ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon wrestling team is ranked fourth in the NCAA Division II Preseason East regional rankings released this week. In addition, six Golden Knights are listed among the region's best.

Newberry and Pitt-Johnstown tied for first in the preseason rankings with 72 points. West Liberty State (58), Gannon (52) and Mercyhurst (41) completed the top five.

UNC-Pembroke (40), Kutztown (39), Limestone (37), Shippensburg (20) and Anderson (17) rounded out the top 10.

Frank McGrath (Hammonton, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) is the region's top-ranked heavyweight in the preseason rankings. The senior placed fifth at the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championships with a 4-2 record. He finished 33-8 overall and 10-0 in dual competition with a team-high 15 pins last season.

McGrath is a two-time national qualifier, placing fourth at the 2008 NCAA Division II National Championships. He owns a 63-23 overall record and 18-3 dual mark during his collegiate career. Twenty-one of those victories ended via a pin, the ninth-highest mark in school history.

Kevin McElhaney (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) and Zack McKendree (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) are tabbed second at 149 and 157, respectively. McElhaney finished sixth at the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championships after winning the East Regional 149-pound title. The senior posted an 18-11 overall record and 5-2 dual mark with three pins last season. He has a 57-37 overall record with 23 pins during his collegiate career. His career pin total ranks seventh all-time at Gannon.

McKendree redshirted last season after earning All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Division II National Championships. The junior is a two-time national qualifier and has finished in the top three during back-to-back NCAA Division II East Regionals in 2007 and 2008. He owns a 51-25 overall record and 11-6 dual mark with 11 pins during his collegiate career.

Corey Bowers (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) is ranked third in the 133-pound ratings. The senior redshirted last season after advancing to the 2008 NCAA Division II National Championships by winning a true fourth-place match at the East Regionals, where he won four of six bouts. Bowers has a 33-14 overall record and 7-1 dual mark with 11 pins during his stay at Gannon.

John Fleming (Bethel Park, Pa./Lakeview) is tabbed fourth in the 125-pound division. The junior transfer had a 148-12 record at Lakeview High School, where he was a two-time state placewinner and two-time regional champion. He was a national qualifier at the University of Indianapolis before his transfer.

Bret Terry (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) completed Gannon's group of regionally-ranked wrestlers, being ranked sixth at 174. The junior was 13-17 overall and 5-4 in dual matches during his first season at Gannon in 2008-09.

Gannon opens the season Sunday, November 1 at the University of Buffalo Open. The Golden Knights then host the National Catholic Invitational Saturday, November 7 at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion.