Wrestling 1/14/2017 10:13:00 PM Chris Myers

Cardinals Start and Finish Strong, But Gannon Takes 22-13 Match Win

ERIE, Pa. – On the Saturday night wrestling mat, Wheeling Jesuit started and finished strong, but Gannon won the middle and team match, 22-13.

At 125, Jake Donahue continued his tough wrestling with a 3-0 opening shutout and Maxwell Lacey (285) secured a double-leg takedown right as time ran out for the 3-2 comeback win. After Dominick Nania (149) pushed WJU (8-3) ahead 7-6, Gannon claimed the next four weight classes for the deciding match points.

"We got outwrestled today in most every position in the key matches. Wrestling on the road in January and February is still a major barrier for this team and that falls on me to figure it out," explained WJU head coach Sean Doyle. "Our energy was very average tonight against a very good Gannon team."

Before the Lacey late-match victory, Terrance Fanning controlled the 197-bout and worked for an 8-2 decision as the fourth Cardinals win.

"The best part of this is that we get to come back in 16 hours and wrestle the No. 15 team in the country (Lake Erie College). Adversity tells you a lot about your team and we've definitely responded well in the past. I trust the guys will do the same tomorrow," wrapped up Doyle.

WJU makes the just over an hour trek to Painesville, Ohio for a 2 p.m. Sunday match at No. 15 Lake Erie College.

Donahue secured an early takedown and held off Abe Guarriello in the final seconds for the 3-0 win after the riding time bonus point. With the win, the freshman gave WJU a 3-0 lead.

The No. 12 rated 133-pounder Golden Knights' Carmen Ciotti took down Nolan Whitley twice and tied the match with a 5-0 final. John Marotto escaped Daniel Romero's grasp in the opening moments of the third period for the lone point at 141 and gave Gannon its first lead 6-3.

At 149, Nania took a 5-1 lead into the third period against Gannon's Giovanni Ciotti. Nania added another takedown and a 4-point nearfall for the eventual 12-2 major decision and Cardinals 7-6 advantage.

The Golden Knights regained the lead for good in the 157-lb. match. In a battle of regionally ranked grapplers, Eric Lewandowski reversed an early takedown by WJU's Greg Brusco and worked it into two 4-point near fall combinations. The Gannon wrestler held a 14-4 lead after a period and went on for an eventual 18-4 major decision.

Nic Skonieczny lost a similar fate as his teammate Romero. Garrett Smith's second-period escape proved to be the difference in a 1-0 decision. Jake Stratton gave Gannon some team-point separation with a 174-pound fall at 4:08 after Reyse Wallbrown had an early 2-0 lead.

The home squad put the team score out of reach when Nick Costa turned a first-period takedown and two back points into a 4-0 win over Nate Starkey in the 184-lb bout for a 22-7 lead.

Gannon 22, Wheeling Jesuit 13
125 – Jake Donahue (WJU) dec. Abraham Guarriello (GU), 3-0 –– WJU 3-0
133 – Carmine Ciotti (GU) dec. Nolan Whitely (WJU), 5-0 –– Tied 3-3
141 – John Marotto (GU) dec. Daniel Romero (WJU), 1-0 –– GU 6-3
149 – Dominick Nania (WJU) maj. dec. Giovanni Ciotti (GU), 12-2 –– WJU 7-6
157 – Eric Lewandowski (GU) maj. dec. Greg Brusco (WJU), 18-4 –– GU 10-7
165 – Garrett Smith (GU) dec. Nic Skonieczny (WJU), 1-0 –– GU 13-7
174 – Jake Stratton (GU) fall Reyse Wallbrown (WJU), 4:06 –– GU 19-7
184 – Nick Costa (GU) dec. Nate Starkey (WJU), 4-0 –– GU 22-7
197 – Terrance Fanning (WJU) dec. Ethan Budd (GU), 8-2 –– GU 22-10
285 – Maxwell Lacey (WJU) dec. Nick Budd (GU), 3-2 –– GU 22-13

-GoCards-

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Players Mentioned

Terrance Fanning: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Maxwell Lacey: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania: 149; 5' 10"; Senior

Nolan Whitely: 133; 5' 4"; Junior

Greg Brusco: 5' 7"; Freshman

Daniel Romero: 5' 7"; Junior

Nic Skonieczny: 165; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Terrance Fanning
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

Maxwell Lacey
: 6' 0"; Senior

Dominick Nania
: 5' 10"; Senior
: 149

Nolan Whitely
: 5' 4"; Junior
: 133

Greg Brusco
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Daniel Romero
: 5' 7"; Junior

Nic Skonieczny
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: 165