ERIE, Pa. -- After guiding the Mercyhurst College wrestling program to unparalleled heights in 2008-09, head coach Mike Wehler believes that this year's edition can not only add to the records set a season ago, but possibly take the program to even greater heights. 

That's a quite a statement when you look at the accolades garnered in 2008-09. 

• A new program best for team victories and winning percentage after posting a 16-5-1 mark in dual meets.
• Six top-10 finishes, including a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Tournament to tie the highest finish by a Lakers squad.
• 12 new individual records.
• Three national qualifiers – three All-Americans.
• 1 National Champion in Josh Shields at 165 pounds, becoming the Lakers first-ever individual champion in any sport. 

With six starters slated to return to the lineup, including Shields at 165 pounds and two-time All-American Andy Lamancusa at 157 pounds, it seems that Wehler's predictions of continued success have legitimate credence. And when you look at the projected starters in the remaining four weight classes for the Lakers, it is not hard to see why Wehler has so much confidence. 

125:
For the first time in four years, the Lakers find themselves without Payne Lint. Lint set the tone for the lineup, winning 20 or matches in three seasons. He saved his best for last, posting a 33-17 mark as a senior en route to claiming his first All-America certificate. He departed with a career record of 92-64. 

Replacements for Lint include freshmen David Bolger and John Worthington. Bolger is a two-time Division I Ohio state place-winner, including a runner-up finish as a senior at Strongsville. Rounding out the open field is Worthington, who finished fourth in his senior year at Shelby. 

133:
Michael 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. 

Levi Smeltzer will battle for action at this spot and provide depth but most likely will compete for action at the next weight class. 

141:
Entering his junior season, Lance Pitcel is the favorite for the starting role with competition from junior Shawn Klemm and freshman Tony D'Urso. 

Pitcel recorded a 12-23 mark last season, including a fifth-place finish at the Mount Union Open where he went 3-2 with two major decisions. Pitcel broke the single-season mark for escapes with 88, giving him sole possession of sixth-place all-time with 155. He now owns the top two single-season marks after finishing with 67 in his rookie year. 

Of the two competitors, D'Urso figures to be the top competitor. A standout athlete for nearby Reynolds, D'Urso helped his high school to a Class AA Pennsylvania State Team Championship in 2009. Klemm saw limited action a season ago, earning a 2-4 mark early in the year. 

Robert Blotzer is also listed in this weight class but figures to move to 149 pounds. 

149:
The addition of red-shirt freshman Jordan Shields significantly strengthens the middle portion of the Lakers lineup. He is the projected starter after the graduation of Lenny Calhoun, who finished the 2008-09 season with a steady record of 18-16. 

The younger brother of Josh Shields, Jordan 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. 

Logan Walker, a freshman from Waverly, N.Y., will red-shirt. 

157:
Entering his senior year, Andy Lamancusa should continue his assault on the Lakers record books. A three-time Super Region 1 Champion and a two-time All-American in this weight class, Lamancusa impresses every season. 

A season ago, he 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). 

One of his many highlights includes a 17-match winning streak after dropping a 4-3 decision to Todd Meneely of Nebraska-Omaha and a PSAC Wrestler of the Week selection on March 3, 2009. 

All told, Lamancusa sits in eighth-place on the Lakers all-time wins list with a career record of 80-35 and is ranked in the all-time top 10 of six other categories. 

Adding depth to this weight class will be freshman Clint Schaefer. 

165:
National Champion and two-time All-American Josh Shields fills the lineup at 165 pounds. Entering his junior year, Shields will be at his natural weight class for the second consecutive season after spending his (redshirt) freshman year at 174 pounds. 

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. 

At the NCAA Super Region I Championships, Shields earned his first regional title with his second 7-0 victory over Kyle Keane of UPJ. The shutout was just one of 12 on the season, including his win over Denson and a 4-0 victory over then-ranked No. 2 Corey Van Groll of Wisconsin-Parkside in the national semifinals.

Shields took over the nation's No. 1 ranking on Feb. 4 after knocking off 2008 National Champion Keane in their first meeting with a 7-0 whitewashing before going on to a 5-0 mark at the East Coast Duals.
He now owns an all-time mark of 52-13 after going 23-10 in his rookie year. 

174:
This weight class features the most depth and will be very similar to the situation at 125 pounds where four very competitive wrestlers will battle each week for the starting role. 

Pat Carter and Pat Leahy are the frontrunners after splitting time in the lineup a year ago. Carter closed out the season the Lakers starter, compiling a 6-16 mark on the year and a 1-6 mark in dual meets. Leahy went 11-22 overall, 3-8 in dual meets. 

Looking to break into the mix is Tim McAndrew, who compiled a 9-16 overall mark at 184 pounds last season, including a 6-5 dual meet record. He will move down to a more natural weight this season.
The last challenger is freshman Seth Stonis, a local product from General McLane High School in Edinboro, Pa. 

184:
After red-shirting last season, transfer Eric Fulmer is the favorite for the starting role at 184 pounds. His talents and experience should help to bolster an upper lineup that has been lacking a steady competitor. At St. Andrews in 2007-08, Fulmer posted a 13-9 overall mark with an 8-3 record in dual meets at 174 pounds. 

McAndrew could see action as a replacement after spent last season at this weight class. 

197:
A red-shirt freshman and true freshman battle for the top spot at 197 pounds. Eric Lundgren seems to be the favorite over true freshman Chris Nocchi after wrestling unattached in tournaments. Nocchi was a New York state champion in high senior season. Also adding depth will be sophomore Chris McAndrew.
 
285:
Another deep class for the Lakers features the return of Nathan Sharp and Mike Sullivan, along with an experienced sophomore in Jeffrey Pollard and sophomore newcomer Fred Hale. 

Sharp returns as the starter after posting a dual meet mark of 9-5 en route to a 27-16 overall record. Sullivan a majority of his action early in the year, including a 5-1 showing at the Buffalo Open to start the season with a fifth-place finish. 

Pollard saw limited action in his rookie campaign, finishing with a 9-4 record. He placed fourth at the Cleveland State Open and second at the Mount Union Open. 

Hale will join the squad after completing his third year as a member of the Lakers football squad at defensive end. Scholastically, Hale was an Ohio state champion.