General | 3/15/2026 12:11:00 AM

THE EVENT FACTS 

What: NCAA DII National Championships 

Location: Sioux Falls, SD 

Date: March 14th, 2026 

Gannon Team Result: 9th (49.5 Points) 

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Husband. Father. Teacher.  National Champion. 
Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) came to Gannon for one reason. A season ago, he finished one match from the top of the podium. 

Saturday, he accomplished history. In the biggest moment of his wrestling career, Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) delivered on his promise he made to his team and his family. 

Competing at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships, Crosby battled through a challenging heavyweight bracket before capturing the 285-pound national title with a dramatic sudden-victory win over Crew Howard of University of Nebraska at Kearney. The championship marks Gannon's first individual national title in wrestling in 25 years and caps off one of the most memorable performances in program history. 

"This is a dream come true", said Crosby. "I came to Gannon to achieve a dream. Tonight, I did just that. This means the world to me, being part of this team and this journey, and to cap it all off with my family and friends is truly special. It is a moment I will never forget."

Crosby's run to the national championship was defined by discipline and composure. In a division known for tightly contested heavyweight matches, the Gannon standout repeatedly found ways to control the pace, defend effectively, and capitalize on the few scoring opportunities that presented themselves. 

His tournament began with a narrow opening-round victory over James Bankston of University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The bout was a defensive battle, with both wrestlers carefully working for position and avoiding mistakes. Crosby stayed patient throughout the match and ultimately secured a 2-1 decision to move on to the quarterfinals. 

In the next round, Crosby faced Tyler Doyle from Colorado State University–Pueblo. The Gannon heavyweight continued to rely on strong hand fighting and positional control, gradually wearing down his opponent while limiting scoring chances. Crosby generated enough offense to create separation and earned a 4-1 decision, advancing to the national semifinals. 

The semifinal matchup proved to be Crosby's toughest test up to that point. Facing fourth seed Carter Blough of Grand Valley State University, the match quickly turned into a strategic battle. Neither wrestler managed to break through during regulation, forcing the bout into sudden victory overtime. In the extra period, Crosby seized the moment, producing the decisive score that secured a 4-1 sudden-victory decision and a spot in the national championship match. 

In the championship match against Howard, Crosby, having multiple chances throughout the matchup to secure the takedown, had to play defense during the overtime period when Howard picked his leg and seemed to have the momentum. But, as he has all year, Crosby used his athleticism to power through and reverse directions, leading to the three points that claimed the bout and the title. It's the second straight year Crosby has beaten Howard to end the tournament.  

The victory completed an impressive four-match run in which Crosby allowed just four points across the entire tournament. Even more impressively, he won two matches in overtime, demonstrating the endurance and composure required to succeed on the national stage. 

For Gannon wrestling, Crosby's title carries historic significance. The program had gone a quarter century (2001) without producing an NCAA Division II national champion, despite several strong teams and individual standouts over the years. The last champion was Doug Joseph in 2001, when he captured the 197 pound crown. Crosby's performance not only ends that long drought but also places his name among the most accomplished wrestlers in program history. 

He is one of five Gannon all-Americans that leave South Dakota for the Golden Knights. Their recaps are below: 

GANNON INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – (Day Two Results in Bold) 

125 lbs: Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) 
R1 – Defeated Sloan Johannsen (NSU) via dec. (3-2) 

QF – Lost to Isaiah Gamez (ASU) via MD (11-2) 

Conso R2 – Defeated Cooper Davis (UNCP) via dec. (8-4) 

 
Conso R3 – Lost to Logan Davis (WLU) via dec. (5-3) 

7th Place Match – Defeated Quade Smith (Chardon St.) via MD (15-2) 

157 lbs: Holden Huhn (Loveland, Ohio/La Salle) 
R1 – Defeated Maclain Morency (GVSU) via fall (2:25) 

QF – Lost to Joel Jesuroga (SCSU) via dec. (8-3) 

Conso R2 – Defeated Basil Othman (SFS) via dec. TB1 (8-6) (ALL-AMERICAN) 
 
Conso R3 – Lost to Owen Cline (CMU) via dec. (11-8) 

7th Place Match – Defeated Brent Nicolosi (Mt. Olive) via dec. (8-2) 

 
184 lbs: Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) 
R1 – Defeated Charlie Petit (AUG) via dec. (3-1) 

QF – Lost to Keegan Gelhausen (CSC) via dec. (5-3) 

Conso R2 – Defeated Dylan Kohn (LAN) via dec. (5-0) 

Conso R3 – Lost to Wyatt Reisz (CSM) via dec. (7-4) 

7th Place Match – Lost to Cole Glazier (SCSU) via dec (5-0) 
 
197 lbs: Joey Lyons (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) 
R1 – Lost to Max Ramburg (AUG) via dec. (4-1) 

Conso R1 – Defeated Ben Tonnessen (ASU) via TF (19-4 7:00) 

Conso R2 – Defeated Brayden Mirjavadi (GVSU) via dec. (5-1) 

Conso R3 – Defeated Marvelous Rutledge (LAND) via dec. (2-1) 

Conso SF – Lost to Logan Kvien (MCK) via dec. (5-3) 

5th Place Match – Defeated Jackson Kinsella (UNK) via TB1 (1-1) 
 
285 lbs: Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) 
R1 – Defeated James Bankston (UNCP) via dec. (2-1) 

QF – Defeated Tyler Doyle (CSU) via dec. (4-1) 
 
SF – Defeated Carter Blough (GVSU) via SV-1 (4-1) 

NCAA 285 LB Championship Match – Defeated Crew Howard (UNK) via SV-1 dec. (4-1) 

THE KNIGHT CAP – OTHER GANNON INDIVIDUALS 

• Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) – Sallot secured seventh in his first all-American effort of his career. The Erie, PA native lost his third-round consolation match before a decisive victory in his final bout of the season, a major decision (15-2) triumph over Quade Smith. Sallot finished the tournament with a 3-2 record 

• Holden Huhn (Loveland, Ohio/La Salle) – Like Sallot, Huhn took seventh, equal to his seed coming into the tournament, in his redshirt freshman campaign. The 157-pounder compiled a 3-2 overall record at the tournament, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to claim an 8-2 decision in the seventh-place match.  

• Pat Jackson – After an 0-2 finish a year ago at NCAA's, Jackson would secure two victories en route to an eighth place finish an all-American status in his redshirt sophomore season. Jackson fell twice on day two but remained on the poduim in his second nationals appearance.  

• Joey Lyons (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster) – The definition of someone who just battles. Lyons lost his first match of the tournament to the top seed and proceed to win four of his last five matches. Lyons would earn a win via a 2-1 decision in his first match of the day, and after a loss in the consolation semifinals, Lyons would take down Jackson Kinsella, seeded fourth in the bracket, to claim fifth place and an all-American status in his first and final season with the Golden Knights.  

Gannon finished ninth in the team standings. 
 
This story was written using the support of AI.