Progress report for all Gannon sports: Feb. 2-9

Alex Pepke, Sports Editor

Women’s Basketball (7-1): The 17th-ranked Knights defeated Bluefield State 90-60 Friday and 55-43 Sunday. Sam Pirosko led the team with 31 points in the two games.

Sunday’s win also marked head coach Cleve Wright’s 300th career win. The Knights’ next two games will be at Clarion 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and 5 p.m. Saturday.

Men’s basketball (4-0): The men’s team did not compete last week. The Knights are undefeated with a record of 4-0. Their next two games are both against Clarion, on the road at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hammermill Center.

Men’s wrestling (0-1, competed three times): Gannon opened its season with a 19-12 loss to Kent State and also competed in a three-team event with Edinboro and Mercyhurst, where Gannon won eight bouts against Division I Edinboro and its only three bouts against Mercyhurst.

The Knights competed Saturday in another three-team round robin event against Mercyhurst and Lake Erie. Gannon won 13 matches and went 7-2 vs. Lake Erie and 6-3 vs. Mercyhurst.

The Knights are now ranked No. 4 in the nation in Division II.

Women’s wrestling (0-3): After opening their season in the Adrien’s Women’s Invitational, the Knights battled three opponents in the Tiffin Duels Sunday. Gannon faced three top 10-ranked teams. The Knights are ranked ninth in the country by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).

Gannon also has three wrestlers ranked nationally in their respective weight class. Amara Devericks (191) is ranked fifth, Stephanie Floor (143) is ranked sixth and Annabelle Helm (170) is ranked eighth. The Knights will host the Gannon Invitational at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Recreation and Wellness Center.

Men’s swimming and diving (1-1): In their first competition of the year, the Knights fell 166-130 to Youngstown State. Gannon defeated Clarion in its second meet, 143-96, Saturday, taking first in nine events.

Stephen McCallum and Chris Luus both won three events for Gannon. Luus put up a time of 50.97 seconds in the 100 backstroke and took part on two winning relay teams. McCallum won two individual and one team event. The Knights’ next meet is Saturday at home against Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Women’s swimming and diving (1-1): In its season opener, Gannon lost to Youngstown State, 205-85, with Silvija Taraska winning three events. The Knights then defeated Clarion, 120-113, Saturday, with Taraska and Zoe Snyder each winning three events. Snyder led off in the 400-yard freestyle relay that gave Gannon the victory. Taraska finished first in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

Gannon’s next meet is Saturday at home against Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Men’s water polo (3-0): Gannon has begun the season 3-0 and won its first two MAWPC-West matches. The Knights will next face off against Salem Saturday.

ALEX PEPKE
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