Philadelphia, Pa. – Seniors Payne Lint and Brian Wolff took fourth place in their respective weight classes, leading the No. 13 Mercyhurst wrestling team to a seventh place finish at the 2008 Keystone Classic, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Sunday.
Mercyhurst, coached by Mike Wehler, was the only Division II school among a 10-team field, with the other nine competing at the Division I level. The Lakers scored 63 points and defeated Boston University, Davidson College and Virginia Military Institute.
Lint won three matches in the consolation bracket, making it to the third-place bout, where he lost 7-4 to No. 3 seed Ben Altman from Davidson. Wolff made his way through the consolation bracket, taking fourth place.
Junior Andy Lamancusa, the No. 3 seed in the 157-pound division, won three bouts before dropping a 3-1 decision to No. 2 seed Mike Kessler from Rider. Lamancusa claimed fifth place with a 3-2 victory over No. 5 seed Kevin Hardy.
Freshman Kyle Raber finished in sixth place in the 174-pound class, losing a 5-3 decision to the No. 4 seed Ziad Kharbursh from Brown in the fifth-place bout. Senior Kenny Bluska placed sixth in the 285-pound division, dropping a 3-2 decision to No. 5 seed Leon Barrow from VMI.
Also competing for Meryhurst were: freshman Michael Baxter, sophomore Lance Pitcel, senior Lenny Calhoun and senior Trevor Gallo.
The wrestling team will compete in a dual meet at West Liberty State Wednesday, Dec. 3, before hosting the 2008 PSAC Wrestling Championships Saturday, Dec. 6.