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

Eight Golden Knights Headed to St. Louis for National Championships

GANNON GOLDEN KNIGHTS at 2022 NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
DATE/TIME:  Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12, 2022 I 11:00 a.m. (Fri.) I 10:00 a.m. (Sat.)
FACILITY/LOCATION:  Chaifetz Center I St. Louis, Mo.
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
LIVE VIDEO
LIVE RESULTS
 
TICKETS
ALL SESSIONS: $25 - Adults, $15 - Students/Senior Citizens/Children
SINGLE-DAY ADMISSION: $15 - Adults, $10 - Students/Senior Citizens/Children
*Children under the age of 5 will be admitted for free with an adult!
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MARCH 11
11 a.m.  |  Session 1
Preliminaries & 1st Round (6 mats)
 
5 p.m.  |  Session 2
2nd Round Championship, 1st & 2nd Round Consolation (6 mats)
 
MARCH 12
10 a.m.  |  Session 3
Championship Semi-finals
3rd Round Consolation, Consolation Semi-finals
3rd, 5th, 7th Place Matches (4 mats)
 
6:40 p.m.  |  Parade of All Americans
 
7 p.m.  |  Session 4
Championships Finals (10 matches on 1 mat)
Team Awards Ceremony (immediately following)
 
*All times are central standard time and are subject to change.
 
ERIE, Pa. – Long-time head coach Don Henry will take a program-record eight wrestlers to the 2022 NCAA Division II National Championships for the third straight year. A total of 180 wrestlers will converge on the Chaifetz Center in St. Louis, Mo. on March 11-12 to decide the 2022 national team champion along with champions in ten weight classes.
 
The first of two sessions on Friday gets underway at 11:00 a.m., with the second session starting at 5:00 p.m. Saturday's first session begins at 10:00 a.m. and will include the championship finals and wrap up with the 3rd, 5th, and 7th place matches. The championship matches begin at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening.
 
Henry is looking forward to a strong showing in St. Louis. "As a team we have worked hard over the break to be in the best mental and physical condition of the year," the veteran coach related. "Now that the brackets have come out, we have the opportunity to watch our first and second round opponents and formulate a game plan to beat them."
 
Gannon finished ninth a year ago, with three wrestlers earning All-American honors. The finish was the third-highest in program history and the best since an eighth-place showing in 2010. The best finish ever by a Gannon team was seventh in 2001 as three wrestlers earned top-three finishes.
 
A year ago, Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) finished as the national runner-up at 165 lbs., while Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) placed sixth at 157 lbs. and Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) was eighth at 133 lbs. Both Dunlop and Young look to repeat as All-Americans, with Dunlop moving down to 125 lbs. Farenchak was ranked first in the country at 165 lbs. before going down with a season-ending injury in early February.
 
Dunlop (125 lbs.) and Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (hwt.) are making their fourth appearance at the national championships. Dunlop earned All-American honors a year ago at 133 lbs., with his other three appearances at 125 lbs. He comes in as the number eight seed at 125 lbs. Nixon qualified twice at 197 lbs. before moving up to heavyweight a year ago and qualifying for Nationals.
 
Young (157 lbs.) and Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (197 lbs.) are headed to Nationals for the third time. Young is looking to earn All-American honors for the second straight year. Leise, the seventh seed at 197 lbs., has been ranked as high as third nationally and won his first 14 matches. He ranks fifth in Division II in falls with 10.
 
A trio of Golden Knights are making their second appearance at Nationals. It was not unexpected for Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (149 lbs.), who is ranked ninth at 149 lbs. in the final NWCA Division II rankings. The redshirt junior ran off 11 wins to start the season. He was accorded All-American honors by the NWCA in 2020 after the National Championships were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (165 lbs.) and Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (184 lbs.) took different paths. Both missed an extended period due to injuries. Fisler did not enter the lineup until Farenchak was lost for the season. Page had not competed for a month prior to the Super Region 1 Championships, and was on the verge of being eliminated after a loss in the first round. The redshirt junior battled back to win his next four bouts and repeat as a national qualifier.
 
Freshman Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (174 lbs.) is making his first trip to Nationals after upsetting a pair of nationally-ranked wrestlers in the semifinals and finals to win the 174 lb. championship at the Super Region 1 Tournament. He enters as the seventh seed.  
 
Gannon finished second at the Super Region 1 Championships two weeks ago, with host Pitt-Johnstown coming away with the title. Dunlop and Petrella won titles at 125 and 174 lbs., with Young and Leise earning runner-up finishes at 157 and 197 lbs. Means (149 lbs.), Fisler (165 lbs.), Page (184 lbs.), and Nixon (hwt.) all took third place at their respective weights.
 
Top-ranked Nebraska-Kearney has the most national qualifiers with nine. Gannon, Augustana (SD), Central Oklahoma and West Liberty have eight qualifiers. Central Oklahoma is ranked second in the final NWCA Division II Top 25, with St. Cloud third. The Golden Knights finished tied for 11th in the final rankings.
 
St. Cloud State has won the last three straight NCAA Division II national championships and five of the last six.
 
GANNON WRESTLERS AT NATIONALS
 
125 lbs. – No.8 Jacob Dunlop (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) (21-3, Sr.)
Dunlop earned his fourth trip to Nationals in impressive fashion, upsetting a pair of ranked wrestlers to win the Super Region 1 crown. In the semifinals, Dunlop handed 12th-ranked Matt Wilde of Kutztown a 3-1 defeat. He followed with a 6-2 upset of 11th-ranked Tyshawn White of Shippensburg in the finals. Last year, the senior was the 133 lb. Super Region 1 champion and went on to earn All-American honors with an eighth-place showing. Dunlop is seeded eighth at 125 lbs. and owns a 21-3 record, with wins in 12 of his last 13 bouts. His three losses have been by a total of five points. He has an 83-33 career record.
First Round Opponent -- Kevin Radcliff, Limestone
 
Coach Henry Comments: "He is wrestling his best, he knows what it takes to be an All America. His path to the finals will include a returning National Champion."
 
149 lbs. -- Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) (14-2, R-Jr.)
After missing the early portion of the season, Means ran off 11 straight wins to open the year before dropping an 8-2 decision to Jacob Ealy of Pitt-Johnstown. Means was then upset in the semifinals of the Super Region 1 Championships, dropping a 7-5 decision to Josh Laubach of Alderson Broaddus. He came back to win twice in the consolation round to capture third place. That included a fall over Tommy Nichols of American International at 4:20 in the third-place match. He earned his second trip to Nationals after qualifying in 2020. He would be accorded All-American honors at 149 lbs. by the NWCA after the NCAA canceled the National Championships due to the pandemic. Means is 14-2 on the season and ended the year ranked ninth at 149 lbs. He has a 45-15 career record.
First Round Opponent -- Bye, then faces Logan Bailey, Indianapolis or #6 Craig Cook, Davis & Elkins
 
Coach Henry Comments: "Dom Means (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) has wins over #2 and #3 seeds. He will have to beat them again to get to the finals. Has a great shot!"
 
157 lbs. -- Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) (18-10, Jr.) 
Young ended the year ranked ninth at 157 lbs. and will make his third trip to Nationals. He won the Super Region 1 title a year ago and went on to finish as an All-American, placing sixth at 157 lbs. He finished as the runner-up at this year's Super Region 1 Championships. His path featured two nationally-ranked wrestlers. He won an 8-3 decision over 11th-ranked Nate Smith of Pitt-Johnstown in the semifinals, avenging an earlier 7-6 loss to Smith. He would drop an 8-4 decision to ninth-ranked JoJo Gonzalez of American International in the finals.
Preliminary Opponent – Tyler Wagener, Augustana(SD)
 
Coach Henry Comments:  "Nick Young (Batavia, N.Y./Alexander) is also unseeded despite defeating the #6 seed at the Midwest Classic. Nick will get a pigtail then a rematch with #6. Nick is in his best shape of the season. He will be hard to beat."
 
165 lbs. -- Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) (11-4, R-Jr.)
Fisler was inserted into the lineup when top-ranked Alex Farenchak (Painesville, Ohio/Riverside) was lost for the rest of the year with an injury. Gannon was fortunate to have a wrestler of Fisler's caliber to replace last year's national runner-up. Fisler is a two-time national qualifier, previously going to Nationals in 2020 while competing at 157 lbs. He earned a third-place finish at the Super Region 1 Tournament thanks to a 5-4 decision over Kutztown's Ethan Baney in the third place match. He comes in with an 11-4 record while competing at both 157 and 165 lbs. this year. Fisler previously qualified for Nationals in 2020 after finishing second at the Super Region 1 Tournament at 157 lbs.
First Round Opponent -- #4 Jack Eiteljorge, Indianapolis
 
Coach Henry Comments: "Evan Fisler (Sewell, N.J./Washington Township) will be an underdog against familiar foes. He will see #4 right out of the gate, Evan lost a close match to him at the Midwest Classic. Evan is wrestling with confidence and could beat anyone."
 
174 lbs. -- #7 Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) (24-4, Fr.)
Petrella has enjoyed an outstanding freshman campaign with a 24-4 record with six falls, leading the team in wins. He earned the seventh seed at Nationals after winning all four of his bouts to capture the 174 lb. title at the Super Region 1 Championships. After winning by fall and major decision to reach the semifinals, Petrella upset two nationally-ranked wrestlers in the semifinals and finals. He posted a 6-4 decision over All-American Brock Biddle of Pitt-Johnstown, who was ranked ninth, in the semifinals. That was followed by a 3-1 win in sudden victory over eighth-ranked Dillon Walker of Mercyhurst.
First Round Opponent -- Josh Jones, McKendree
 
Coach Henry Comments: "Joey Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) was a surprise regional champion, but won't sneak up on anyone at the NCAA Championships. He's hard-nosed and physical and now attacking and scoring in all positions. He's defiantly peeking at the right time. He will need to continue to attack to stay on the winner's side of the bracket. He has the ability."
 
184 lbs. -- Cameron Page (Frewsburg, N.Y./Falconer Central) (6-5, R-Jr.)
The former transfer from Jamestown Community College is now a two-time national qualifier after recording an impressive run through the consolation bracket at the Super Region 1 Tournament. The redshirt junior lost his first match, but proceeded to win four straight matches in dominating fashion. He posted a pair of technical falls, then won twice by major decision. The latter was a 10-2 major decision over Seton Hill's Brandon Matthews in the third place match to nail down a trip to Nationals. The year before he won the Super Region 1 championship. This season had been filled with injury before the regional championships, but he has now run off wins in six of his last seven bouts.  
First Round Opponent -- #1 Connor Craig, West Liberty
 
Coach Henry Comments: "Cam Page came in unseeded, ran the consolation bracket in the region after losing, majoring the #1 and #2 seeds in the process. He will need to continue to step it up again to stay on the winners side of the bracket. He faces the #1 seed right out of the gate. If he wins, he may be the guy to beat in the finals."
 
197 lbs. – #7 Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) (14-1, R-Jr.)
Leise is making his third straight trip to Nationals and has now reached the finals of the Super Region 1 Championships the last two years. He dropped a 4-2 decision to Mercyhurst's Luke McGonigal in 2021 to earn his first trip to Nationals. Two weeks ago the redshirt junior dominated his first two matches, winning by falls in the first period, before losing to Kutztown's Brian Kennerly in the finals. That snapped a string of 14 straight wins to open the season. At one point he won eight straight matches by fall. He ranks fifth in Division II in falls with 10. Leise picked up his 50th career win with a fall over Mercyhurst's Hunter Harnish at the Super Region 1 Tournament. He now has a 50-22 career record with 26 career falls.
First Round Opponent -- Cole Huss, Northern State
 
Coach Henry Comments: "Joel Leise (Transfer, Pa./Reynolds) is the seventh seed and is on a collision course with the wrestler who knocked him out of last year's tournament.  Joel lost 6-3 with one arm (injured first match). Joel is healthy and ready to make a run to the finals. He is dangerous."
 
Hwt. – Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) (21-3, Sr.)
Nixon became a four-time national qualifier after finishing third at the Super Region 1 Tournament. He qualified twice at 197 lbs. and last year at heavyweight. The senior comes in with 21-3 record with four falls and is battle-tested. He won four of five matches at the Super Region 1 Tournament, with three of his bouts going extra time. His lone loss was a 3-1 loss in sudden victory to then fourth-ranked Jacob Robb of Mercyhurst in the semifinals. He won by fall to advance to the third-place match, where he outlasted Ogden Atwood of Pitt-Johnstown, 2-1 in a tiebreaker. Nixon has also faced the top seed in Adam Dunn of Kutztown, dropping a 2-1 decision to Dunn in February to snap a seven-match winning streak. His other loss came to Division I Max Millin of Edinboro, 3-1 in sudden victory. Nixon won the 2021 Super Region 1 heavyweight crown after a second place showing at 197 lbs. in 2020 and a third place finish in 2019. He was accorded All-American honors in 2020 by the NWCA after the national championships were canceled due to the pandemic. Nixon enters with a 72-25 career record.
First Round Opponent -- #2 Darrell Mason, Minnesota State
 
Coach Henry Comments: "Freddie Nixon (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) knows how to win He has wrestled close with some of the best in the country and needs to continue to utilize his skills to win close matches. He will see the #2 first match. It will be close. We just need to score first." 
 
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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
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
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