Women's Wrestling | 2/23/2026 1:00:00 PM
ERIE, Pa. – Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (women's wrestling) and Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) (men's basketball) have been named Gannon Student-Athletes of the Week following standout performances that highlighted postseason success and a major career milestone.
Phillips earned the honor after capturing the 180-pound Super Region II crown to advance to the NC Women's Wrestling Championship during its inaugural season. She posted a perfect 3–0 record at the regional tournament and currently ranks fifth nationally in the Open Mat rankings at 180 pounds.
Phillips dominated the field, outscoring her opponents 33–1, allowing the only point scored against her to come in the championship bout. She opened the tournament with an 11–0 technical fall victory over Janiya Brogan of West Liberty in the quarterfinals, followed by a 12–0 technical fall over Jurelys Peguero del Rosario of Ursinus in the semifinals. Phillips sealed the title with a 10–1 decision over Azariah Moore of Lock Haven in the championship match.
This marks the second consecutive season Phillips has claimed a regional championship, as she also captured the NCWWC Region title last season to advance to nationals. The championships will take place March 6–7 at Xtream Arena.
On the hardwood, Desmond earned Student-Athlete of the Week recognition after reaching a significant career milestone. The senior scored his 1,000th career point on Saturday during Gannon's 116–70 Senior Day victory over Pitt-Johnstown inside the Highmark Events Center.
Desmond finished the win with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including a three-pointer, while going 2-for-2 at the free-throw line. He added three rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal in just under 17 minutes of action and helped the No. 5 Golden Knights post a 2–0 week.
2025-26 Gannon University Athlete of the Week Previous Recipients
Week 1 (9/8/2025)
Alexis Abbett (Women's Cross Country)
Victor Volant (Men's Water Polo)
Week 2 (9/15/2025)
Abbey Williams (Chicago, Ill./Mother Mcauley Liberal Arts) (Volleyball)
Jack Kenyon (Men's Soccer)
Week 3 (9/22/2025)
Emily Bowers (Women's Cross Country)
Alexandros Kotskar (Men's Water Polo)
Week 4 (9/29/2025)
Nehir Yazicioglu (Ankara, Turkey) (Volleyball)
Nikiforos Liantziris (Men's Water Polo)
Week 5 (10/6/2025)
Brooklyn Respecki (Women's Soccer)
Damario Moore (Football)
Week 6 (10/13/2025)
Cloe Mateo (Women's Golf)
Ty Hurst (Football)
Week 7 (10/20/2025)
Sydney Wake (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson) (Volleyball)
Frederik Paulsen (Men's Soccer)
Week 8 (10/27/2025)
Kasey Smith (Meadville, Pa./Villa Maria) (Volleyball)
Sverre Orten (Men's Soccer)
Week 9 (11/3/2025)
Bengisu Arslan (Ankara, Turkey/Private Çankaya Doga Anatolian) (Volleyball)
Rafa Hyde (Men's Soccer)
Week 10 (11/10/2025)
Mariia Melnyk (Kyiv, Ukraine/Education Center Optima) (Women's Swimming)
Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) (Men's Wrestling)
Week 11 (11/17/2025)
Kate Ratliff (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Canal Winchester) (Women's Basketball)
Kasper Alfei Saebo (Men's Soccer)
Week 12 (11/24/2025)
Mariia Melnyk (Kyiv, Ukraine/Education Center Optima) (Women's Swimming)
Bator Mohacsi (Men's Water Polo)
Week 13 (12/1/2025)
Maddy Wheatley (Canberra, Australia/UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) (Women's Basketball)
Enzo Rekka (Men's Soccer)
Week 14 (12/8/2025)
Lauren Atwell (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) (Volleyball)
Lucas Morgan (Sydney, Australia/Marist Catholic College North Shore) (Men's Basketball)
Week 15 (12/15/2025)
Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) (Men's Wrestling)
Jaylene Martinez (Whittier, Cal./Whittier) (Women's Wrestling)
Week 16 (1/5/2026)
Mia Slater (Canberra, Australia/Canberra Grammar School) (Women's Basketball)
Lucas Sekasi (Washington, DC/Jackson-Reed) (Men's Basketball)
Week 17 (1/12/2026)
Jordan Popyk (Novi, Mich./Novi) (Women's Basketball)
Dillon Walker (Mason, Ohio/Mason) (Men's Wrestling)
Week 18 (1/19/2026)
Elisa Moliner (Zaragoza, Spain/IES Francisco de Goya) (Women's Swimming)
Kuba Loboda (Lublin, Poland) (Men's Swimming)
Week 19 (1/26/26)
Jake Niffenegger (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) (Men's Wrestling)
Lili Ujfalvi (Kecskemet-heteny, Hungary/Bolyai Janos Secondary School) (Women's Wrestling)
Week 20 (2/2/26)
Claire Eaton (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) (Competitive Cheer & Dance)
Dayne Jackson (Wernersville, Pa./Wernersville) (Competitive Cheer & Dance)
Week 21 (2/9/26)
Carissa Dunham (Women's Basketball)
MacKenzie Morgan (Men's Basketball)
Week 22 (2/16/26)
Isabella Veltre (Ontario, N.Y./Wayne Central) (Women's Lacrosse)
Grant MacKay (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) (Men's Wrestling)
Week 23 (2/23/26)
Bella Phillips (Bellingham, Wash./Squalicum High School) (Women's Wrestling)
Victor Desmond (Onalaska, Wisc./Onalaska) (Men's Basketball)
