The Gannon University women’s wrestling team has had an impressive start to its season.
In their most recent outing, the Knights captured the first team tournament title in their two-year existence, taking the McMaster Open in Hamilton, Ontario, Sunday.
That was the team’s second tournament of the season; in the initial tournament, Gannon placed fourth among seven teams at the Adrian Open on Oct. 20 in Adrian, Mich.
Prior to the two tournaments, the Knights had three dual meets and won all three of them – beating Ferrum, 28-21, and Presbyterian, 40-8, on Oct. 5 in Ferrum, Mich., and then downing Adrian, 28-21, at the Hammermill Center on Oct. 20.
At last weekend’s McMaster Open, the Knights prevailed over 23 other teams, as nine Gannon wrestlers finished among the top six competitors in their respective weight classes.
Nikoly Dos Santos was the highest finisher for Gannon, as she placed second with a 2-1 record in the 48 kilogram class.
It marked the second straight week that Dos Santos wrestled for a championship.
Annabelle Helm (67 kg) finished third with a 3-1 record, and Amara Devericks (82 kg) also wound up third with a 4-1 mark.
Caleeann Blarr (51 kg) and Gabrielle Malinowski (59 kg) placed fourth with records of 2-2 and 3-2, respectively.
Jordan Jarvi (51 kg) placed fifth with a 2-2 mark while three Gannon wrestlers – Mikayla Vega (51 kg, 1-3), Alexandra Alers (55 kg, 3-3) and Mikayla Dockweiler (59 kg, 2-3) all placed sixth.
Other competitors include Kayla O’Brien (55 kg, 0-2), Paige Cook (59 kg, 0-2), Caroline Camarillo (59 kg, 0-2), Daniela Morales Dardon (82 kg, 0-2) and Kendall McGarity (82 kg, 0-2).
A total of 19 of the Knights’ 22 wins came by bonus points, with 10 pins and nine tech falls.
At the Adrian Tournament, Chrystal Raine (101 pounds, 2-0), Dos Santos (109, 2-0) and Helm (155, 3-0) were all at the top of the podium with first-place finishes. Raine and Dos Santos earned tech falls and Helm collected a pin.
McGarity reached the championship match but lost and settled for second place at 191, splitting her two outings. Devericks went 2-1 and finished third at 170 and Dardon wound up fourth at 170 with a 2-2 mark.
Other Knights competing included Jarvi (116, 0-2), Blarr (116, 0-2), O’Brien (123, 0-2), Caroline Camarillo (136, 1-2), Jezebel Garcia (143, 1-2) and Sam Pietrzykowski (170, 0-2).
McGarity came back from a loss in her first match to get a 10-0 tech in her second match, helping her secure the runner-up finish.
As a team, the Knights picked up seven pins and six tech falls during the tournament, giving them bonus points in 13 of their 14 bout wins.
Gannon will return to the mats on Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Missouri Valley Open in Marshall, Mo. The Knights’ next home meet will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, against Tiffin at the Hammermill Center.

SARAH MCLAUGHLIN
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