RECAP: @GM_Athletics alum Leehan takes home title at 157, leads #RollWolves outing at John Carroll Open in final tune-up before @NJCAAReg3 finals next Saturday@SUNYNiagara @NJCAA @GNN_Sports_ @TBNSports @wnywrestling @wnywrstlcentral https://t.co/NfTEz7ES9y pic.twitter.com/XtlVYdGhpK
— SUNY Niagara Thunderwolves (@NCThunderwolves) February 15, 2026
In his first appearance in three weeks, Matthew Leehan traveled to the Midwest and came back to Sanborn with a title.
The freshman from Edinboro, Pa. went an unbeaten 4-0 and won the 157-pound Blue Division and led SUNY Niagara’s day at the John Carroll Open held at John Carroll University in Ohio. The Thunderwolves were one of nearly 60 programs that competed in the event, which included teams primarily from Michigan, Ohio and Michigan.
After a third-place finish at 157 in his last outing at the Jayhawk Open at Jamestown CC on Jan. 24, Leehan began his day at the JCU Open with a 16-0 technical fall against Ohio State-NCWA’s Thomas Freeman and pinned Josiah Lynden in the championship quarterfinal.
Leehan continued his path to the title with a 4-0 decision over Gannon’s Jack Probasco in the championship semifinal. Leehan then finished his journey with a 17-1 technical fall against Penn State Club’s Kyle Cousins and clinched the second championship title of his career (Thunderwolves Open on Dec. 6).
Freshman and Wilson, NY resident Jacob Stephenson earned a third-place finish behind a 4-1 day. After an opening-round pin, Stephenson lost to John Carroll’s Juuso Young in a 4-3 decision, which sent him to the consolation bracket.
Stephenson then recorded back-to-back pins against Seton Hill’s Jeremiah Erickson and University of Findlay’s Collin Wagner in the consolation quarterfinal and semifinal. Stephenson then won the third-place match over Young due to a medical forfeit.
Amari Libertone-Robinson (165 Navy) and Bobby Ranger (184 Blue) also competed for the Thunderwolves at the event. Both, however, lost in the opening round of the consolation bracket and finished with 0-2 performances.
NOTES:
Including the four wins at the JCU Open, Leehan has won each of his last six matches, dating back to a pin against Gannon’s James Rogler in the 157 consolation semifinal at the Jayhawk Open at Jamestown CC on Jan. 25. Leehan’s longest win streak was 11 straight matches, a stretch which began with his 4-0 day at the Thunderwolves Open on Dec. 6 through his win against Gannon's Luke Ankney in the quarterfinal of the Jayhawk Open. Leehan is now 17-1 this season with eight pins.
Saturday marked Stephenson’s first outing on the mat since he won his first-ever championship at 197 in the eighth annual Whizzer Opeon at Henry Ford College on Feb. 1. The finish at the JCU Open was Stephenson’s second consolation championship of his career (Jayhawk Open at Jamestown CC on Jan. 25) and his third overall tournament placing as a Thunderwolf. Previously a state runner-up in each of his last two seasons at 160 at Wilson High School, Stephenson is now 13-2 this season and is the 11th SUNY Niagara wrestler with at least 10 wins this season. His 10 pins are tied with Jaron Barrientos and Trevor Copes for third on the team, behind only Aidan Gillings (14) and Joe Cicco (11).
Despite the 0-2 finish in his first appearance since a dual match with SUNY Brockport on Jan. 17, Ranger recorded his 41st and 42nd career matches with the Thunderwolves (14-28). The sophomore from Hornell finished 7-14 last season with second-place finishes at 197, including at the NJCAA Region III championships, and is currently 7-14 this season.
SUNY Niagara continues its season at the NJCAA Region III/Northeast District X Championships at 10 a.m. Feb. 21 at Jamestown Community College in Jamestown, NY. Last season, the Thunderwolves clinched their 27th regional title in program history with 105 points and nine grapplers qualified for the NJCAA Championships. Out of the nine qualifiers, Vinny Falsetti (141 champion), Joe Cicco (165 runner-up), Aiden Poe (184 champion) and Bobby Ranger (197 runner-up) are on this season’s roster.