Millersville, Pa. – The Gannon University wrestling team held on to an early lead and defeated the Millersville Marauders 33-12 at Pucillo Gymnasium Friday night. No. 3-ranked Shane Ruhnke, Ryan McGuire and David Wuestner earned victories for the Marauders.

Ruhnke, McGuire and Wuestner and the team's leaders in victories with at least 12 apiece.

DUAL HIGHLIGHTS
• At 133 pounds, McGuire and Austin Hertel were tied at 2-2 at the end of the first period. At the start of the second, McGuire escaped from the down position, earning a 3-2 lead, and that would stand as the final score as well.
• The Golden Knights won the next three bouts including two pins and one technical fall, earning a 23-3 lead going into the 165-pound weight class.
• Ruhnke pulled Millersville within 14 points by pinning Giovanni Ciotti at the 2:36 mark. Ruhnke began his bout with an early takedown. In the last minute of the first period, Ruhnke pushed Ciotti down on the edge of the circle for a takedown. He scored another before scoring his sixth pin in the last eight matches.
• In a hard-fought battle at the 184-pound weight class, Gannon's Anthony Williamson scored two late takedowns to win 6-2 over Evan Morrill. At 197 pounds, Freddie Nixon and freshman Ryan Kokawski remained scoreless until a Nixon escape in the second period. Nixon scored a takedown in the last seconds in the third period, earning a 4-0 win with riding time. Nixon extended the Golden Knights' lead to 33-9.
• Wuestner earned the first point of the 285-pound bout with an escape coming out of an injury timeout in the second period. Gannon's Keith Swartley tied the match with an escape with 40 seconds left in third. Wuestner, however, was able to hold Swartley in the last few seconds to win 2-1 with riding time.

BOX SCORE
125: #11 Jacob Dunlop won by forfeit (GANN, 6-0)
133: Ryan McGuire (VILLE) dec. Austin Hertel (GANN), 3-2  (GANN, 6-3)
141: Nick Young (GANN) fall Alex Jablonski (VILLE), 1:20 (GANN, 12-3)
149: Dom Means (GANN) tech. fall D.J. Mele (VILLE), 19-3 (4:04) (GANN, 17-3)
157: #5 George McGuire (GANN) fall Rob Saum (VILLE), 1:40 (GANN, 23-3)
165: #3 Shane Ruhnke (VILLE) fall Giovanni Ciotti (GANN), 2:36 (GANN, 23-9)
174: Joel Leise (GANN) maj. dec. Anthony Yacovetti (VILLE), 9-0 (GANN, 27-9)
184: Anthony Williamson (GANN) dec. Evan Morrill (VILLE), 6-2 (GANN, 30-9)
197: Freddie Nixon (GANN) dec. Ryan Kokawski (VILLE), 4-0 (GANN, 33-9)
285: David Wuestner (VILLE) dec. Keith Swartley (GANN), 2-1 (GANN, 33-12)

HEAD COACH KERRY REGNER QUOTES
• "[Ruhnke] needs to stay focused. He is doing that, and I'm proud of him."
• "I'm very proud of Ryan Kokawski's fight today. He has stepped up for the team big time. It's great to see him battle out there for his brothers."
• "Each guy must focus these next couple weeks. They know the game plan, I am excited to watch them reach their potential."

NOTES
• Ruhnke claimed his sixth pin in his last eight matches, improving his overall record to 17-3.
• Wuestner improved to 13-8 while McGuire improved to 15-10.
• The Golden Knights improved to 6-1 all-time against Millersville.

UP NEXT
• The Marauders has a quick turnaround as they wrestle at the Messiah Open Saturday, Feb. 2. The event starts at 10 a.m.
 

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