The Mercyhurst Wrestling team will start the new calendar year of competition on the road as they will take on East Stroudsburg on Friday night, and will face off against Kutztown on Saturday in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference action.
 
The Lakers are currently 4-0 in dual meet competition, posting their last two victories over Super Region One competitors Millersville (22-16), and LIU Post (25-19).
 
Mercyhurst has a pair of nationally ranked men that will take the mat during both duals. At 149 pounds Logan Grass is ranked 10^th the redshirt sophomore leads the team in technical falls this season with three. Wes Phipps is 8^th at 197 pounds, he is 11-4 on the season. Grass and Phipps are both returning national qualifiers from the 2016-17 season. Dakota DesLauriers returns to the projected lineup, he was an All-American in the 2014-15 season placing 6th at 184 pounds. 
 
Freshman Eric Bartos (125 pounds) leads the team in falls recording six this season. Bartos also tops team points earned for the Lakers with 42.
 
Projected Starting Lineup:
125: Eric Bartos (15-5)
133: Aidan Burke (6-5) or Jeffrey Sisk (4-4)
141: Kevin Kinyua (14-9)
149: Logan Grass (14-5)
157: Owen Watkins (8-5)
165: Gavin Wilkerson (7-8)
174: Nick Konyk (5-5)
184: Dakota DesLauriers (0-0)
197: Wes Phipps (11-4)
285: Jacob Robb (13-2) or Alex Guidice (0-2)
 
 
EAST STROUDSBURG, Friday 7 PM:
 The Warriors are 1-5 on the season, collecting their only victory of the season after defeating Emmanuel 32-15.
 
East Stroudsburg is led by Mike Raccioppi who ranks seventh at the 165 pound weight class. Raccioppi the redshirt sophomore is the only Warrior to break into double-digits wins with a 10-2 record. Dylan Nace (141) is the only retuning national qualifier from the 2016-17 season, Nace has only seen action once this season during a tri-meet.
 
Mercyhurst leads the all-time series between the two teams 7-2, claiming victories in the last six consecutive meetings between the programs, including a 29-14 win in the 2016-17 season.
 
East Stroudsburg Projected Starting Lineup:
125 - Jair Hatch (0-1)
133 - Francesco Palagruto (3-8) or Peter Nace (4-7)
141 - Dylan Nace (2-0) or Peter Nace (4-7)
149 - Blake Cohen (5-6)
157 - Marquan Payne (5-5)
165 - #7 Mike Raccioppi (10-2)
174 - Dillon Warner (1-0)
184 - Paul Rallis (3-8)
197 - Daniel Makagon 3-9)
285 - Hunter Marhan (2-6)
 
Media Coverage:
 Trackwrestling Live Results
 
Twitter: Live results will be produced through both teams Twitter accounts. @Lakerswrestling and @ESUwrestling
 
 
KUTZTOWN, Saturday 12 PM:
 The Golden Bears are 1-5 on the season and are on a three match losing streak after dropping contests against No. 6 Pittsburgh Johnstown (9-33), No. 15 Lake Erie (8-26), and No. 9 Indianapolis (9-23).
 
Kutztown is led by Ryan Appleby who ranks second at heavyweight, Abbleby is the only member of the team to have double digit wins posting a 10-3 record on the season.
 
The Golden Bears have two returning All-Americans from the 2016-17 season returning to their squad, Appleby took eighth at heavyweight, and Austin Petril placed fourth at 125 pounds. Jeff Reimel is a returning national qualifier for Kutztown at 184 pounds.
 
Mercyhurst leads the all-time series between the two teams 8-3. The Lakers have won the past seven consecutive matches against Kutztown, including a 20-19 victory in the 2016-17 season.
 
Kutztown Projected Lineup:
 125: Austin Petril (3-4)
133: Lucas Miller (3-4)
141: Anthony Petril (1-6)
149: Chad Haegele (5-7)
157: Mikey O'Brien (3-5)
165: Bill Manley (1-4)
174: James Meyer (1-10)
184: Jeff Reimel (7-7)
197: Dominic Mainiero (1-1)
285: Ryan Appleby (10-3)
 
 
Media Coverage:
 Trackwrestling Live Results 
 
Stream
 
Twitter: @Lakerswrestling