Leise

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

No. 6 Gannon Edges No. 11 Kutztown to Remain in Contention for PSAC Dual Meet Crown

ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's wrestling team posted a hard-earned 21-18 victory over Kutztown on Friday night at the Hammermill Center to position itself for a shot at the PSAC Dual Meet championship. The matchup between two nationally-ranked teams was as good as its advanced billing, with sixth-ranked Gannon improving to 8-2 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the PSAC. Kutztown, ranked 11th in the NWCA Division II Top 25, suffered its first loss and is now 8-1 and 3-1, respectively.

The Golden Knights have one dual meet remaining, that against Pitt-Johnstown on Friday, February 11. The Mountain Cats have won the last five PSAC dual meet titles, defeating Gannon a year ago by a 21-10 score to secure the title. UPJ, Kutztown and Mercyhurst all have one loss, with Kutztown wrestling at Mercyhurst on Saturday afternoon.
 

With Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central), the starter at 184 lbs., out with an injury, head coach Don Henry adjusted his lineup and bumped up two wrestlers a weight class while inserting Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) into the lineup at 165 lbs. The move nearly worked to perfection as Fisler won by decision, as did Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) at 184 lbs.

Unfortunately, Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside), the top-ranked wrestler at 165 lbs., suffered an injury in his bout at 174 lbs. and was not able to continue. The injury default left the match tied at 15-15 with three weights remaining.

Gannon claimed close decisions in the next two bouts to complete the comeback. Petrella (19-4), ranked 10th by the NWCA and 14th by InterMat at 174 lbs., came from behind for a 5-4 victory over Matthew Weinberg at 184 lbs., giving Gannon the lead for good at 18-15. Petrella trailed 3-1 after a Weinberg escape early in the second period. He tied the match at 3-3 with a takedown with nine seconds left in the second period. A reversal with 38 seconds left gave Petrella his first lead. Weinberg closed to a point with an escape, but just four seconds remained.

Undefeated Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) took the mat at 197 lbs. against Brian Kennerly (16th IM), with both ranked nationally. Leise, ranked third by the NWCA and 10th by InterMat, moved to 11-0 with a 4-1 decision thanks to a strong third period. The two exchanged escapes, but Leise registered the lone takedown of the bout with 47 seconds left and rode out Kennerly to gain the riding point. The win by decision snapped a string of eight straight falls. His win put Gannon up 21-15 and was the sixth win for the Knights to cover a tie via criteria.

The match ended with Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute), ranked ninth by InterMat and 12th by the NWCA, going toe-to-toe with top-ranked Andrew Dunn. Dunn would remain undefeated at 14-0 with a 2-1 decision with the winning point coming on a second stalling warning against Nixon in the third period, along with an escape. Nixon is now 16-2.

The match got off to an ominous start as Kutztown jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead with wins in the first two matches. Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (17-3) and Kutztown's Matt Wilde, ranked 12th by InterMat, engaged in a spirited bout to start the dual. Dunlop, ranked 11th by InterMat, had the upper hand most of the match thanks to a takedown in the first period. He led 4-3 early in the third period following a Wilde escape. Wilde caught Dunlop near the edge of the mat late in the period and finished the winning takedown with just seven seconds remaining for a 5-4 decision.

Collin Wickramaratna, ranked fourth by the NWCA and 10th by InterMat, gave the Golden Bears a 9-0 lead with a fall over Christopher Rocha-Perez (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) (2-6) at 133 lbs.
Gannon mounted its comeback with wins in the next four bouts. Austin Hertel (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) improved to 8-5 with a 4-3 decision over KJ Fenstermacher at 141 lbs. The match was tied at 2-2 after two periods before Hertel's reversal made it 4-2 with a minute to go. A Fenstermacher escape with 40 seconds remaining left the final score at 4-3.

Like Leise, Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) remained undefeated at 11-0 with a 5-1 decision over Michael Cusick at 149 lbs. Means is ranked second in both polls while Cusick is 16th according to InterMat. He held a narrow 1-0 advantage heading into the third period. Cusick knotted it with an escape, but Means took a 3-1 lead on a double leg shot for a takedown with 47 seconds, and was later awarded a stalling point and earned riding time.

Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) gave Gannon its first lead of the night at 12-9 when he registered a first-period fall over Kibwe McNair at 1:16. Young, ranked tenth by InterMat, improved to 16-8 with his fourth fall.   

Fisler (8-2) and AJ Bencivenga put on another entertaining bout at 165 lbs., with Fisler giving the Golden Knights a 15-9 advantage on the strength of an 8-4 decision. Bencivenga took a -0 lead with a takedown at the first period buzzer, but an escape and takedown made it 3-2 after two periods. Fisler would take control in the third period with two more takedowns.

Farenchak and Baney were early in their 174 lb. match when they got tangled in a scramble and Farenchak was unable to continue. It not only left the crowd stunned but knotted the match at 15-15 leading the way for Petrella and Leise to come through.   


No. 6 GANNON 21, No. 11 KUTZTOWN 18
Friday, February 4, 2022
Erie, Pa.
 
125 lbs. – NR/#12 Matt Wilde (KU) dec. NR/#11 Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (GU), 5-4     KU 3-0
133 lbs. – #4/10 Collin Wickramaratna (KU) fall over Chris Rocha-Perez (GU), 4:44    KU 9-0 
141 lbs. – Austin Hertel (Rochester, N.Y./Hilton) (GU) dec. KJ Fenstermacher (KU), 4-3    KU 9-3
149 lbs. -- #2/2 Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (GU) dec. NR/#16 Michael Cusick (KU), 5-1   KU 9-6
157 lbs. – NR/#10 Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (GU) fall over Kibwe McNair (KU), 1:16     GU 12-9
165 lbs. -- Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (GU) dec. AJ Bencivenga (KU), 8-4    GU 15-9
174 lbs. – NR/#16 Ethan Baney (KU) inj. default #1/1 Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) (GU), 0:44    Tied 15-15
184 lbs. – #10/14 Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (GU) dec. Matthew Weinberg (KU), 5-4    GU 18-15
197 lbs. – #3/10 Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (GU) dec. NR/#16 Brian Kennerly (KU), 4-1   GU 21-15
Hwt. – #1/1 Andrew Dunn (KU) dec. #12/9 Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (GU), 2-1    GU 21-18
 
RECORDS:  Gannon 8-2, 6-0 PSAC; Kutztown 8-1, 3-1 PSAC
 
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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