ERIE, Pa. – In their final action prior to next Sunday's NCWWC Regional that will be hosted by the Golden Knights in Erie, the No. 10-ranked Gannon women's wrestling team travels to LeBanon, Ill. to compete in the 2022 Bearcat Open, hosted by McKendree, on Saturday.
 
Over the past three weeks, the Knights have a 5-0 dual meet record, including wins over three top-10 teams, and wrapped up the Grand View Open last weekend with four top-five finishes competing in an invitational tournament.
 
The Knights began the month of January with a 34-13 dual meet victory over East Stroudsburg at home back on Jan. 23. The following week, Gannon went 4-0 at the Dragon Duals, picking up wins over No. 9 Adrian (33-14), No. 7 Schreiner (42-5) and No. 5 Tiffin (27-19).
 
Last weekend, Anya Knappenberger (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) and Lana Perez (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) both finished third at the Grand View Open, while Julianne Moccia (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) and Annabelle Helm (Vancouver, Wash./Union) both finished fifth. Knappenberger went 5-1 at 130 lbs., winning twice by decision, once by fall and once by technical fall. At 136 lbs., Perez went 6-1 with three technical falls and one fall.
 
Moccia (109 lbs.) went 4-2, winning twice by fall and twice by technical fall. Helm went 3-2 last weekend at 170-pounds, winning twice by decision and once by fall. Despite not placing, Stephanie Floor (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Leone) led the Knights at the Grand View Open with three fall victories as she went 3-2 a 143-pounds.
 
Gannon is currently ranked 10^th in the nation in the NWCA women's dual meet rankings, while ranking No. 12 in the national tournament rankings. Kat Pendergrass (South Hill, Va./South Granville(NC)) (101 lbs.), Anya Knappenberger (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) (130 lbs.) and Lana Perez (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) (136 lbs.) currently rank No. 8 in the country in their respective weight classes. Helm is Gannon's highest ranked individual at No. 7 in the 170-pound rankings.
 
Saturday will be Gannon's first appearance at the McKendree Bearcat Open.
 

Projected Lineup – Gannon University – 2/11/22 at Bearcat Open
101/109 - Ekta Arora (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary) (3-5)
101/109 - Kat Pendergrass (South Hill, Va./South Granville(NC)) (10-3)
109 - Julianne Moccia (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) (13-6)
123/130 - Sam Houser (Wakarusa, Kan./Washburn Rural) (3-7)
130 - Destiny Gonzalez (Cypress, Calif./John F. Kennedy) (2-4)
130/136 - Anya Knappenberger (Berlin, Md./Stephen Decatur) (20-3)
136 - Lana Perez (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) (15-5)
136 - Mikayla Dockweiler (Corpus Christi, Texas/Richard King) (3-4)
143 - Stephanie Floor (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Leone) (15-6)
155/170 - Gabby Malinowski (Waterford, Pa./Fort LeBoeuf) (11-9)
170/191 - Annabelle Helm (Vancouver, Wash./Union) (21-5)
191 - Amara Devericks (San Clemente, Calif./Corona) (17-5)
191 - Daniella Morales (0-3)