Women's Wrestling | 11/6/2026 9:53:00 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Gannon women's wrestling team opened Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) competition with a 26-18 victory over D'Youville on Friday evening at Saints Center Gym. The Golden Knights improved to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the PSAC with the victory in their conference dual meet opener.

The Golden Knights won five of the nine bouts, including four victories by fall, to overcome an early deficit and secure their first conference dual meet victory of the season.

Trailing 18-12 with three bouts remaining, Gannon received back-to-back falls from Rose Cassioppi (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) at 160 pounds and Leyna Rumpler (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) at 180 pounds to take its first lead of the evening. Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) followed with a 10-0 technical fall at 207 pounds to secure the victory for the Golden Knights.

THE MATCH FACTS
Result: Gannon 26, D'Youville 18
Record: Gannon (1-0, 1-0 PSAC); D'Youville (0-1, 0-1 PSAC)
Location: Saints Center Gym – Buffalo, N.Y.
Event: PSAC Dual Meet
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026

HOW IT HAPPENED
D'Youville jumped out to an early 13-2 advantage after capturing the first three weight classes. The Saints received a forfeit at 110 pounds before Alexis Brua and Madison Wellen recorded identical 12-2 technical falls at 117 and 124 pounds, respectively.

Gannon began its comeback at 131 pounds as Sara Rantonen (Jyväskylä, Finland/Schildt Upper Secondary School) pinned Maya Qutaishat in 1:36, cutting the deficit to 13-7. Alora Strauser (Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) followed with a fall over Olivia LaPoint in 2:09 at 138 pounds, bringing the Golden Knights within a point at 13-12.

D'Youville regained momentum at 145 pounds when Lillian Freitas pinned Anshul Kumar (Sonipat, India / Somerville, N.J./Somerville) in 1:27, extending the Saints' advantage to 18-12 with three bouts remaining.

The Golden Knights responded at 160 pounds as Rose Cassioppi (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) pinned Shelby Galex in 2:31, trimming the deficit to 18-17. Leyna Rumpler (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) then gave Gannon its first lead of the evening at 180 pounds, recording a fall over Shaelie Young in 2:00 to put the Golden Knights ahead 22-18.

Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) sealed the comeback at 207 pounds with a 10-0 technical fall over Eliza Stricklin, securing the 26-18 victory in its PSAC dual meet opener.

DUAL MEET RESULTS
Gannon 26, D'Youville 18
110 lbs.: Annika Lopez (D'Youville) won by forfeit (DYU leads 5-0)
117 lbs.: Alexis Brua (D'Youville) tech. fall Isabella McNutt (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton Township) (Gannon, 0-3), 12-2 (DYU leads 9-1)
124 lbs.: Madison Wellen (D'Youville) tech. fall Maddi Lipchik (Riverview, Mich./Riverview Community) (Gannon, 0-3), 12-2 (DYU leads 13-2)
131 lbs.: Sara Rantonen (Jyväskylä, Finland/Schildt Upper Secondary School) (Gannon, 6-1) fall over Maya Qutaishat (D'Youville), 1:36 (DYU leads 13-7)
138 lbs.: Alora Strauser (Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) (Gannon, 1-2) fall over Olivia LaPoint (D'Youville), 2:09 (DYU leads 13-12)
145 lbs.: Lillian Freitas (D'Youville) fall over Anshul Kumar (Sonipat, India / Somerville, N.J./Somerville) (Gannon, 3-3), 1:27 (DYU leads 18-12)
160 lbs.: Rose Cassioppi (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) (Gannon, 1-0) fall over Shelby Galex (D'Youville), 2:31 (DYU leads 18-17)
180 lbs.: Leyna Rumpler (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) (Gannon, 1-0) fall over Shaelie Young (D'Youville), 2:00 (Gannon leads 22-18)
207 lbs.: Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (Gannon, 5-0) tech. fall Eliza Stricklin (D'Youville), 10-0 (Gannon wins 26-18)

THE KNIGHT CAP

• PSAC Dual Meet Opener: Gannon opened its 2026–27 dual meet campaign with a 26-18 victory over D'Youville, improving to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in PSAC competition during the conference's inaugural women's wrestling season.
• Comeback Victory: The Golden Knights overcame an early 13-2 deficit and won five of the final six bouts to secure the victory.
• Strong Finish: Gannon captured the final three bouts at 160, 180 and 207 pounds, outscoring D'Youville 14-0 over that stretch.
• Rantonen Continues Strong Start: Sara Rantonen (Jyväskylä, Finland/Schildt Upper Secondary School) improved to 6-1 on the season with a fall over Maya Qutaishat in 1:36 at 131 pounds. Rantonen entered the dual after placing fifth at the ESU Open.
• Strauser Earns First Victory: Alora Strauser (Dayton, Ohio/Archbishop Alter) picked up her first win of the season with a fall over Olivia LaPoint in 2:09 at 138 pounds, pulling Gannon within one point at 13-12.
• Cassioppi Keeps Gannon Alive: Rose Cassioppi (Roscoe, Ill./Hononegah) recorded a fall over Shelby Galex in 2:31 at 160 pounds to bring the Golden Knights within one point at 18-17.
• Rumpler Gives Gannon the Lead: Leyna Rumpler (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) delivered a fall over Shaelie Young in 2:00 at 180 pounds, giving Gannon its first lead of the dual at 22-18.
• Phillips Remains Unbeaten: Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) improved to 5-0 on the season with a 10-0 technical fall over Eliza Stricklin at 207 pounds. Phillips entered the dual after capturing the 180-pound championship at the ESU Open.
• Bonus-Point Victories: Four Golden Knights earned victories by fall, while Phillips added a technical fall.

Up Next
Gannon returns to action on Saturday, November 14, when the Golden Knights travel to Adrian, Michigan, to compete in the Adrian Duals, hosted by Adrian College. 

This story was written using the support of AI.