ERIE, Pa. – On Senior Night for the Gannon women's wrestling team, it was fitting that a senior's win clinched the team's victory in the final match.

Annabelle Helm (Vancouver, Wash./Union) wrestled up a weight class and claimed a 5-0 win over Trinity Monaghan at 191 pounds to seal No. 8 Gannon's 27-19 victory over No. 9 Lock Haven on Thursday night at the Highmark Events Center.

Helm was one of five seniors honored before the match as the Golden Knights wrestled their final home dual of the regular season at the Highmark Events Center. Amara Devericks (San Clemente, Calif./Corona), Nikoly Dos Santos (Matthews, N.C./Providence), Stephanie Floor (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Leone), and Daniela Morales Dardon (Palmdale, Calif./Highland) also were recognized for their contribution to the women's wrestling program during their careers.

"I came in last year, and they were so welcoming to me," Gannon second-year coach Breonnah Neal said of the seniors. "They helped me with the transition, they have been good leaders, and they helped me in so many way besides just on the mat. They mean a lot. I'm sad to see them go, but I'm excited to see where they go after this."

Gannon (6-4 overall and 4-1 at home) will get one more chance to compete on campus on Feb. 18 when the Golden Knights host the Northeast Regional for the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships at the Gannon Recreation and Wellness Center.

Gannon led 24-19 going into the final match, and Lock Haven needed a pin to tie the score and send the match to a criteria tiebreaker. Helm made sure that wasn't necessary as she won despite being the smaller wrestler in the 191-pound match.

She had a takedown in the first period for a 2-0 lead. Helm wrestled well defensively added a takedown and a stalling point in the second period to finish off the physical 5-0 win.

"It's kind of nice cohesive way to finish my four years here at Gannon, so it was nice that it ended on a win," Helm said. "I was a little nervous going in. I'm usually at 170. Having to go up to 191 was something else, but I really wanted that final match on Senior Night. So there was a lot of tension building up to it, but I was excited, too, to have that last match."

"We talked all week that there was a chance it was going to come down to her," Neal said. "We knew we didn't have an actual (191-pounder). She was just ready to rise to the occasion. She said, 'Yes, I want that match. I think I can do it for the team.'"

Brielle Larsen (Ogdensburg, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) claimed Gannon's other victory on the mat as she turned in an impressive 10-2 victory over Lock Haven's Madison Packer.

Larsen transferred in at mid-year and has been making an impact.

"She came in and hasn't wrestled in like a year and a half, and everything's just starting to click," Neal said of Larsen. "Super proud of her too."

Gannon was a benefactor from four forfeits as Lock Haven wrestled in only six of the 10 weight classes. Chloe Kitagawa (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Aliso Niguel) (101 pounds), Zoe Gaetjens (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore) (123), Lili Ujfalvi (Kecskemet-heteny, Hungary/Bolyai Janos Secondary School) (143), and Jewel Gonzalez (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) (170) were the recipients of the four forfeit wins.

"It's super exciting," Neal said of the win. "You always want to win on your Senior Night just to send your seniors out with a bang."
 
GANNON 27, LOCK HAVEN 19
101 lbs. – Chloe Kitagawa (Aliso Viejo, Calif./Aliso Niguel) (GU) by forfeit
109 lbs. – No. 5 Kaelani Shufeldt (LHU) tech. fall No. 4 Julianne Moccia (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) (GU) 12-2
116 lbs. – Brielle Larsen (Ogdensburg, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) (GU) dec. Madison Packer (LHU) 10-2
123 lbs. – Zoe Gaetjens (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore) (GU) by forfeit
130 lbs. – Lillian Sherer (LHU) by forfeit
136 lbs. – Madison Matta (LHU) fall over Jayden Bazemore (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Ranch) (GU) 3:46
143 lbs. – No. 3 Grace Stem (LHU) tech. fall Stephanie Floor (Pago Pago, American Samoa/Leone) (GU) 10-0
155 lbs. – Lili Ujfalvi (Kecskemet-heteny, Hungary/Bolyai Janos Secondary School) (GU) by forfeit
170 lbs. – No. 6 Jewel Gonzalez (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) (GU) by forfeit
191 lbs. – No. 7 Annabelle Helm (Vancouver, Wash./Union) (GU) dec. Trinity Monaghan (LHU) 5-0