ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon wrestling team dropped one spot and is ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division II East regional rankings released Monday afternoon. The Golden Knights have been ranked fourth in three of the last four polls. In addition to the team ranking, six Golden Knights remained listed among the region’s best.
Newberry is the top-ranked team in the East region for the fifth consecutive poll. UNC-Pembroke, Pitt-Johnstown, Gannon and Kutztown completed the top five.
West Liberty State, East Stroudsburg, Shippensburg, Limestone and Mercyhurst rounded out the top 10.
Frank McGrath (Hammonton, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) is the region’s top-ranked heavyweight for the fifth straight poll. The senior is 16-2 overall with five pins. He has won six of seven dual matches. McGrath captured championships at the National Catholic Invitational and the Ashland Open. He ranks eighth all-time at Gannon in career pins (26) and 12th in career victories (78).
Kevin McElhaney (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown Area) and Zach McKendree (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) are tabbed second at 149 and 157, respectively. McElhaney is 16-14 overall and 4-3 in dual action, finishing seven matches via a pin. The senior owns 68 career victories while ranking third all-time at Gannon in career pins (32).
McKendree is 20-9 overall and 4-1 in dual matches. The junior has eight pins. He 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. McKendree has 69 career victories and ranks 12th all-time at Gannon with 19 career pins.
Corey Bowers (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake) ranks third at 133. The senior has produced a 22-3 overall record and 5-2 dual mark. He has recorded nine pins. Bowers has won individual titles at the National Catholic Invitational and the East Stroudsburg Open, as well as winning the 133-pound title at the 2009 PSAC Championships. He defeated NCAA Division I Jay Ivanco of Clarion 4-3 in the finals. The Pasadena, Md., native owns 55 career victories and ranks 11th all-time at Gannon in pins (20).
John Fleming (Bethel Park, Pa./Lakeview) and A.J. Milanek (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) are listed fourth at 125 and 141, respectively. One week after dropping a spot, Fleming regained the fourth-place spot in the 125-pound division. The junior transfer is 11-8 this season with a National Catholic Invitational title on his resume. He was a national qualifier at the University of Indianapolis before coming to Gannon. Fleming is 3-3 in dual matches this season.
Milanek remained fourth in the 141-pound rankings. The junior did not wrestle in the first semester, but has won five of seven dual matches in the second semester. He went 33-12 overall with one pin last season. Milanek was 9-3 in dual competition last season and placed fifth at the 2009 NCAA Division II East Regional.
Gannon improved to 3-3 in dual matches with a convincing 31-14 victory at rival Mercyhurst last Saturday. The Golden Knights return to action Wednesday, February 3 against Waynesburg at the Hammermill Center. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.
For the complete NCAA Division II East Region team and individual rankings, please
click here.