Mercyhurst College wrestler Josh Shields was named to the 2008 Amateur Wrestling News All-Rookie Team. After being named an All-American during his redshirt freshman campaign, he was named to the fourth team All-Rookie Team at 174 pounds among wrestlers at all collegiate levels. He was the only non-NCAA Division I wrestler placed in the top six teams at 174 pounds.

Virginia's Chris Henrich was named to the first-team and Penn's Scott Giffin was selected to the second team. Shields lost a hard-fought 9-8 decision to Giffin at the Keystone Classic. Lehigh's Alex Caruso was just ahead of Shields as a third-team member, while Oklahoma's Jeff James was just behind Shields and North Carolina's Kyle Kiss made the sixth team.

Shields went 23-10 despite missing over a month of the season with an injury. He returned in time to finish as the runner-up at the East Regionals and then placed fourth at the NCAA Division II Championships to be named an All-American. During the regular season, he won the Simonson Invitational, placed third at the National Catholic Invitational, and finished fourth at the Keystone Classic.