The Gannon University wrestling team returned to the mats after a lengthy holiday break and won two of their first three dual meets of the new year.
In the Knights’ first dual meet of 2016, Gannon dominated right out of the gates as Garret Smith recorded his first pin of the season in the opening bout of the match against Millersville on Jan. 8.
Following Smith’s pin, the Knights went on a 22-0 run, ultimately defeating the Marauders 28-9.
Following that win Gannon took on East Stroudsburg University Friday.
The Knights came out of nowhere after being down 20-6 to defeat the Warriors, 22-20, and remain undefeated in PSAC action.
Gannon completed last week’s dual-meet action by falling to Kutztown University 19-18.
The score was extremely tight down until the final match. Kutztown’s nationally ranked 157-pounder, Matt Martoccio, enabled his team to scoot past the Golden Knights when he defeated Smith, 4-3, in the final bout of the match.
Gannon is now 2-1 in conference matches and looks forward to upcoming battles against Pitt-Johnstown, Lake Erie College and Shippensburg. The Knights will visit Pitt-Johnstown Friday at 7 p.m. before hosting Lake Erie at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Shippensburg on Jan. 30.
The Knights also participated in the Mount Union Open, an individual tournament on Sunday, in which 12 wrestlers participated.
Sophomore Jake Stratton headlined for the Knights by finishing fifth overall in the 184-pound weight class.

In addition to Stratton’s stellar performance, Chris Matthews won PSAC Wrestler of the Week on Monday, and then on Tuesday also won the Division II Super Region One Wrestler of the week.
Matthews, ranked No. 4 at 174 pounds in NCAA Division II Super Region One, Matthews won both of his matches last weekend, beating a pair of regionally ranked opponents.
Matthews improved to 11-8 overall on the season and 2-0 in dual meets. Four of his eight losses have come to NCAA Division I opponents.

ALEC SCHEMMEL
[email protected]