ERIE, Pa. -- Reigning national champion Josh Shields and third-place finisher Andy Lamancusa lead five Mercyhurst College wrestlers in the Super Region 1 preseason rankings released today.

As a team, the Lakers rank fifth in the regional rankings behind two squads tied for the top ranking in Newberry and Pitt-Johnstown.  West Liberty sits in third and PSAC-rival Gannon is fourth.

A junior, Shields owns the top billing at 165 pounds while senior Lamancusa is the top-ranked grappler at 157 pounds.  

Sophomore Michael Baxter ranks fourth at 133 pounds and junior Nathan Sharp ranks fifth at heavyweight.  Redshirt fresman Jordan Shields makes his debut in the rankings with the sixth-spot at 149 pounds after sitting out last season.

Josh Shields - 165 pounds - No. 1 Super Region 1

Shields became the first athlete at Mercyhurst to win an individual national championship when he blanked Nebraska-Omaha's Aaron Denson, 5-0, at 165 pounds to avenge an earlier 4-3 loss to Denson. The win was the largest margin of victory at the 2009 NCAA II National Championships and closed out the then-sophomore's season with 21-straight wins as he finished with a 29-3 overall mark, including an 18-2 dual meet mark.

Andy Lamancusa - 157 pounds - No. 1 Super Region 1

A season ago, Lamancusa fell just shy of the national championship match when he dropped a 6-4 double-overtime thriller to rival Travis Eggers of Upper Iowa en route to a 4-1 record at the national tournament. Lamancusa earned his third-straight trip to the championships after winning his third-consecutive NCAA Super Region 1 title at 157 pounds, a feat which no other Mercyhurst wrestler has completed.

Lamancusa set numerous individual season records, including a new program-best for victories with a 37-10 mark, breaking the old record of 34 shared by Brian Pogel and Hudson Harrison. The record-breaking victory came in the NCAA quarterfinals with a 16-7 major decision over John Sundgren of St. Cloud St. The major decision marked his 12th of the year, setting a new single-season Mercyhurst standard in that category in addition to the all-time record of 21, eclipsing Zach Schafer's mark of 19. Additionally, he owns single-season bests in most technical falls (5) and most takedowns (162).


Michael Baxter - 133 pounds - No. 4 Super Region 1

Baxter returns as the frontrunner after finishing a very successful rookie campaign in which he posted a 29-14 record and placed fifth at the NCAA Super Region 1 Championships.  He set the season record for reversals (20) while also posting the third-best single-season mark for falls (10).  Baxter was ranked regionally for majority of the year and entered the national rankings in the Dec. 3 poll where he remained ranked for three consecutive polls, peaking at No. 5.  The Sandusky, Ohio native placed in all but one of five tournaments, capturing sixth at the Buffalo Open to begin his freshman year.

Nathan Sharp - 285 pounds - No. 5 Super Region 1

Sharp returns as the starter after posting a dual meet mark of 9-5 en route to a 27-16 overall record. 

Jordan Shields - 149 pounds - No. 6 Super Region 1

Shields is a two-time Pennsylvania State place-winner from Burrell High School where he collected a runner-up finish in 2007 before capping his scholastic career with a title in 2008.  He also owns an Ironman title.  

The Lakers begin their season on Nov. 1 when they travel to the University at Buffalo Open.