Gannon Wrestling Team Sixth in First Regional Rankings; Seven Golden Knights Ranked Individually

ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon wrestling team is ranked sixth in the initial NCAA Division II East regional rankings released Monday afternoon. Seven Golden Knights are listed among the individual rankings.

Newberry College is the top-ranked team followed by University of Pitt-Johnstown, West Liberty, East Stroudsburg and UNC-Pembroke as part of the top five schools.

Gannon, Mercyhurst, Kutztown, Seton Hill and American International rounded out the top 10.

Tony Petrella (Reynoldsburg, Ohio / Bishop Hartley) is the region’s top-ranked wrestler at the 174-pound division. He is 4-1 on the season with two of those wins coming by pin.

Ethan Swope (Luthersburg, Pa. / DuBois Area) has compiled 11 wins already this season, including three wins at the National Catholic Invitational en route to a third place finish. Last weekend at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships, Swope finished second. He is ranked second at 149.

Jose Matos (Williamstown, N.J. / St. Augustine College Preparatory School) is ranked third in the 125-pound class and is 9-3 this season. He recorded a pair of pins at the Binghampton Open. Matos earned champion honors at the National Catholic Invitational and finished third at the PSAC Championships.

Zack McKendree (Vandergrift, Pa. / Kiski Area) is ranked fourth at 165. He boasts a 10-6 record this season. The senior has three major decisions and four pins. He placed fourth at the University of Buffalo Open and third at both the National Catholic Invitational and the PSAC Championship.

Stefan Tighe (Erie, Pa. / Cathedral Prep) competed for the first time this season at the PSAC Championship and earned two wins. He took fifth at the tournament and is tabbed as the regions fourth best grappler in the heavyweight division.

John Fleming (Bethel Park, Pa. / Lakeview) is ranked fifth in the 133-pound class with a 4-5 record this season. He earned one win at the PSAC Championship to take sixth place. He also took champion honors at the National Catholic Invitational with three straight victories.

Sam Brehm (Wexford, Pa. / Pine-Richland) is 6-5 this season and tabbed as the sixth best wrestler in the 157-pound class. He earned four wins at the University of Buffalo Open and finished fifth at the National Catholic Invitational.

Gannon returns to action Wednesday, December 8 when the travel to Penn State-DuBois for the first dual meet of the 2010-11 season. Action will start at 7 p.m.