A few days after adding acrobatics and tumbling to its athletic program, Gannon University has added competitive cheerleading as well.

Gannon athletic director Mark Richard made the announcement today. The university also hired former Widener coach Meghan Foran as the Gannon program’s first head coach.

The new team, which is expected to feature 20 to 30 cheerleaders, is scheduled to begin competing in spring 2014.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association sponsored championships in competitive cheer for the first time this past winter. Gannon’s program could give area high school cheerleaders another competitive possibility in college.

Check out a promotional video that Gannon included with its press release:

Greg Walcavich

There’s been plenty of news out of Edinboro and Gannon the past few days.

On Thursday, the biggest headline was the retirement of Greg Walcavich, Edinboro’s 24-year men’s basketball coach. He was a consistent winner for the Fighting Scots.

Earlier in the week, Gannon announced it would build an indoor field house and renovate its rec center.

Finally, the Gannon and Edinboro women’s basketball teams are preparing to play in the PSAC Final Four tonight at Bloomsburg.

Check the links to read more about each.

Gannon University inducted eight individuals and its 1992 women’s volleyball team into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 2.

The school has posted a photo gallery from the induction festivities. Also read more about the inductees.

McDowell running back/outside linebacker James Conner signs his National Letter of Intent with Pitt Wednesday at McDowell's library. MATT MEAD/Erie Times-News

Today is National Letter of Intent Day, and many area football players and other athletes are set to sign with Division I and Division II schools or commit to program at other levels.

The Erie Times-News took a look at the area football players expected to sign today. Read a short bio on each player. Here’s the list:

Football
Damion Terry, Cathedral Prep – Michigan State
Delton Williams, Cathedral Prep – Michigan State
John Chereson, Cathedral Prep – Notre Dame (walk-on)
Erik Swanson, Cathedral Prep – Pennsylvania
Jake Plonski, Cathedral Prep – Mercyhurst
Nick Dubowski, Cathedral Prep – Indiana (Pa.)
Brendan Klemensic, Cathedral Prep – Gannon
James Conner, McDowell – Pittsburgh
Sean Gallagher, McDowell – Edinboro
Riley Dunbar, McDowell – Mercyhurst
DeShawn Coleman, Hickory – West Virginia
Dionte Pope, Hickory – Edinboro
Artrel Foster, Meadville – Temple
Quinn Thompson, General McLane – Connecticut
Aidan Graham, General McLane – Clarion
Nathan O’Brien, Eisenhower – Lock Haven
Aaron Lundmark, Eisenhower – Grove City
Logan Rickert, Reynolds – IUP

——————–

Following are the athletes from other sports who plan to sign today. Read a short bio on each athlete.

Baseball
Eli Flynn, Cathedral Prep – Concord College (W.Va.)
Scott Hess, Cathedral Prep – Indiana (Pa.)

Cross country
Ethan Louis, Cathedral Prep – Dayton
Austin Pondel, Corry – Penn State
Hunter Johnston, Saegertown – Dayton

Soccer
Cory Kuzilla, Harbor Creek – California (Pa.)
Olivia Augustyniak, Mercyhurst Prep – Duquesne
Sarah Kaiser, Mercyhurst Prep – Cleveland State

Track and field
Jaynee Corbett, Corry – Youngstown State

Volleyball
Maria Peluso, Fort LeBoeuf – Shippensburg

Wrestling
Evan Daley, Fort LeBoeuf – Clarion

Water polo
Michael Squeglia, Cathedral Prep – Gannon

Note: Coaches are encouraged to notify the Times-News if an athlete plans to commit to a college.

Maleek Toran (far left) has been in Mercyhurst's shoes./Erie Times-News

Maleek Toran knows what it feels like to be in Mercyhurst’s shoes.

He was a true freshman in 2009 at Edinboro when the Scots needed Gannon to help them get in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

In the final regular-season game, the Knights beat Bloomsburg in overtime, 10-7, to open the  door for Edinboro to play in the postseason.

Today, Mercyhurst needs to beat No. 22-ranked California (Pa.) and have Gannon upset No. 14  Indiana (Pa.) to play in next week’s PSAC title game. The game would be played at Tullio Field as it’s the PSAC West champ’s turn to play host to the title game.

When asked if the Mercyhurst players should call their rival Knights and encourage them to to beat IUP, Toran said the Lakers should pass on that idea.

“I’d probably just let it play out and hope for the best,” said Toran, an Erie native. “If the man upstairs have a playoff berth in store for you, then you’ll get it.”

– Duane Rankin

Ashton Jones is seventh on the team in tackles with 29 stops./Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News

Ashton Jones came into his senior year at Gannon with 17 total tackles in his two seasons there after a year at Erie Community College in New York.

This season, the Erie native and Strong Vincent High graduate has 18 solo tackles alone.

“It’s just reassurance that I’m able to play,” Jones said.  “My number was called. So to go in and try to help the team out, I’m just doing my best to do whatever the team needs.”

The 5-10, 180-pound Jones has 29 total stops this season for the Knights (1-6, 0-4 PSAC West), who play No. 14-ranked California (Pa.) (6-1, 4-0) Saturday at noon for their homecoming game.

“He’s done it the long road and has earned it,” first-year Gannon coach Brad Rzyczycki said. “No one walked in and said, ‘Alright, here’s your position. I don’t care if you made a mistake or not.’ He’s done it through practice. He’s performed in games where he’s gotten better.

“…If there is anyone on this team that has earned playing time, Ashton has earned playing time.”

In his first start this season, Jones had a career-high 12 total stops in last week’s 38-29 loss to rival Mercyhurst.

Read the rest of this entry »

Justin Caliste saw daylight once again.

Then he was down — and out.

The electrifying Gannon sophomore returner had already returned a punt for a touchdown in Saturday’s game against rival Mercyhurst that knotted it at 14-14 in the second quarter.

Then early in the third quarter with his team down 31-14, Caliste went down with an ankle injury and never returned. Gannon lost 38-29.

“I tried to make a cut and next thing you know, I felt my foot sideways on the ground,” he said. “Probably the worst pain I’ve felt due to my ankle.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Anthony Vendemia accounted for three TDs in Mercyhurst's 38-29 win./Jack Haranhan/Erie Times-News

Last season, Anthony Vendemia and Linnell Robinson had games against Gannon they’d like to forget.

A year later, they were part of a victory they’ll never forget.

Vendemia, a junior quarterback, and Robinson, a senior cornerback, were instrumental in Mercyhurst’s 38-29 win against the Knights today at Gannon University Field.

“The other victories in the past, they were good, but this one means just a little bit more,” Vendemia said. “We wanted this one.”

The Lakers not only won their sixth consecutive game, but ended a two-game skid against Gannon.

“It means a lot because now, I don’t have a losing record against Gannon,” Robinson said. “I’m 3-2 against Gannon. Couldn’t go out with a losing record against Gannon.”

Against Gannon last season, Vendemia came in relief of Travis Rearick, who had a season-ending knee injury. He was sacked five times and lost a fumble that lead to Gannon’s final touchdown drive.

The Knights won 30-27.

Today, he went 12-of-24 for 146 yards and touchdown. He wasn’t sacked, didn’t turn the ball over and had two short rushing scores.

Read the rest of this entry »

Connors-McChristian is out for the season with a broken leg./Christopher Millette/Erie Times-News

The injury bug continues to bite Khayree Connors-McChristian.

The Gannon senior safety missed today’s rivalry game against Mercyhurst after breaking two bones in his lower left leg at Wednesday’s practice.

The Lakers won 38-29.

“I broke my fibula and tibia,” he said at today’s game. “I’m done.”

Connors-McChristian was a medical redshirt in 2010 after breaking his right forearm in Week 3 against Millersville.

This season, Connors-McChristian was leading Gannon in tackles with 55 total stops before getting injured in practice. Gannon practices in the mornings and it was raining.

“I was blocking someone and someone rolled under me, right into my leg,” he said. “I caught the turf and it just snapped.”

A Sicklerville, N.J. native, Connors-McChristian watched the game from the sidelines in a wheelchair. He was greeted by numerous fans there.

“I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason,” he said. “Unfortunately, since I’ve been here, it happened to me six times.  Six years. Six times. We all have our path and this is part of my path. Unfortunate, but greater things will come from it, I believe.”

“My friends always tell me I have a positive attitude about everything so this is one of those things I got to have a positive attitude. Otherwise I’ll be just in the dark sleeping somewhere and miserable.”

True freshman Matt Astorino, an General McLane graduate and younger brother of former Penn State safety Drew Astorino, started in Connors-McChristian’s place. He ha five total tackles.

“I told him just go out there and play fearless,” Connors-McChristian said. “Take care of what coach taught you. Do everything coach taught you.”

– Duane Rankin

Mercyhurst travels to Gannon for today’s PSAC West showdown against the rival Knights at noon. Check out players and coaches from both sides talk about this heated rivalry.