Jacob Dunlop vs. Mercyhurst
Ed Mailliard

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

Gannon Finishes Second at Super Region 1 Tournament, Eight Wrestlers Headed to Nationals

Dunlop, Petrella Win Regional Crowns

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Gannon men's wrestling team placed second at the 2022 NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Championships on Saturday. in Johnstown, Pa. Host Pitt-Johnstown won the championship in the 11-team field with 147 points, while Gannon totaled 129.5 points. Kutztown took home third place with 110.5 points while Mercyhurst was fourth with 99.5 points. Gannon was looking to repeat as the Super Region 1 champion after winning for the first time a year ago.
 
The Super Region 1 Tournament served as the qualifier for the NCAA Division II National Championships. The top three wrestlers in each of the 10 weight classes advanced to the National Championships on March 11-12 in St. Louis, Mo. For the second straight Gannon will send eight wrestlers to the National Championships.
 
Two Golden Knights brought home regional championships, with Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) winning at 125 lbs. and freshman Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) taking home the crown at 174 lbs. Dunlop, a senior, won his second straight Super Region 1 title after winning at 133 lbs. a year ago, then going on to earn All-American honors. He will be making his fourth trip to Nationals.
 
Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) and Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) finished second at 157 and 197 lbs., respectively, while Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (149 lbs.), Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (165 lbs.), Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (184 lbs.), and Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (hwt.) placed third. Nixon joins Dunlop as a four-time national qualifier, with Leise and Young head to Nationals for the third time. Means, Fisler, and Page make their second appearance at Nationals.
 
Both Dunlop and Petrella had to battle their way through a pair nationally-ranked wrestlers to claim their crowns. Dunlop improved to 21-3. After opening with a major decision, he upset 12th-ranked Matt Wilde of Kutztown in the semifinals. In the finals, he handed 11th-ranked Tyshawn White of Shippensburg a 6-2 defeat.
 
Petrella, meanwhile, had to navigate through a 174 lb. field that featured All-American Brock Biddle and Dillon Walker. He won four matches to improve to 24-4. He reached the semifinals with a fall and major decision, then in the semifinals handed Biddle a 6-4 defeat. Petrella suffered a 2-1 loss to eighth-rankled Walker in sudden victory earlier in the year, but on Saturday he avenged that loss with a 3-1 win, again the two battling into sudden victory.
 
Leise (14-1) came in ranked third at 197 lbs., and breezed to the finals with back-to-back first period falls. He faced Brian Kennerly of Kutztown in the finals. Leise had come through late in the dual between the two for a 4-1 win, but this time Kennerly won 15-6 to hand Leise his first loss of the season.
 
Young, ranked 12th at 157 lbs., reached the finals for the second straight year but had to settle for second place this time around. He handed 11th-ranked Nate Smith of Pitt-Johnstown an 8-3 defeat in the semifinals after dropping a 7-6 decision to Smith two weeks ago. He would drop an 8-4 decision to ninth-ranked JoJo Gonzalez of American International and enters Nationals with an 18-10 record, looking to repeat as an All-American.
 
Means, Fisler, and Nixon reached the semifinals before having to battle back to take home third place finishes. Means (14-2), ranked sixth at 149 lbs., was upset by Josh Laubach of Alderson Broaddus, 7-5, in the semifinals. He won his third place match by fall over Tommy Nichols of American International.
 
Fisler was not even in the lineup at the beginning of the month. He took over at 165 lbs. when top-ranked Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) went down with a season-ending injury. A national qualifier at 157 lbs. in 2020, Fisler improved to 11-4 with wins in three of four bouts. He edged Ethan baney of Kutztown, 5-4, to punch his ticket to St. Louis.
 
Nixon lived on the edge all day while competing in a heavyweight field that showcased three ranked grapplers. The senior would need extra time in three of his five matches. His opening round match was a 2-0 decision, and then he won a 3-1 decision in sudden victory to reach the semifinals. Nixon, ranked 11th, squared off with fourth-ranked Jacob Robb in a first meeting between the two. It would go into sudden victory with Robb coming a 3-1 winner. A first period advanced to the third place match, where he won a 2-1 decision in tiebreaker over Ogden Atwood of Pitt-Johnstown to improve to 21-3. It was his seventh match to go to sudden victory or tiebreaker, including a 3-1 win in sudden victory over Atwood two weeks ago.
 
Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (6-5) was the most unlikely wrestler to reach Nationals, doing so for the second straight year. The redshirt junior had not wrestled in a month due to an injury and came in with a 2-4 record. He then lost by fall in his first match. Page would battle back through the consolation round with a pair of technical falls and a major decision, In the third place match, he won by major decision over James Weber of UPJ, 11-3.
 
Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) also gained valuable points for Gannon, placing sixth at 133 lbs. He did not join the lineup until the last dual of the season, but picked up a pair of wins, including a fall.

2022 SUPER REGION 1 FINAL TEAM RESULTS

1.  Pitt-Johnstown -- 147.0 points
2.  GANNON -- 129.5
3.  Kutztown -- 110.5
4.  Mercyhurst -- 99.5
5.  Millersville -- 82.0
6.  Seton Hill -- 63.5
7.  Alderson Broaddus -- 49.5
8.  American International -- 48.5
9.  Shippensburg -- 32.0
10. East Stroudsburg -- 25.0
11. Fairmont St. -- 3.0
 
GANNON INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (top three finish qualifies for Nationals)
 
125 lbs. -- Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (21-3) -- First Place
Quarterfinals - Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (Gannon) major dec. over Jerry Echevarria (American Intl), 12-2
Semifinals - Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (Gannon) dec. over #12 Matt Wilde (Kutztown), 3-1
1st Place Match - Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (Gannon) dec. #11 Tyshawn White (Shippensburg), 6-2
 
133 lbs. -- Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) (7-10) -- Sixth Place
Champ. Round 1 - Mason Myers (Pitt-Johnstown) dec. over Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) (Gannon), 7-1
Cons. Round 2 - Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) (Gannon) won by forfeit over Chris Barthelemy (Alderson Broaddus)
Cons. Round 3 - Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) (Gannon) won by fall over Josh Jackson (Shippensburg), 2:39
Cons. Semifinals - William Burgess (Seton Hill) dec. over Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) (Gannon), 4-2
5th Place Match - Mason Myers (Pitt-Johnstown) major dec. Chase McLaughlin (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) (Gannon), 9-0
 
141 lbs. -- Austin Hertel (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) (8-8)
Quarterfinals - Joel Cawoski (Seton Hill) dec. over Austin Hertel (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) (Gannon), 4-3
Cons. Round 3 - Kevin Fenstermacher (Kutztown) dec. over Austin Hertel (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) (Gannon), 6-1
 
149 lbs. – No. 6 Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (14-2) -- Third Place
Quarterfinals - Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (Gannon) dec. over Levi Smith (Fairmont St.)., 8-3
Semifinals - Josh Laubach (Alderson Broaddus) dec. over Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (Gannon), 7-5
Cons. Semifinals - Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (Gannon) dec. over Logan McKoy (Seton Hill), 6-2
3rd Place Match - Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (Gannon) won by fall over Tommy Nichols (American Intl), 4:20
 
157 lbs. – No. 12 Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (18-10) -- Second Place
Quarterfinals - Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (Gannon) major dec. over Kibwe McNair (Kutztown), 16-2
Semifinals - Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (Gannon) dec. over #11 Nate Smith (Pitt-Johnstown), 8-3
1st Place Match - #9 JoJo Gonzalez (American Intl) dec. over Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (Gannon), 8-4
 
165 lbs. -- Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (11-4) -- Third Place
Quarterfinals - Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (Gannon) dec. over Luke Ciampa (East Stroudsburg), 8-4
Semifinals - Brandon Connor (Millersville) dec. over Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (Gannon), 10-9
Cons. Semifinals - Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (Gannon) won by fall over Mike Clark (Mercyhurst), 0:57
3rd Place Match - Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (Gannon) dec. over Ethan Baney (Kutztown), 5-4
 
174 lbs. -- Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (24-4) -- First Place
Champ. Round 1 – Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon) won by fall over Greg Griffith (Alderson Broaddus), 1:19
Quarterfinals - Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon) major dec. over Nyiem Flucas (Shippensburg), 10-0
Semifinals - Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon) dec. over #9 Brock Biddle (Pitt-Johnstown), 6-4
1st Place Match - Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (Gannon) dec. over #8 Dillon Walker (Mercyhurst), 3-1 SV
 
184 lbs. -- Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (6-5) -- Third Place
Quarterfinals - Anthony Giampietro (Millersville) won by fall over Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (Gannon), 4:11
Cons. Round 2 - Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (Gannon) tech fall over Brent Burbules (Mercyhurst), 19-1 (2:19)
Cons. Round 3 - Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (Gannon) tech fall over Ryan Weitz (Alderson Broaddus), 16-0 (3:57)
Cons. Semifinals - Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (Gannon) major dec. over James Weber (Pitt-Johnstown), 11-3
3rd Place Match - Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (Gannon) major dec. over Brandon Matthews (Seton Hill), 10-2
 
197 lbs. – No. 3 Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (14-1) -- Second Place
Quarterfinals - Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (Gannon) won by fall over Justin Osler (American Intl), 0:24
Semifinals - Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (Gannon) won by fall over Hunter Harnish (Mercyhurst), 1:38
1st Place Match - Brian Kennerly (Kutztown) major dec. over Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (Gannon), 15-6
 
Hwt. – No. 11 Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (21-3) -- Third Place
Champ. Round 1 - Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (Gannon) dec. over TJ Boyd (Fairmont St.), 2-0
Quarterfinals - Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (Gannon) dec. over Demetrius Daniels (Alderson Broaddus), 3-1 SV
Semifinals - #4 Jacob Robb (Mercyhurst) dec. over Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (Gannon), 3-1 SV
Cons. Semifinals - Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (Gannon) won by fall over Dan Schieb (Shippensburg), 0:50
3rd Place Match - Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (Gannon) dec. over Ogden Atwood (Pitt-Johnstown)., 2-1 TB
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jacob Dunlop

Jacob Dunlop

Senior
125
Alex Farenchak

Alex Farenchak

Redshirt Sophomore
165
Evan Fisler

Evan Fisler

Redshirt Junior
157
Austin Hertel

Austin Hertel

Senior
133
Joel Leise

Joel Leise

Redshirt Junior
184
Dom Means

Dom Means

Redshirt Junior
149
Freddie Nixon

Freddie Nixon

Senior
197
Cameron Page

Cameron Page

Redshirt Junior
184
Nick Young

Nick Young

Junior
141
Joey Petrella

Joey Petrella

Freshman
174

Players Mentioned

Jacob Dunlop

Jacob Dunlop

Senior
125
Alex Farenchak

Alex Farenchak

Redshirt Sophomore
165
Evan Fisler

Evan Fisler

Redshirt Junior
157
Austin Hertel

Austin Hertel

Senior
133
Joel Leise

Joel Leise

Redshirt Junior
184
Dom Means

Dom Means

Redshirt Junior
149
Freddie Nixon

Freddie Nixon

Senior
197
Cameron Page

Cameron Page

Redshirt Junior
184
Nick Young

Nick Young

Junior
141
Joey Petrella

Joey Petrella

Freshman
174