KENT, Ohio – The Gannon men's wrestling team went for a second straight victory over Division I Kent State on Friday, but the Golden Flashes pulled out a 23-15 victory at KSU's Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center.
 
It was the dual-meet opener for head coach Tom Boyd's Gannon team. On Dec. 8, 2023, Gannon recorded a memorable win when heavyweight Matt Long (Corry, Pa./Union City) pinned his opponent in the final match to tie the dual 19-19. Gannon won the tiebreaker to claim a 20-19 victory.
 
The Golden Knights opened quickly on Friday as the first two wrestlers won by decision to give GU a 6-0 lead. Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) earned a 4-1 decision over Nico Calello at 125 pounds, and Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) defeated Tyeler Hagensen 5-2 at 133 pounds.
 
Kent State then reeled off wins at 141 pounds, 149, 157, and 165 to take a 13-6 advantage. Gannon 157-pounder Ethan Richner (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area High) and 156-pounder Nick Coreno (Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic) had tight matches before losing on takedowns in the closing seconds.
 
Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) got the Knights back in the match when Waylon Wehler in 2:15 to cut Kent State's lead to 13-12. However, Kent State secured the dual win with back-to-back bonus-point victories when Trent Thomas earned a 12-5 major decision at 184 pounds and Blake Schaffer won by pin at 3:49.
 
Gannon earned its final win at 285 pounds where Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) held off Brentan Simmerman 6-4.
 
 
What's ahead:
 
Gannon will compete in the Ohio Intercollegiate Open in Cleveland on Sunday.

 
Nov. 8, 2024 at KSU's Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center

KENT STATE 23, GANNON 15
125: Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) (Gannon) dec. Nico Calello (Kent State) 4-1                                       
133: Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) (Gannon) dec. Tyeler Hagensen (KSU) 5-2  
141:  Eli Ashcroft (Kent state) dec. Brock Christan (Gannon) 6-4                  
149: Billy Meiszner (Kent State) maj. dec. Hayden Butterfield (Erie, Pa./McDowell) (Gannon) 14-4                         
157: Aaron Ferguson (Kent State) dec. Ethan Richner (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte Area High) (Gannon)  9-6          
165: Ethan Barr (Kent State) dec. Nick Coreno (Willoughby, Ohio/Lake Catholic) (Gannon) 6-3                         
174: Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) (Gannon) pinned Waylon Wehler (Kent State) 2:15  
184: Trent Thomas (Kent State) maj. dec. Gaetano Savelli (Kirtland, OH/Kirtland High) (Gannon) 12-3
197: Blake Schaffer (Kent State) pinned Shane Davidson (Almond, N.Y./Wellsville) (Gannon) 3:49   
285: Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) (Gannon) dec. Brentan Simmerman (KSU) 6-4
Kent State 1-2, Gannon 0-1