Dual of the Week: NCAA #9 Gannon vs. East Stroudsburg

Photo courtesy of Gannon Athletics.

East Stroudsburg’s Mia Macaluso and Avia Bibeau. Photo courtesy of ESU Athletics IG @esuwarriors

by Derek Levendusky
Twitter: @AWWderek

ERIE, PA - #9 Gannon hosted a dual versus East Stroudsburg on Sunday afternoon, a battle of Pennsylvania NCAA programs that ended with a Golden Knight victory over East Stroudsburg University 34-13. The East Stroudsburg program has had limited competitions this year due to Covid restrictions, after nothing last season, but sent out their young lineup in a dual that featured the college debut of sophomore Mia Macaluso, a 2021 Junior world teamer.

Gannon head coach Breonnah Neal, named to the position in August, saw her squad move their team record to 2-0 on the season. The Golden Knights secured four falls on the day, including #7 Katerina Pendergrass over Janieliz Cotto at 109, #8 Mikayla Vega over Natalie Dunn at 116, Lana Perez over Avery Meyers at 136, and Amara Devericks over Shola Cascen at 191. Gannon’s Stephanie Floor also scored a technical fall over East Stroudsburg’s Rachel Degiullo at 143.

UW Stevens Point 2020 national champion Jessika Rottier also serves Gannon now as an assistant coach.

In what became the match of the night, East Stroudsburg sophomore Macaluso edged Gannon freshman Anya Knappenberger 14-12, ranked #7 in the country, a wild match that featured wild exchanges with back and forth scoring. After East Stroudsburg’s season getting cancelled last year, Macaluso started this season recovering from an injury. As good as she is, she’s previously unranked on the college scene due to no results.

After Macaluso took an early 6-2 lead, Knappenberger put some points together to make it 8-8 at the break, holding the criteria lead by virtue of a 4-point move. Early in the second, Macaluso hit a leg attack with a turn to pull ahead 12-8. The Warrior sophomore scored again to make it 14-8 before Knappenberger went on the attack to close the gap to 14-12 with around minute left. Despite a flurry of action in the final minute, Macaluso held on for her first-ever college win. It sure didn’t come easy.
 
“I had a close first match back since Worlds but I’m just shaking the rust off,” said Macaluso. “I’m ready to work towards my goal of being ESU’s first women’s national champion. Nothing to lose and all in.”

Regarding her journey back to the mats, she reflected, “It has been a rocky road mentally getting myself prepared to be back on the mat. With the help of my wrestling partner Avery Meyers and coaches Anibal Nieves, Kris Gelsinger, and Greg Shoemaker, they have been in my corner getting me physically and mentally ready to battle on the mat.”

ESU’s Emily Klein (123) and Avia Bibeau (155) also scored wins for their team, each securing falls. ESU #7 Joanne Ortiz was not in lineup for the event.

Both East Stroudsburg and Gannon will head to Tiffin, Ohio, this Saturday for the Dragon Duals. Host #7 Tiffin recently placed 4th in the NCAA division at NWCA National Duals.

Box score
101 Ekta Arora (Gannon University) over Unknown (For.)
109 #7 Katerina Pendergrass (Gannon University) over Janieliz Cotto (East Stroudsburg University) (Fall 1:21)
116 #8 Mikayla Vega (Gannon University) over Natalie Dunn (East Stroudsburg University) (Fall 1:38)
123 Emily Klein (East Stroudsburg University) over Caleeann Blarr (Gannon University) (Fall 4:17)
130 Mia Macaluso (East Stroudsburg University) over #7 Anya Knappenberger (Gannon University) (Dec 14-12)
136 Lana Perez (Gannon University) over Avery Meyers (East Stroudsburg University) (Fall 1:36)
143 Stephanie Floor (Gannon University) over Rachel Degiullo (East Stroudsburg University) (TF 10-0 0:30)
155 Avia Bibeau (East Stroudsburg University) over Gabrielle Malinowski (Gannon University) (Fall 1:40)
170 #7 Annabelle Helm (Gannon University) over Unknown (For.)
191 Amara Devericks (Gannon University) over Shola Casen (East Stroudsburg University) (Fall 2:43)

Exhibitions
116 Extra: Alanna Barberio (East Stroudsburg University) over Gwenyth Simpson (Gannon University) (Fall 0:41)
123 Extra: Samantha Houser (Gannon University) over Carmela Cancelmo (East Stroudsburg University) (Dec 6-4)
136 Extra: #7 Anya Knappenberger (Gannon University) over Cameron Nunez (East Stroudsburg University) (Fall 1:44)
191 Extra: #7 Annabelle Helm (Gannon University) over Shola Cascen (East Stroudsburg University) (TF 10-0 2:56)