The Jim Koch Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced that former Mercyhurst standout Josh Shields will be inducted with the Class of 2024.

A native of Burrell, Pa Shields wrestled as a Laker from 2007-2012. In his first year, Shields quickly solidified himself as one of the best wrestlers in the country.  Shields emerged as a top wrestler at 174 pounds, becoming an All-American with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Shields also finished as the runner-up at the East Region Championships and posted a 23-10 record including a 17-3 mark in tournament action.

In 2008-09, Shields became the first athlete at Mercyhurst to win an individual National Championship, putting together the best season the program has ever seen. Wrestling at 165 pounds, Shields defeated Nebraska-Omaha's Aaron Denson 5-0 in the National Championship finals to avenge an earlier 4-3 defeat. The win closed out the sophomore's season with 21-straight wins as he finished with a 29-3 overall mark, including an 18-2 dual meet mark. 

Shields's dominance carried over into the 2009-10 season as he once again represented Mercyhurst in the NCAA Division II National Championship finals for the second consecutive year. Despite falling 8-3 to Travis Eggers of Upper Iowa, his 21-straight wins matched his personal-best winning streak set as a sophomore.  He also captured his second Super Region I title and finished the season with a record of 37-4.  At the regional championships, Shields did not surrender a point as he recorded three shutouts and a fall. He went on to finish the season with 17 shutouts, while being ranked No. 1 for eight-straight regular season polls.

Shields also entered various Division I tournaments during his junior year.  He was invited to wrestle at the prestigious Midlands Tournament where he defeated a 2 x NCAA Division I Runner Up.  He also had wins during this season over another eventual NCAA Division I Runner Up, as well as a 2 x NCAA Division I All-American.

In his senior season, Shields was on pace to have another fantastic year but suffered a significant injury.  He decided to finish his career on the mat but couldn't physically compete at the level he had been accustomed to.

Prior to his injury, Shields had a 61-6 career record vs. NCAA D2 opponents.  Of those 6 losses, 5 came from opponents who went on to wrestle in the NCAA finals. The other loss came in the first college tournament of Shields's career.  He ended his career with a 70-10 career mark versus D2 competition.

In his collegiate career, Shields compiled a 106-22 career record.  He was also inducted into the 2017 Class of the Mercyhurst University Athletics Hall of Fame. 

Shields was also a 4 x NWCA All-Academic selection. He graduated with a degree in International Business and is the Senior Category Manager at Polyconcept North America.  He is the current Head Wrestling Coach at Burrell High School in Pennsylvania.  He has since coached 6 PA State Champions as well as 22 state place winners.  

Josh is the son of Jim and Luann Shields and brother to Jared and Jordan. Jordan was an NCAA All-American for Mercyhurst, finishing 4th in 2011. Josh lives in his hometown of Burrell, Pa., with his wife Kylie and three children, Laker, Dawson, and Bodhi.