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A Year Ago
2024 Record: 8-7 (4-2 PSAC)
Results: 3rd in PSAC, 2nd at NCAA DII Super Region 1, 16th (51 Teams) at NCAA DII National Championships
All-Americans: Dorian Crosby (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) was 3rd at heavyweight, and Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) was 7th at 7th at 133 pounds.
This Season
Key Returning Student-Athletes: Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) (R-SR, 133), Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) (R-SO, 184), Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) (R-SO, 125)
Incoming Freshmen: 22
Key Dates
Maroon-Gold Wrestleoffs: Saturday, October 25th – 9:00 am (Rec Center Courts)
Season Opener: Saturday, November 1st @ Mount Union Invitational (Alliance, OH) – All Day
Home Opener: Sunday, January 4th vs Glenville State (Highmark Events Center) – 5:00 pm
NCAA DII Super Region 1: Saturday, February 28th (East Stroudsburg, PA)
What To Expect
There is no doubt that the men’s wrestling program has sky high expectations in 2025-26, aiming to be on of the top programs in all of the NCAA. Gannon returns the overwhelming majority of student-athletes who earned a spot at NCAA DII National Championships from a year ago, and the transfer/incoming freshman class will only add to the depth of this already talented lineup. With Tom Boyd once again at the helm, Gannon will aim to reclaim the regional team title and make their mark at the national stage.
1: Key Returners – For many of the weight classes, it will be difficult for the newcomers to take hold of the starting sports. Gannon will get back four of their nine national qualifiers from 2024-25 and five of the ten that competed at the event. Regional champion and PSAC Freshman of the Year Patrick Jackson (Harpers Ferry, WV/Spring Mills High) (174) looks to build off a terrific first season, while regional runner up Logan Sallot (Erie, PA/McDowell High School) returns as well. At 133, Jerry Echevarria (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) is seeking a third straight NCAA all-American performance.
Boyd: “I believe several of our returners have a great opportunity to make a run in nationals this year. They set the tone for the rest of the group. They are my leaders, and it’s a great thing to have. Between Pat, Logan, and Jerry, we feel all three are poised for a tremendous season.”
2: New Faces – 22 new freshmen will be a part of the Gannon roster this year, a class Boyd is excited about heading into the year. The Golden Knights will also look to transfer student-athletes to help fill out the remainder of the lineup. Jake Niffenegger (Mason, Ohio/La Salle) is among the top of that list, coming to GU by way of Mercyhurst, where he was the champion at 141 in Super Region I and was named an All-American for a second-straight season with his sixth-place finish at national championships last year. All-American Dillon Walker (Mason, Ohio/Mason) also comes to Gannon in his final year of eligibility at 174 pounds. In total, the Golden Knights could have upwards of five transfers into the starting lineup by the time the season begins.
Boyd: “I am really excited about our transfers that have come to the program this year. Not only are they great additions, but they are great leaders. They all add some valuable tools to our team that will be helpful and important this season.”
3: Challenging Schedule – Boyd has assembled a schedule that features two Division I programs, three conference champions and four teams that finished in the top 13 at the National Championships to challenge his 2025-26 squad. The schedule features a pair of Division I outfits in Edinboro and Kent State. Gannon and Edinboro will meet on the mat on Sunday, November 16 at Edinboro. It marks the first meeting between the two since the 2021-22 season.
Boyd: “We have a great schedule. We want everyone on the team to get as many matches as possible. We will wrestle two D1 opponents — Edinboro and Kent State — in a dual and end the fall semester with the tough Midwest Classic. New to our dual schedule this year will be Frostburg and Emory Henry. We will come back after the Christmas break and gear up for our PSAC schedule. We will also wrestle Glenville and Ashland in duals. Our schedule should prepare us for the Regional and National Tournament. I am excited to see what this team will bring to the mat. We will be ready to go.”
4: Seeing (Boyd) Double – The younger Boyd is now with the Golden Knights. Boyd completed his collegiate career after wrestling at West Virginia University and most recently at The Citadel. He spent last year as an assistant coach at The Citadel. Boyd concluded his collegiate wrestling career with a trip to the 2024 NCAA Div. I National Championships. He earned his berth at Nationals thanks to a second-place finish at 149 lbs. at the Southern Conference Championships, dropping a 2-2 decision in two tiebreakers in the finals. He became the first Bulldog to advance to the national tournament since 2022. He ended the year with an 18-13 record.
Tom Boyd: “I could not be more excited to have my son, Jeffrey, become my assistant coach. He grew up in the Gannon wrestling room. He knows the history of our program and all the alumni. He has been raised knowing my love of Gannon wrestling and its importance. That said, he will bring a new perspective with his wrestling experience. He has competed at the highest level and knows what it takes to reach those heights. He brings his knowledge on the mat as well and strength & conditioning and mindset coaching that will help us achieve new levels of success. I look forward to Coach Jeff being an integral part of helping us reach our goals of winning a team National Championship.”
Full 2025-26 Schedule (Pictured Below)
