INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Gannon wrestling team sits in ninth place out of 22 teams after the first day of the Midwest Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon.

Newberry (S.C.) leads the team field with 91.5 points. Wisconsin-Parkside (71), Ashland (63.5), West Liberty State (56), and Adams State (54) completed the top five. Gannon is ninth with 40 points.

Four Golden Knights are still alive for Sunday's action, including three who will be aiming for individual titles. Brandon Monin (Lancaster, N.Y./Lancaster) advanced to the 157-pound semifinals with three victories on Saturday. The senior opened the classic with a technical fall over Manchester's Ryan Monce, before posting victories over Indianapolis' Corey Formal (7-3) and Newberry's Sean Byrnes (4-0). He will face top-seeded Noomis Jones of Adams State in Sunday's semifinals.

Frank McGrath (Hammonton, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) is in the heavyweight semifinals. The junior won his only two matches against Mesa State's Trevor Stapp (6-0) and UNC-Pembroke's Erik Stancil (12-3) in convincing fashion. He will battle No. 1 seed Cy Wainwright of Newberry in the semifinals.

Jacob Tazzi (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) was Gannon's lowest seed to advance, moving into the 184-pound semifinals as a sixth seed. The senior opened the classic with a bye, before recording a technical fall over Carson Newman's Marcus Lopez and defeating third-seeded Hiram Smith of Findlay 7-2. He faces No. 2 seed Bryant Blanton of Newberry in Sunday's semifinals.

#A.J. Milanak# (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) is the fourth Gannon wrestler still alive. The sophomore will need to battle back through the wrestlebacks after falling to Central Missouri's Cory Bloodgood in his second match. He opened the event with a 17-9 victory over Carson Newman's Zane Sary.

In the wrestlebacks, Milanak posted victories over Heidelberg's Andrew Dinda (12-5), Wabash's Ethan Flater (technical fall), and Mount St. Joe's Eric Myer (13-6). Myer was the sixth seed while Milanak was unranked. He will need three victories during Sunday's action to place third.

Other Gannon wrestlers to compete included Ed Marshall (133, 0-2), Kevin McElhaney (149, 0-2), Bret Terry (165, 0-2), and Chris Daniels (174, 0-2).

The Midwest Classic concludes Sunday, January 4 with the second and final day of action. Complete results from Saturday's action can be found at http://athletics.uindy.edu/sports/2008/12/17/WREST_1217085132.aspx?id=155.