Josh Shields is ranked second at 165 lbs in the latest regional poll.
ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst College wrestling squad is ranked second in the East Regional rankings, with nine different wrestlers ranked in the top six of their respective weight class.
The Lakers sit behind top-ranked Newberry while Pitt-Johnstown, West Liberty and Limestone round out the top five teams of the East Region, respectively. __West Liberty St. visits the Mercyhurst Athletic Center today, Wednesday, December 3rd in a battle of the region’s top five teams. The Lakers dominated the dual meet a season ago, winning 31-9.
At 125 lbs, Payne Lint owns the region’s No. 4 ranking. Lint owns a record of 8-6 overall, including a 7-5 mark in tournaments.
At 133 lbs, Michael Baxter ranks third behind top-ranked and fellow PSAC grappler Joe Kemmerer of Kutztown. Baxter is unbeaten through two dual meets and has an 11-4 overall record, claiming a title at the National Catholic Invitational. He also posted a win over top 10-ranked Andrew Young of Newberry.
At 149 lbs, Lenny Calhoun (4-3) is ranked fourth behind Newberry’s Latra Collick. At 157 lbs, Andy Lamancusa owns the No. 3 ranking, with West Liberty’s Mitch Smith taking the top spot. He is 13-5 overall, with a 12-4 tournament record that includes a second-place finish at the National Catholic Invitational as a 157-pounder and a fifth-place finish in the Buffalo Open.
At 165 lbs., Josh Shields is the highest-rated Laker with his No. 2 ranking behind top-ranked Kyle Keane of Pitt-Johnstown. He has posted a 3-1 tournament record to date, taking second to Ohio State’s Colt Sponseller in the Buffalo Open.
Kyle Raber at 174 lbs checks in at No. 6 while Bryan Wolff at 184 lbs owns the No. 4 ranking. Raber’s record is 7-7 and Wolff checks in at 9-5 overall. At 197 lbs, Trevor Gallo (2-3) is ranked third, while at heavyweight, Kenny Bluska owns the No. 6 ranking, with a 7-5 tournament mark.
After hosting the region’s fourth-ranked team in West Liberty on Wednesday night, the Lakers will host the 66th Annual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday, December 6th. The first of two sessions begins at 9:30 a.m., with championship bouts slated for a 6:30 p.m. start.