2024-25 Gannon men's wrestling team photo

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

Men's Wrestling Season Preview: Expereince Plus Talented Newcomers Lead to High Expectations in 2024-25

Five Golden Knights ranked in preseason rankings

2024-25 GANNON MEN'S WRESTLING SEASON PREVIEW
 
ERIE, Pa. – The Gannon men's wrestling team begins its second year under head coach Tom Boyd with high expectations. They also face possibly the most difficult schedule a Gannon team has ever faced.
 
Boyd enjoyed a highly-successful first campaign at the helm. The Golden Knights finished with a 9-2 record, coming in second in the PSAC standings at 6-1. The Golden Knights went on to finish first among 11 teams at the NCAA Division II Super Regional One, qualifying eight wrestlers for the NCAA Division II National Championships. The Golden Knights would finish 18th with Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) (5th at 133 lbs.) and Nick Coreno (Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic) (6th at 165 lbs.) earning All-American honors. 
 
The challenges will be many in 2024-25, and injuries have already impacted the lineup, but one thing is clearly evident. This team has depth. Quality depth. That was evident in an abbreviated Maroon & Gold Wrestleoffs on Sunday. Plenty of close matches at the four weight classes involved.
 
Boyd and his staff brought in a strong recruiting class led by Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), a graduate transfer who was a two-time Division I national qualifier at heavyweight while wrestling for Bucknell.
 
Gannon enters the 2024-25 campaign tied for eighth in the NWCA Division II Preseason poll. A total of five wrestlers appear in the national rankings, with Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) third at 133 lbs. Nick Coreno (Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic) fifth at 165 lbs., Ethan Richner (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area High) and Dorion Crosby sixth at 157 lbs. and heavyweight, respectively, and Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg Area) ninth at 184 lbs.
 
As always injuries can be prevalent in wrestling. Gannon has been no exception, with a number of wrestlers impacted. That includes Cole Hivnor (Painesville, Ohio/Lake Catholic), a national qualifier at 174 lbs. Hivnor will miss the 2024-25 season.  
  
Q&A with Tom Boyd
 
1. What do you view as the strengths of this team? "We talk a lot about GRIT, staying focused and being in the moment. With our preparation, we will have the confidence to go out and do what we do best. We have experience and good leadership skills. Our guys are goal oriented. They push each other. They support each other. They want to get better every day. This is a team that continues to strive for excellence and is not satisfied with mediocrity."
2. What are your concerns? "I never want to forget about having gratitude. Being thankful for our gifts. I want my team to enjoy the journey. I want them all to focus on the process and not the outcome."
3. What do you do for an encore in your second year as head coach? "My vision for my team is the same every year. I want to win the National Championship. I want to qualify all 10 guys and get all 10 on the podium. After we do that once, the encore will be to do it again."
4. Talk about the schedule you will face this year: "It may be one of the toughest schedules we have wrestled. I believe iron sharpens iron. Our schedule is challenging but that is what my team wants. We want to compete against the best. When we recruit guys to come to Gannon, we want them to know that we are wrestling the top teams. It is great wrestling D1 Kent State. We will see Lander who finished second in the country in Division II last season. Glenville (12th), West Liberty (13th), Grand Valley State (14th) and Ashland are all great teams. Our PSAC conference is always tough with UPJ, Kutztown and Millersville. I don't take any team lightly. We need to be ready every time we step on the mat. We also head to the Midwest Classic in mid-December. That is one of the toughest tournaments in the country."
 
2023-24 Record: 9-2
2023-24 PSAC West Record: 6-1, second place

2023-24 Postseason:

NCAA Division II Super Regional One:  1st / 11 teams
 
Head coach:
Tom Boyd, 2nd season: A former Gannon All-American, Boyd begins his second season at the helm after taking over for long-time head coach Don Henry. Boyd served for over 20 years as an assistant coach before assuming the head coaching duties. He led Gannon to a 9-2 record, followed by a first place showing in the Super Regional One. Gannon placed 18th at Nationals.   
 
Key Returnees:
Jerry Echevarria, 133 lbs.: The redshirt junior earned All-American honors thanks to a fifth-place finish at 133 lbs. at the NCAA Division II National Championships. He ended the year with a 29-8 record, tied for the team lead in wins. He enters the season ranked third at 133 lbs. in the NWCA Preseason Top 25.
 
Nick Coreno, 165 lbs.: A graduate student, Coreno made his first trip to Nationals and came away with a sixth-place finish to earn All-American honors. Like Echevarria, Coreno finished at 29-8. He also captured first place at the Super Regional One. He has a 60-23 career record. He begins the year ranked fifth at 165 lbs. by the NWCA.
 
Cole Casilio (Wilcox, Pa./Johnsonburg Area), 184 lbs.: The redshirt junior is a two-time national qualifier, competing at 174 lbs. two years ago and 184 lbs. this past year. Casilio ended the year at 23-11 after going 1-2 at National last year. He earned his trip to Nationals with a second -place showing at the Super Regional One. Casilio is ranked ninth in the NWCA 184 lb. rankings.
  
Top Newcomers:
Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), Hwt.: A grad transfer, Crosby was a two-time national qualifier while wrestling at Division I Bucknell (2023 & 2024). The local product from Cathedral Prep was a three-time EIWA placewinner (runner-up in 2024, 6th in 2023, 7th in 2021) and graduated with 50 career wins. He enters the season ranked sixth at heavyweight in the NWCA Top 25. ."He has wrestled on the biggest stage and is a tremendous leader and a great person," noted Boyd. "He trained all summer, and I believe he is a contender to win a National Championship."
 
Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) (125 lbs.) and Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) (174 lbs.): The duo transferred in from Lock Haven. As redshirt freshmen both have four years remaining and Boyd looks for big things from them. "They are both hard workers and ready to compete," he noted. "I expect big things from them both."
 
Kenny Kiser (Meadville, Pa./Saegertown), 149 lbs.: Kiser began his career at Army and was redshirted last season. The redshirt junior is in the mix to start at 149 lbs.

Season Opener:
Saturday, Nov. 2: at Mount Union Invitational – All Day
LIVE RESULTS

Home Opener:
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Lake Erie and Shippensburg, at Recreation and Wellness Center – 2 p.m.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Cole Casilio

Cole Casilio

174
Redshirt Sophomore
Nick Coreno

Nick Coreno

165
Senior
Cole Hivnor

Cole Hivnor

184
Redshirt Sophomore
Ethan Richner

Ethan Richner

157
Redshirt Sophomore
Jerry Echevarria

Jerry Echevarria

133
Redshirt Sophomore
Kenny Kiser

Kenny Kiser

157
Redshirt Freshman
Patrick Jackson

Patrick Jackson

174
Redshirt Freshman
Dorian Crosby

Dorian Crosby

Hwt.
6' 2"
Graduate Student
Logan Sallot

Logan Sallot

125
5' 4"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Cole Casilio

Cole Casilio

Redshirt Sophomore
174
Nick Coreno

Nick Coreno

Senior
165
Cole Hivnor

Cole Hivnor

Redshirt Sophomore
184
Ethan Richner

Ethan Richner

Redshirt Sophomore
157
Jerry Echevarria

Jerry Echevarria

Redshirt Sophomore
133
Kenny Kiser

Kenny Kiser

Redshirt Freshman
157
Patrick Jackson

Patrick Jackson

Redshirt Freshman
174
Dorian Crosby

Dorian Crosby

6' 2"
Graduate Student
Hwt.
Logan Sallot

Logan Sallot

5' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
125