Mercyhurst University Women's Wrestling

Shawn Marie Gorring graduated from Mercyhurst College with a degree in Criminal Justice. She has a great supportive family that enables her to be involved in the activity that she loves!  She has been teaching color guard in all different venues for 38 years. She has experience teaching Drum Corp, Indoor Colorguard, competitive Marching band and Collegiate marching band. She has a background in dance that enhances her choreography. She am thrilled to be teaching for her alma mater and to meet and have an impact on members of the Mercyhurst Athletic band and Colorguard. 

Thomas McKinnon is entering his 12th year as General Manager and Head Coach of the Mercyhurst University ACHA D1 hockey program. McKinnon is the 6th longest standing and the 6th most winningest coach among all current ACHA Division 1 head coaches. His teams have averaged over 19 wins a season. McKinnon has accumulated an overall record of 230-166-32, which includes two ECHL and two CHMA regular season league championships, one CHMA playoff tournament championship, and four ACHA D1 national tournament appearances. During his tenure in the American Collegiate Hockey Association, McKinnon has produced three ACHA All-Americans, one ACHA All-Rookie, seven ACHA All-Stars and numerous Academic All-Americans. McKinnon is a candidate for his Level 5 coaching certification through USA Hockey and his Development 1 and High Performance 1 certification through Hockey Canada. McKinnon holds undergraduate degrees in Sports Management, Marketing and Advertising and graduate degrees in Sport Coaching and Organizational Leadership. McKinnon played his junior hockey with the Barrie Colts Organization and professionally for the Flint Generals of the UHL. Coach McKinnon has close to twenty years of experience in hockey camp instruction and private goaltending consultation. McKinnon has spent most of his professional career in higher education as an academic counselor. McKinnon has also worked with various teams as a mental training consultant...mentoring, guiding and empowering student athletes to reach their full potential in athletics, academics and life.

Halli Bidwell has been the head Equestrian Coach since its creation in the 2005-2006 academic year. She has qualified for and competed in numerous national shows during her career and has trained and worked with a variety of known experts in the equine industry. Mrs. Bidwell teaches at Brenric Stables and many of her students enjoy much success, end of year awards, IHSA, IEA, and Zone awards.  In the last few years, The Mercyhurst Team has held Reserve Champion and third place positions after the regular season. Under Coach Bidwell the team has earned many high point and reserve point rider positions at shows, and many have gone on to qualify for Regionals, Zones and last year Nationals.  When Coach Bidwell is not teaching, she and her husband Ron own R&S Sports and have two children Alec and Laura.  Mrs. Bidwell earned her degree from Edinboro University in Communications.

Anna has been figure skating for 23 years and is a USFSA double gold medalist. She is a North Atlantic Regional Championship Medalist and competed for The Pennsylvania State University Club Figure Skating Team during her undergraduate studies. Anna has achieved her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, concentrating in Fitness Studies, as well as a Master of Science in Kinesiology, concentrating in Geriatrics from A.T. Still University. She has been coaching Figure Skating for all ages since 2013 in Jamestown, NY, as well as coaching in Erie, PA starting in 2018.

Wagner was named the first head coach of the Mercyhurst women's wrestling program in April 2026.  Wagner comes to Mercyhurst from the University of Rio Grande in Ohio. She was named head coach of the Red Storm in March 2024 as the program’s inaugural leader.   In the 2025-26 season, Wagner coached the Red Storm’s first national qualifier and led the team to its best finish at Mid-South Conference Championships.   Prior to her time at Rio Grande, Wagner served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, McKendree. During her time with the Bearcats, she helped the team to two National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling regional titles and coached 40 national qualifiers.   As a student-athlete, Wagner earned a national title at 130 lbs, going 5-0 to earn the top spot at the inaugural Cliff Keen National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championship in 2020.   The Portland, Oregon native was a World Class Wrestling Association All-American in the 2015-16 and 2019-20 seasons. She also placed at the U23 USA World Team Trials in 2019, 2020, and 2021.   Outside of coaching, Wagner owns her own online coaching company, The Flex Effect, LLC.

Rob is a native of northeast Pennsylvania, he spent 32 years as a music educator, 2 years in the Southern Local Area School District in Salineville, Ohio and 30 years in the Iroquois School District in Erie. Under his direction, the Iroquois High School Band was the five-time Class champions of the Lakeshore Marching Band Association. He has also been involved in the marching arts through area Drum & Bugle Corps (Erie Thunderbirds, Excaliber, Steel City Ambassadors, Lake Erie Thunder & Northcoast Brass Company) holding positions as a member, brass staff and as a Director. He currently runs a business as a freelance visual/drill designer for competitive marching units. Chase’s professional associations include Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and Ohio Music Educators Association. Chase is a graduate of Edinboro University and has done graduate work at Edinboro University in Educational Administration. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music in the D’Angelo Department of Music at Mercyhurst. He lists as his teachers and mentors: Walter Baran, Chuck Lute, Dr. Tim Cordell and Stephen J. Cooley. Please feel free to contact Mr. Chase for information on Athletic Bands at Mercyhurst University.