SOUTH EUCLID, OH – Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) and Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg Area) had pins and the Gannon men's wrestling team raced to a 27-point lead on the way to a 39-9 victory over Notre Dame (Ohio) in a non-conference dual meet on Friday.

Gannon upped its dual-meet record to 3-1 in its first action of the 2024 portion of its schedule. Notre Dame dropped to 0-7.

Coach Tom Boyd's Golden Knights started quickly with victories in the first five matches at Murphy Gymnasium.

GU's Hunter Robison (Edinboro, Pa./Saegertown) opened the dual with a dominant, 17-0 technical fall over Jake Arnold in the 125-pound match. Robison improved to 9-4 on the season.

Echevarria followed in the 133-pound division as he built a 16-3 lead late in the second period and converted the pin just as he was about to finish a technical fall. Echevarria, who improved to 17-4, showed why is ranked No. 8 in NCAA Division II.

Caleb Chaves (Odenton, Md./Arundel) (141) and Ethan Richner (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area High) (157) accepted forfeit wins from the Falcons, but in between No. 17 Jimmy Ryan (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) had another impressive win at 149 pounds. Ryan's outstanding defense was on display as he recorded an 11-0 major decision over Parker Moore to improve to 11-4 on the season.

Notre Dame claimed a win at 165, the Falcons then forfeited at 174 before Casilio turned in one of the most memorable victories of the evening. He locked up an early cradle against Joe King before recording a fall in just 26 seconds. Casilio, ranked No. 15, moved his record to 13-7 and ballooned Gannon's lead to 39-3.

The Falcons won close decisions in the final two matches at 197 and 285 pounds.
 

What's ahead:

Gannon's B Team will be in action on Sunday at the Kauffman Open in Edinboro and on Tuesday at Penn State Behrend.

The Golden Knights' A Team will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Mount Union Open.
 

GANNON 39, NOTRE DAME 9
125: Hunter Robison (Edinboro, Pa./Saegertown) (GU) def. Jake Arnold (NDC) -- Tech Fall (17-0)
133: Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) (GU) def. Alex Cummings (NDC) – Fall (4:39)
141: Caleb Chaves (Odenton, Md./Arundel) (GU) won by forfeit
149: Jimmy Ryan (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) (GU) def. Parker Moore (NDC) – Major Decision (11-0)
157: Ethan Richner (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area High) (GU) won by forfeit
165: Ethan Aguiniga (NDC) def. Caleb Butterfield (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (GU) – Decision (6-5)
174: Cole Hivnor (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic) (GU) won by forfeit
184: Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg Area) (GU) def. Joe King (NDC) – Fall (0:26)
197: Marvelous Rutledge (NDC) def. Anthony Glessner (Middletown, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) (GU) – Decision (6-3)
HWT: La'Ron Parks (NDC) def. Matt Long (Corry, Pa./Union City) (GU) – Sudden Victory - 1 (4-1)