Men's Wrestling | 11/6/2026 2:00:00 PM
A Year Ago
2025–26 Dual Record: 12–1 overall, 6–0 PSAC
Results: PSAC Champions; NCAA Super Region One Champions; Ninth at NCAA Division II National Championships (49.5 points)
All-Americans:
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Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) (285 pounds) – National Champion
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Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) (125 pounds) – Seventh
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Holden Huhn (Loveland, Ohio/La Salle) (157 pounds) – Seventh
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Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) (184 pounds) – Eighth
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Joey Lyons (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) (197 pounds) – Eighth
This Season
Preseason National Ranking: No. 5 (NWCA Division II Coaches Poll)
Individual National Rankings:
ERIE, Pa. – Following one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Gannon men's wrestling team enters the 2026–27 campaign with championship expectations and a nationally ranked lineup.
Head coach Tom Boyd's Golden Knights begin the season ranked No. 5 nationally in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Preseason Coaches Poll after a historic 2025–26 campaign that featured a PSAC championship, an NCAA Super Region One title and five All-Americans.
Gannon finished last season with a program-record 12 dual victories, going 12–1 overall and a perfect 6–0 in PSAC competition. The Golden Knights captured their third conference championship with an 18–12 victory over Pitt-Johnstown before winning their second Super Region One title in three seasons.
The Golden Knights followed those accomplishments with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D., highlighted by Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) winning the 285-pound national championship.
Gannon enters the new season with five wrestlers ranked nationally, including three returning All-Americans from last year's championship team, two-time All-American Jake Niffenegger (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) and newcomer Tanner Halling (Boonsboro, Md./Boonsboro), a transfer from Frostburg State.
The Golden Knights opened the campaign with their annual Maroon and Gold Wrestle-Offs on Nov. 1 and begin outside competition Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Mount Union Invitational in Alliance, Ohio.
Top Returnees
Gannon returns a nationally accomplished group of wrestlers, led by three members of last season's All-America contingent.
Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) enters the season ranked fourth nationally at 125 pounds after posting a 24–8 record during the 2025–26 campaign.
The redshirt junior captured the NCAA Super Region One championship before earning All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at the national championships. Sallot also received Second Team All-PSAC recognition and earned NWCA Scholar All-America honors.
A two-time national qualifier, Sallot has compiled identical 24–8 records in each of the past two seasons, giving the Golden Knights an experienced presence at the opening weight class.
Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) is also ranked fourth nationally at 184 pounds after putting together a 30–5 campaign last season.
Jackson captured the Super Region One championship and earned First Team All-PSAC recognition before finishing eighth at the NCAA Division II National Championships to secure All-America honors.
Jackson's 30 victories were among the highest totals on Gannon's roster last season, and his return gives the Golden Knights another nationally recognized competitor.
Holden Huhn (Loveland, Ohio/La Salle) enters the season ranked seventh nationally at 165 pounds after moving up from 157 pounds.
Huhn joined the Gannon program in January and quickly established himself as a major contributor, finishing with a 13–2 record. He won the Super Region One championship and placed seventh at the NCAA Division II National Championships to earn All-America honors.
Despite competing for only part of the season, Huhn played an important role in Gannon's postseason success and gives the team another returning national place winner.
Jake Niffenegger (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) begins the season ranked seventh at 141 pounds after finishing 25–4 last year.
The redshirt senior won the Super Region One championship and earned First Team All-PSAC honors during his first season with Gannon. Niffenegger put together a 12-match winning streak and recorded five falls and three technical falls.
A two-time All-American from his time at Mercyhurst, Niffenegger placed seventh at the national championships in 2023 and sixth in 2024. He brings additional postseason experience to a Golden Knights lineup that features multiple national contenders.
Gannon also returns several wrestlers who contributed throughout last season and will compete for opportunities in the lineup.
Grant MacKay (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) returns at 165 pounds after qualifying for the NCAA Division II National Championships last season. MacKay gives Gannon another experienced option in one of its competitive middleweight classes.
Andrew Gammon (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) returns after posting a 12–8 record last season, including nine victories by fall. Gammon also placed seventh at the Mount Union Invitational.
Other returning wrestlers include Austyn Adams (Euclid, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic), Caleb Butterfield (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Shane Davidson (Almond, N.Y./Wellsville), Brayden Gautreau (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord), Ryan Massengale (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads), Luke Mentzer (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg Area), Adam Ortega (Watertown, N.Y./Copenhagen Central School District) and Shawn Szymanski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Burrell), along with several wrestlers who gained experience during their first seasons with the program.
The returning group will look to provide depth throughout the lineup as Gannon prepares for another demanding PSAC and NCAA Division II schedule.
Newcomers
The Golden Knights welcome a group of newcomers who will compete for opportunities throughout the lineup, highlighted by one of the top transfers in Division II wrestling.
Tanner Halling (Boonsboro, Md./Boonsboro), a sophomore transfer from Frostburg State, enters the season ranked No. 2 nationally at 133 pounds.
Halling enjoyed an outstanding freshman campaign during the 2025–26 season, finishing with a 26–3 record and placing sixth at the NCAA Division II National Championships to earn All-America honors.
He went undefeated during the regular season and captured both the Mountain East Conference championship and NCAA regional title before advancing to nationals.
Halling was also a two-time state champion during his high school career at Boonsboro High School in Maryland, compiling a remarkable 179–2 record with 101 pins.
His arrival provides Gannon with an additional nationally ranked wrestler and strengthens the Golden Knights' opportunities in the lighter weight classes.
Gannon also welcomes several freshmen to the program, including Nyol Jenkins (Lancaster, Calif./Lancaster), who arrives from Lancaster High School in California.
Jenkins compiled a 26–9 record as a senior while going undefeated in league dual competition. He captured the 2026 league championship at 157 pounds and placed sixth at the CIF Southern Section Championships.
Other incoming freshmen listed on Gannon's roster include Will Deluca Stewart (Norwood, Ohio/Norwood), Nick Ferro (Clinton, Mass./Natick), Wyatt Fox (Sand Creek, Mich./Sand Creek), Nezumiiro Green (Natrona Heights, Pa./Central Catholic), Joao Guerra (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill), Dustin Kerr (Pittsburgh, Pa./Hampton), Bradyn McConneha (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), Ian McLuckie (Wayne, Pa./Friends Central), Aidan Sierra (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing Area), Mason Spence (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville North), William Vanderminden (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls Senior) and Josh Zimmer (Ashville, Ohio/Teays Valley).
The incoming class adds depth across several weight classes and provides opportunities for younger wrestlers to develop alongside Gannon's nationally ranked veterans.
With Halling joining four returning nationally ranked wrestlers, the Golden Knights enter the season with five competitors ranked among the top seven nationally in their respective weight classes.
Building on a Historic Season
The 2025–26 campaign established several new benchmarks for the Gannon men's wrestling program.
The Golden Knights finished with a 12–1 dual record, surpassing the previous program record of 11 victories set during the 1996–97 season.
Gannon went undefeated in PSAC dual competition and secured the outright conference championship with an 18–12 victory over nationally ranked Pitt-Johnstown at the Highmark Events Center.
The title marked the third PSAC championship in program history and highlighted a season in which Gannon established itself among the strongest teams in Division II.
The Golden Knights continued their success at the NCAA Super Region One Championships, winning the team title with 175 points, 46 ahead of runner-up Kutztown.
Seven wrestlers won individual regional championships, and nine Golden Knights qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Gannon finished ninth nationally with 49.5 points, producing five All-Americans and a national champion.
The team's accomplishments also brought individual recognition to Boyd, who was named both the NWCA Super Region One Coach of the Year and PSAC Coach of the Year.
With another nationally ranked lineup returning, the Golden Knights will look to build on those achievements while pursuing additional conference, regional and national success.
"We want to kind of finish what we started last last season. Continue to build on the success we've had. It was great having a national champion last season, but we're definitely looking to get on that top part of the podium again this season."
Dorian Crosby's (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) National Championship Legacy
One of the defining moments of Gannon's historic season came at the NCAA Division II National Championships when heavyweight Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) captured the 285-pound national title.
Crosby secured the championship with a sudden-victory win over Nebraska-Kearney's Crew Howard, becoming Gannon's first individual national champion since Doug Joseph won the 197-pound title in 2001.
The victory capped a memorable career for Crosby, who had finished as the national runner-up the previous season.
His championship also contributed to Gannon's ninth-place team finish and highlighted the program's continued rise on the national stage.
Crosby was one of five Golden Knights to earn All-America honors at the national championships, joining Sallot, Huhn, Jackson and Lyons.
While Gannon must replace Crosby's presence at heavyweight, his accomplishment provides a benchmark for a roster that includes several wrestlers with national championship aspirations.
The Golden Knights return multiple NCAA qualifiers and national place winners who have experienced the demands of competing against the best wrestlers in Division II.
"I think Dorian set the standard. It was great to to witness, to watch. But I believe all of these guys, all starting ten are shooting for that, and Dorian's an inspiration. He had a great season and it was great having that success for our program, but we crave more of it."
Coaching Staff
Tom Boyd enters his fourth season as head coach of the Gannon men's wrestling program following one of the most successful campaigns in school history.
Boyd assumed the head coaching position in July 2023 after longtime head coach Don Henry retired. A former All-American wrestler at Gannon in 1991, Boyd began serving as an assistant coach with the Golden Knights in 1995.
He spent nearly three decades working alongside Henry before taking over the program, helping develop numerous NCAA qualifiers, All-Americans and nationally ranked teams.
During his first three seasons as head coach, Boyd has continued Gannon's tradition of competing at the highest levels of Division II wrestling.
His tenure has included multiple strong postseason performances, culminating in last season's PSAC championship, Super Region One championship and ninth-place national finish.
Boyd was recognized for those accomplishments with both the NWCA Super Region One Coach of the Year and PSAC Coach of the Year awards.
Gannon's coaching staff also includes assistant coaches Jeff Boyd and Zack Schafer, along with volunteer assistants Hayden Butterfield, Jared Merritt, Rocco Wellek and Evan Fisler.
The staff will be tasked with preparing a roster that features experienced national contenders as well as newcomers looking to establish themselves within the program.
Season Opener and Key Dates
The Golden Knights began their 2026–27 campaign with the annual Maroon and Gold Wrestle-Offs on Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Highmark Events Center.
Gannon opens outside competition Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Mount Union Invitational in Alliance, Ohio. The Golden Knights return to the event after winning the team championship last season.
Gannon continues its tournament schedule Nov. 14 at the Bob Del Rosa Open, hosted by Case Western Reserve in Cleveland.
The Golden Knights make their home dual debut Nov. 21 when they host Fairmont State and Lake Erie in a tri-meet at the Recreation and Wellness Center.
The schedule also includes early-season road duals at Case Western Reserve on Dec. 5 and West Liberty on Dec. 13 before Gannon travels to Indianapolis for the Midwest Classic on Dec. 19–20.
The Golden Knights begin the new year with a challenging tri-meet at Glenville State on Jan. 3, facing the host Pioneers and Lander.
Gannon opens its home PSAC schedule Jan. 9 against Seton Hill before hosting Shippensburg on Jan. 15 and Millersville on Jan. 16 at the Highmark Events Center.
The Golden Knights also face conference road tests at Kutztown, East Stroudsburg and Pitt-Johnstown during the second half of the season.
Gannon hosts Baldwin Wallace on Jan. 29 for Senior Day before closing out its regular-season schedule in February.
The NCAA Division II Super Region One Championships are scheduled for Feb. 27 at Millersville, followed by the NCAA Division II National Championships on March 12–13 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
With five nationally ranked wrestlers, three returning All-Americans from last season's team and a strong group of newcomers, the Golden Knights enter the season looking to build on their championship success and compete among the nation's best.
"We're not just shooting for one national champ, you know, I want ten national champs and I want a team title, so that's what we're competing for... I think all the guys here know what the standard is."
