, followed by an escape to start the second, and 2:34 in riding time.
  
The Golden Knights will compete one more time in 2021, wrestling in the Midwest Classic in Indianapolis, Ind. on Saturday, December 18 and Sunday, December 19.
 
No. 11 GANNON 42, FAIRMONT STATE 7
Saturday, December 11, 2021
Recreation and Wellness Center
Erie, Pa.
                                                                                                                                                            
125 lbs.  – No. 9 Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (GU) won by forfeit
133 lbs. -- Aseel Almudhala (Dearborn, Mich./Fordson) (GU) maj. dec. Dylan Dennison (FSU), 10-2
141 lbs. – Levi Smith (FSU) dec. Parker Loera (Bethel Park, Pa./Bethel Park) (GU), 8-2
149 lbs. -- Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (GU) won by forfeit
157 lbs. -- Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (GU) tech. fall Jordan Hamlin (FSU), 20-2 (3:00)
165 lbs. – Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (GU) fall over Taven Swick (FSU), 2:30
174 lbs. -- Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (GU) fall over Davy Mundy (FSU), 0:58
184 lbs. – Austin Gibson (FSU) maj. dec. Deven Abbott (Erie, Pa./Collegiate Academy (Erie)) (GU), 8-0
197 lbs. – No. 7 Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (GU) fall over Jaxson Turner (FSU), 1:29
Hwt. – No. 11 Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (GU) dec. TJ Boyd (FSU), 4-0                                               
 
RECORDS:  Gannon 1-2; Fairmont State 0-4
 
EXHIBITION:
133 lbs. – No. 9 Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (GU) fall over Levi Smith (FSU), 6:27
174 lbs. – Deven Abbott (Erie, Pa./Collegiate Academy (Erie)) (GU) tech. fall Lance Scott (FSU), 16-0 (3:59)
 
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Players Mentioned

Deven Abbott

Deven Abbott

Junior
157
Owen Balas

Owen Balas

Junior
174
Brad Crislip

Brad Crislip

Redshirt Junior
Hwt.
Jacob Dunlop

Jacob Dunlop

Senior
125
Evan Fisler

Evan Fisler

Redshirt Junior
157
Joel Leise

Joel Leise

Redshirt Junior
184
Dom Means

Dom Means

Redshirt Junior
149
Freddie Nixon

Freddie Nixon

Senior
197
Nick Young

Nick Young

Junior
141
Parker Loera

Parker Loera

Freshman
149

Players Mentioned

Deven Abbott

Deven Abbott

Junior
157
Owen Balas

Owen Balas

Junior
174
Brad Crislip

Brad Crislip

Redshirt Junior
Hwt.
Jacob Dunlop

Jacob Dunlop

Senior
125
Evan Fisler

Evan Fisler

Redshirt Junior
157
Joel Leise

Joel Leise

Redshirt Junior
184
Dom Means

Dom Means

Redshirt Junior
149
Freddie Nixon

Freddie Nixon

Senior
197
Nick Young

Nick Young

Junior
141
Parker Loera

Parker Loera

Freshman
149