Men's Wrestling | 2/11/2017 5:08:00 PM

ERIE, Pa. – A short-handed West Liberty University wrestling team got off to a fast start but couldn't maintain the momentum here Saturday as Gannon stormed back for a 41-8 win in dual meet action at the Hammermill Center.
Coach Mitch Smith's Hilltoppers grabbed a quick 3-0 lead as senior 125-pounder Zach Brown pitched a 5-0 shutout against Abraham Guarriello in the opening match.
Bryce Humphreys, the No. 5-ranked 133-pounder in Super Region One, followed Smith onto the mat for the Black and Gold and more than lived up to his billing with a dominant performance.
Racking up back points in every period, Humphreys closed out a 19-1 technical fall with a takedown and near-fall just 38 seconds into the third period.
Unfortunately, that proved to be the high-water mark for the visitors as the host Golden Knights picked up wins in the final eight weight classes. Two of those victories came via the forfeit route with Gannon adding three pins and a technical fall.
The Hilltoppers will be idle for the next two weeks as they prepare for the NCAA Division II Super Region One championships at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa.
WRESTLING
Gannon 41, West Liberty 8
125: Zach Brown (WLU) d. Abraham Guarriello, 5-0
133: Bryce Humphreys (WLU) tf. Casey Vollmer, 19-1
141: John Marotto (GU) won by forfeit
149: George McGuire (GU) p. Josh Cornell, 1:26
157: Eric Lewandowski (GU) tf. Tryston Kessler, 16-0
165: Garrett Smith (GU) d. DeMadre Turner, 9-6
174: Jake Stratton (GU) p. Carlos Kusic, 2:04
184: Christopher Matthews (GU) d. Nate Dawson, 4-3
197: Ethan Budd (GU) won by forfeit
285: Nick Budd (GU) p. Chris Cook, :47