Lantz Schwabenbauer begins his seventh season as a member of the coaching staff in 2013-14. The program has produced 14 All-Americans, eight national qualifiers and 31 Academic All-Americans during his time on the coaching staff. His wrestling resume speaks for itself as Schwabenbauer will be inducted into the Gannon Athletics Hall of Fame February 1, 2014.
Schwabenbauer won three NCAA Division II East region championships. The first one in 1998 came as a sophomore in the 174-pound division. His final two titles came as a junior and senior at 165. Schwabenbauer qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships all three times. He earned all-america status with a third-place finish at the 2001 national championships and an eighth-place finish in 1999. Schwabenbauer was also a two-time Academic All-American (1998-99 & 2000-01) and a two-time team captain (1999 & 2001).
The Franklin, Pa., native won 75 percent of his career matches, producing a 105-35 overall record with 22 pins. Those numbers included a 40-11 dual record, representing a .784 dual winning percentage. Schwabenbauer ranks second all-time at Gannon in overall victories, third in dual victories, sixth in overall winning percentage, eighth in dual winning percentage and ninth in pins.
Recruited as a 142-pound wrestler, Schwabenbauer went 23-17 as a freshman. He jumped to 174 pounds the following season and won a regional championship, finishing the year with a 24-6 record.
Schwabenbauer’s relentless work ethic kicked into high gear as a junior. He won another regional title, but this one came at a lower weight in the 165-pound division. Schwabenbauer later earned his first all-america honor with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships. He compiled a 33-7 overall record, representing the fifth-most victories in school history.
After a redshirt season, Schwabenbauer won his third consecutive overall regional title and second straight at 165 as a redshirt senior. He then tacked on a second all-america honor, placing third at the 2001 NCAA Division II National Championships. Schwabenbauer’s .833 winning percentage (25-5) as a senior equaled the 10th-best single-season mark all-time at Gannon.
Schwabenbauer graduated in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a certification in special education. After graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. Schwabenbauer continued his wrestling career in 2003 as a member of the All-Army Freestyle Wrestling Team. However, his time on the wrestling team would be cut short by a deployment to Afghanistan in 2004. Upon his return from Afghanistan in 2005, Schwabenbauer rejoined the All-Army Freestyle Wrestling Team. He would then deploy to Iraq in 2006 and retire from the Army upon his return. As a member of the All-Army Wrestling Team, Schwabenbauer finished second at the Armed Forces Championships and qualified for the Military World Championships.
In 2007, Schwabenbauer returned to the Erie area and brought his wrestling experience to the Gannon wrestling program as an assistant coach. In addition to coaching the Golden Knights, Schwabenbauer is also a full-time math teacher at Central Tech (Pa.) High School.
