ERIE, Pa. – Happy Holidays from the Golden Knights! We've reached the final week of the 2025 athletics schedule. What a fall it has been! And has been the case in recent years the fall teams have remained in action well into the final weeks of 2025. 

Volleyball's venture finally came to an end last week in the Elite Eight. The winter sports are displaying great promise for an extended crossover season in the spring, including nationally ranked men's wrestling and men's and women's basketball teams. 

We've got a limited slate this week with the final chance for Gannon hoops fans to watch the Golden Knights before we ring in the New Year. In addition the Gannon men's wrestling team takes a step up while not leaving Erie County. The Golden Knights wrestle at Division I Edinboro on Friday.  

Here's a look at how last week went along with a look ahead to this week. 
 
THIS WEEK IN GANNON ATHLETICS  

Volleyball (27-8) 
Season completed.   

• Head coach Matt Darling's Golden Knights gave a strong account of themselves at the Elite Eight despite the tall task of facing No. 2 seed Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears would go on to live up to their seed, finishing as the runner-up. Gannon dropped the first set 25-10 but led Concordia-St. Paul from start to finish in the second set, outlasting the Golden Bears 29-27. The Golden Knights would end up losing 3-1. 

• The end of the season marks the end of Bengisu Arslan's brilliant career. The setter from Turkey was one of three Golden Knights named AVCA honorable mention All-American honors, joining Lauren Atwell and Sydney Wake. Arslan departs ranking second in career assists while holding three of the top nine season totals. 

No. 5 Men's Wrestling 
Friday, Dec. 19 at Edinboro – 7:00 p.m.     

• The fifth-ranked Golden Knights served notice that they are ready to take the next step and play a major factor at the National Championships this past weekend. The Golden Knights finished in a tie for fourth place at the prestigious Midwest Classic. That marked their highest finish ever at the event. 

• Head coach Tom Boyd has assembled a formidable lineup and six wrestlers placed this weekend. Jerry Echevarria led the way with a first place finish at 133 lbs. Grant MacKay brought home third place at 165 lbs. with Jake Niffenegger and Patrick Jackson fourth at 141 lbs. and 184 lbs., respectively. Logan Sallot placed sixth at 125 lbs. and Joey Lyons seventh at 197 lbs. 

• The Golden Knights have one more dual this week before taking a break for the holidays. They make the short journey down I-79 to face Division I Edinboro on Friday. 

No. 15 Men's Basketball (7-1) 
Tuesday, Dec. 16 vs. Kutztown – 5:00 p.m. 

Saturday, Dec. 20 at West Chester – 3:00 p.m. 

Sunday, Dec. 21 at Millersville – 3:00 p.m.   

• The Golden Knights moved up to 15th in the latest NABC Div. II Top 25 earlier in the week then went out and played like it. Gannon manhandled a Saginaw Valley State team that came in with a similar 6-1 record that included a win at 19th-ranked Grand Valley State. Or maybe the proper term is pressed the Cardinals into submission. Gannon forced SVSU into 38 turnovers and held a 45-9 advantage in points off turnovers. The end result was a 95-67 win that wasn't as close as the final score indicated. Lucas Moore was named the PSAC Defensive Player of the Week after registering seven steals with seven rebounds, along with scoring 14 points. 

• PSAC action continues this week with three games to conclude the 2025 portion of the schedule. Head coach Easton Bazzoli's squad starts the week hosting Kutztown on Tuesday. Note the tipoff time of 5 p.m. League mandated. Then it's a challenging road trip to southeastern Pennsylvania over the weekend with games at West Chester on Saturday and Millersville on Sunday. The game at West Chester is a meeting of the two divisional preseason favorites in the PSAC, while Millersville was third in the poll.                

No. 5 Women's Basketball (9-1) 
Tuesday, Dec. 16 vs. Kutztown – 3:00 p.m. 

Saturday, Dec. 20 at West Chester – 1:00 p.m. 

Sunday, Dec. 21 at Millersville – 1:00 p.m.   

• Head coach Cleve Wright's team returns to the court for the first time since December 6 with the same schedule as the men's team. Please note the 3:00 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday. That game against Kutztown is a rematch of the PSAC Semifinal game in which the Golden Bears went on to hold off the Golden Knights and eventually win the conference championship.             

• Gannon 

Women's Wrestling (6-3) 
Does not compete this week. 

• The women's wrestling team wrapped up the 2025 portion of its season on Sunday competing in the North Central Open. Facing a very talented and large field the Golden Knights came in tied for 20th out of 36 teams. 

• The Golden Knights had four wrestlers find the medals stand, led by Jaylene Martinez. Martinez came in second at the 131 lbs. B class. Kamilo Castro (207B) placed third with Kennedy Perez fifth at 117B lbs. and Leyna Rumpler eighth at 145A lbs. 

• The Golden Knights hit the mats for the first time in 2026 on jan. 9-10 competing in the NWCA National Duals.